Aerospace Engineering Salary in 2026: Top Paying Countries and Companies
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Want to become an Aerospace engineer? This guide blog will help you to understand the trend of Aerospace Engineer Salary in India and abroad along with top-paying companies, popular universities around the world, and more.
Do you dream of building rockets? Then Aerospace Engineering might be the perfect career for you. It is an exciting field. The demand for this job is growing fast. This is happening in India. It is also happening all over the world. Countries are in a race to explore space. The USA, Japan, Russia, and China are all competing. They need skilled people. Because of this, the pay is rising.
Let’s talk about the money. The average aerospace engineering salary in India is decent. It is around INR 7.5 lakhs per year. According to payscale, Aerospace Engineer Salary in USA is USD 1,41,022 (INR 1.17Cr) per year in United States.
Aerospace Engineering is one of the best engineering courses for the future. Engineers in this sector play an important role in making space missions successful. This blog post is your one-stop guide to understanding Aerospace Engineering salary in India and abroad, including popular job roles, and some tips to maximise your earning potential.
Related Read:
- Aerospace Engineer Salary in India vs Abroad
- Aerospace Engineering Salary in India Per Month
- Aerospace Engineer Salary in ISRO & DRDO
- Specialisation Wise Aerospace Engineering Salary
- Top Companies for Aeronautical Engineers
- How to Become an Aerospace Engineer?
- Top Universities to Study Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace Engineer Salary in India vs Abroad
Did you spend your childhood gazing at the stars? If you answer yes, pursuing aerospace engineering can make your dream a reality. However, knowing the earning potential before making career goals around it is important.
According to Naukri.com, the entry-level Aerospace engineer salary is between INR 3 and 5 Lakhs per year in India. The salary of Aerospace Engineers in developed countries like the USA, United Kingdom, France, and UAE is higher compared to India. Here, you need to note that just like the salary, the cost of living in these countries is also high.
Aerospace Engineering Salary in India Per Month
Students often ask, "What is the starting salary for an aerospace engineer?" The reality depends heavily on your skills and the company type.
- Freshers (0-2 Years): The starting aerospace engineering salary in India per month ranges from INR 25,000 to INR 40,000 in private firms.
- Mid-Level (3-7 Years): With experience in tools like ANSYS or CATIA, your monthly earnings can jump to INR 80,000 - INR 1.5 Lakhs.
- Senior Level: Lead engineers and project managers often earn INR 2 Lakhs+ per month. Other than this, you will receive other bonuses and ESOPs.
Source: Naukri.com
Note: Salaries in top government organizations in India such as ISRO and DRDO, are not the same. Due to the latest 7th Pay Commission, your salary will be higher. As an ISRO engineer, your starting salary will be INR 56,100 per month. This excludes allowances.
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United States and Switzerland offer the highest packages. In USA, experienced aerospace engineers can earn over USD 140,000 annually. Also, most of universities to study this course are here in USA.
Absolutely. The sector is booming with the privatization of the Indian space sector. Companies like Tata Advanced Systems, Godrej Aerospace, and startups like Skyroot are hiring aggressively. Combined with massive projects by ISRO (like Gaganyaan), the demand for skilled engineers in India is at an all-time high.
Related Blog: Top 10 Engineering Courses Abroad
Aspiring aerospace engineers often look beyond India for both education and career opportunities. Check out what we have mentioned about the top countries where Aerospace engineer salaries are higher than in India. These countries are the most preferred study destinations. Home of some of the top universities in the world, and the best companies are there to hire you.
| Top Countries |
Annual Aerospace Engineering Salary in USD |
Annual Salary in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland |
111,625 |
92.75 Lakhs |
| USA |
92,172 |
76.58 Lakhs |
| Germany |
69,394 |
57.66 Lakhs |
| Israel |
65,424 |
54.36 Lakhs |
| Canada |
58,235 |
48.38 Lakhs |
| Australia |
54,266 |
45.00 Lakhs |
| France |
43,189 |
35.88 Lakhs |
Source: Payscale
Note: 1 USD = 88.00 INR
Aerospace Engineer Salary in ISRO & DRDO
For many Indian students, working at ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) or DRDO is the ultimate dream. Check out ISRO engineer salary after after 7th Pay Commission:
- Entry-Level Post: Scientist/Engineer 'SC' (Level 10)
- Basic Pay: INR 56,100 per month
- Gross Salary: Approximately INR 1,05,000 - INR 1,15,000 per month (Includes updated DA & HRA)
- Annual Package: INR 13 Lakhs - INR 15 Lakhs (approx)
Starting aerospace engineer salary in ISRO might seem lower than top US companies. ISRO offers job security and perks (housing, medical).
Specialisation Wise Aerospace Engineering Salary
Having compared salaries in India and abroad. Let us now understand how specializations affect your pay. Your specific niche plays a huge role in determining your income, so understanding these specialization-wise salaries is vital. We also recommend doing some personal research to check the exact earning potential for your chosen field in your target country.
| Specialization |
Average Salary Range in India |
|---|---|
| Aerodynamics |
INR 10 lakhs |
| Propulsion |
INR 9 lakhs |
| Structures |
INR 12.5 lakhs |
| Avionics |
INR 7 lakhs |
| Materials Science |
INR 6 lakhs |
| Space Systems Engineering |
INR 6 lakhs |
Source: AmbitionBox
Top Companies for Aeronautical Engineers
Check out country wise top recruiters that offer decent salaries to Aerospace Engineers. This is just a range of salary slabs in different countries. Other than this salary package, Aerospace Engineers may get other benefits and cash compensation.
| Country | Company Name | Annual Salary Range (USD) | Estimated Salary (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | SpaceX | 124,000 to 197,000 | 1.05 Cr to 1.67 Cr |
| Lockheed Martin | 97,000 to 151,000 | 82.4 Lakhs to 1.28 Cr | |
| Boeing | 96,000 to 147,000 | 81.6 Lakhs to 1.25 Cr | |
| NASA (Civil Service) | 100,000 to 160,000 | 85 Lakhs to 1.36 Cr | |
| France | Airbus | 45,000 to 70,000 | 38.2 Lakhs to 59.5 Lakhs |
| UK | Rolls Royce | 46,000 to 65,000 | 39.1 Lakhs to 55.2 Lakhs |
Note: Salaries vary heavily by role (e.g., Propulsion Engineer vs. Systems Analyst) and location.
Source: Glassdoor
Which Company Pays Highest Aerospace Engineer Salary?
Everyone talks about SpaceX. What does it pay monthly? The estimated SpaceX aerospace engineer salary per month is between USD 9,000 and USD 12,900 (INR 7.5 Lakhs - INR 10.8 Lakhs per month). This totally depends on role and stock options. This makes it one of the highest paying companies in the world for astronautical engineering professionals.
How to Become an Aerospace Engineer?
To become an aerospace engineer, you can try to get admission to a ranked university. Some of the best universities in the world offer quality education with ample resources to learn. Note that you need a strong academic background to secure your admission to the top five universities in the world.
Eligibility to Be an Aerospace Engineer For Indian Students
Math and Science are important subjects for Aerospace engineering. Start focusing on Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. Below, we have mentioned point-wise eligibility to be an aerospace engineer after the 10th board exam. If you are in your school, start focusing on PCM subjects. No matter whether you are in the state board, CBSE, or ICSE board. Check out point wise eligibility:
- Impressive Marks: Maintain good scores in the 10th and 12th board exams, especially in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
- Good Score in Standardized Tests: Appear in the SAT Exam or ACT exam and get a good score to enroll in B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering offered by popular universities around the world.
- EP Test Result: You need to have an impressive score in English proficiency tests. TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo English Test are popular tests for English.
Top Universities to Study Aerospace Engineering
If you want to work at top firms like SpaceX or global agencies, your alma mater matters. According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 (Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing), these are the best institutions globally:
- MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) to The undisputed world #1 for engineering and research.
- Stanford University (USA) to Retains the #2 spot globally; a hub for private space tech innovation.
- University of Cambridge (UK) to Ranked #3, offering world-class research in aerodynamics and fluid mechanics.
- Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) to Climbed to #4 globally, making it the top choice in Asia.
- ETH Zurich (Switzerland) to Ranked #6, this is one of Europe's premier technical institutes.
- Imperial College London (UK) to Now in the top 10 (#9), famous for its specialized Department of Aeronautics.
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Yes, the market has shifted significantly. Opportunities were previously limited to government bodies like ISRO, DRDO, and HAL. Now this sector has opened up. The government introduced a new space policy. There is now a surge in hiring from private players and startups (like Skyroot and Agnikul Cosmos), as well as global MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) hubs being set up in India by companies like Boeing and Airbus.