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Aircraft Designer Salary in the United States
How much does an Aircraft Designer make in the United States?
$135,405 (USD)/year
Average Bonus
$5,078 (USD)
per Year
Total Compensation
$138,672.69
Entry Level
$94,497
Median
$133,595
Senior Level
$155,110
As of July, 23, 2026, the average aircraft designer gross salary in United States is $135,405 or an equivalent hourly rate of $65. In addition, aircraft designers earn an average bonus of $5,078. An entry level aircraft designer with 1-3 years of experience earns an average salary of $94,497. At the higher end of the pay range, an senior level aircraft designer with 8+ years of experience earns an average salary of $155,110. Salary estimates are based on salary survey data collected directly from employers in United States.
Data powered by ERI
Salary Potential for an Aircraft Designer
Explore the estimated salary growth for an Aircraft Designer in the United States for up to 5 years. The estimated salary of an Aircraft Designer will be $139,021 in 1 year and $154,476 in 5 years.
View Salary by Year
Estimated Salary
$142,733
Average Growth
5.4 %
The estimated salary for an Aircraft Designer in 2 years is $142,733, which is 5.4 % average growth. This information is based on ERI's compensation database.
Typical Aircraft Designer Education
This chart displays the highest level of education for Aircraft Designers.
- 0% of Aircraft Designers have less than a High School Diploma
- 33% of Aircraft Designers have a High School Diploma
- 0% of Aircraft Designers have an Associate's Degree
- 33% of Aircraft Designers have a Bachelor's Degree
- 33% of Aircraft Designers have a Master's Degree
- 0% of Aircraft Designers have a Doctorate Degree
Popular Skills for an Aircraft Designer
Skills data not available for this job
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Aircraft Designer Salaries in Other Locations
Salaries for Similar Job Titles in the United States
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Aircraft Designer Jobs
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does an Aircraft Designer do?
Perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. May conduct basic and applied research to evaluate adaptability of materials and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture. May recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques.
How much does an Aircraft Designer make in the United States?
The average salary for an Aircraft Designer is $135,405 per year or $65.10 per hour in the United States. Top earners have reported making up to $155,110. However, the typical pay range in the United States is between $94,497 and $155,110 annually.
What is the salary trajectory for an Aircraft Designer?
Aircraft Designer is projected to see a 14.1 % salary change in 5 years.
How can you increase your salary?
Increasing your salary often starts with understanding your value in today’s job market. You can increase your earning potential by building your skills, advancing your education, moving into a new role or industry, switching companies, or negotiating pay.
How can you negotiate a salary offer?
Negotiating a salary offer involves preparation and finding our your market value. Use our salary calculator to find out how much you should be paid based on what someone in your area, with similar experience, earns. Use this personalized report to help negotiate a higher salary offer or find your dream career.
What are some factors that impact Aircraft Designer salaries?
Several factors can impact your salary, including experience, company size, job market, location, industry, and more. Understanding how these factors affect your role can help you spot pay gaps and provide opportunities for a competitive salary.
About Our Data
This page is an excerpt of the much more complete compensation information available in ERI's Assessor Series.
ERI compiles the most robust and accurate salary, cost-of-living, and executive compensation survey database available. Data are analyzed using AI and traditional statistics, depending on which approach is best for a particular application. ERI collects salary survey data from five different sources, which you can learn about here.
Verified Sources
Data sourced from internal salary surveys, purchased surveys, public sources, HRIS data, and proprietary databases.
Real-Time Data
Our salary database is updated and verified approximately every six weeks.
Quality Assurance
Along with our data scientists, we have included AI in our rigorous process to analyze and provide the highest quality data.
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