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Propulsion systems engineer salary
Average propulsion systems engineer salary
$102,136
Understanding the Salary of Propulsion Systems Engineers
Propulsion Systems Engineers play a vital role in the development and design of propulsion systems for various applications. The average salary for these professionals is approximately $102,136 per year, which translates to about $49 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific industry. For instance, engineers in high-demand areas may earn over $120,000 annually.
Salary by Location
Different states offer varying salary scales for propulsion systems engineers. States like California and Texas typically provide higher salaries due to the concentration of aerospace firms. Understanding regional salary trends can help prospective engineers make informed career decisions.
Experience Matters
Experience also plays a crucial role in salary determination. Entry-level propulsion systems engineers may start around $80,000, while those with over ten years in the field can expect salaries exceeding $130,000. This progression highlights the value of gaining experience and specialization in relevant technologies.
Career Outlook
The demand for propulsion systems engineers is projected to grow as advancements in aerospace technology continue. Pursuing further education and specialized training can enhance earning potential and open doors to leadership roles in engineering teams.
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Where can a Propulsion Systems Engineer earn more?
Propulsion systems engineer salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level propulsion systems engineer | $67,600 | $32.52 |
| Mid-level propulsion systems engineer | $93,000 | $44.70 |
| Senior-level propulsion systems engineer | $147,000 | $70.75 |
Propulsion systems engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average propulsion systems engineer salary by state
The highest-paying states for propulsion systems engineers are Rhode Island, Washington, and Arizona. The lowest average propulsion systems engineer salary states are West Virginia, Indiana, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for propulsion systems engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $112,884 | $54.27 |
| 2 | Washington | $113,012 | $54.33 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $113,464 | $54.55 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $100,126 | $48.14 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $111,958 | $53.83 |
| 6 | Vermont | $101,169 | $48.64 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $102,552 | $49.30 |
| 8 | Texas | $97,862 | $47.05 |
| 9 | California | $107,792 | $51.82 |
| 10 | Nevada | $103,596 | $49.81 |
| 11 | Maryland | $103,004 | $49.52 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $103,258 | $49.64 |
| 13 | Delaware | $99,367 | $47.77 |
| 14 | Alabama | $94,384 | $45.38 |
| 15 | Virginia | $96,719 | $46.50 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $95,315 | $45.82 |
| 17 | Michigan | $92,498 | $44.47 |
| 18 | Maine | $97,424 | $46.84 |
| 19 | Idaho | $95,573 | $45.95 |
| 20 | Colorado | $94,000 | $45.19 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $90,817 | $43.66 |
| 22 | Ohio | $92,639 | $44.54 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $91,053 | $43.78 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $92,846 | $44.64 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $97,281 | $46.77 |
| 26 | Montana | $92,636 | $44.54 |
| 27 | Alaska | $91,940 | $44.20 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $91,703 | $44.09 |
| 29 | Illinois | $92,016 | $44.24 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $89,177 | $42.87 |
| 31 | Florida | $90,281 | $43.40 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $91,241 | $43.87 |
| 33 | New York | $93,280 | $44.85 |
| 34 | Oregon | $89,289 | $42.93 |
| 35 | Utah | $85,649 | $41.18 |
| 36 | Georgia | $88,480 | $42.54 |
| 37 | Connecticut | $89,046 | $42.81 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $87,645 | $42.14 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $87,511 | $42.07 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $84,464 | $40.61 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $84,755 | $40.75 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $85,647 | $41.18 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $83,445 | $40.12 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $82,196 | $39.52 |
| 45 | Missouri | $84,323 | $40.54 |
| 46 | Indiana | $81,291 | $39.08 |
| 47 | Kansas | $79,476 | $38.21 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $84,036 | $40.40 |
| 49 | Iowa | $75,219 | $36.16 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $78,719 | $37.85 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $77,560 | $37.29 |
Highest paying cities for propulsion systems engineers
The highest-paying cities for propulsion systems engineers are Everett, WA, Sacramento, CA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Everett, WA | $114,054 | $54.83 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $112,769 | $54.22 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $111,998 | $53.85 |
| 4 | Midland, TX | $98,842 | $47.52 |
| 5 | Englewood, CO | $93,939 | $45.16 |
| 6 | Warren, MI | $92,906 | $44.67 |
| 7 | Duluth, MN | $92,002 | $44.23 |
| 8 | Titusville, FL | $90,338 | $43.43 |
| 9 | New London, CT | $89,380 | $42.97 |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | $81,145 | $39.01 |
| 11 | Wichita, KS | $79,820 | $38.38 |
Propulsion systems engineer salary details
A propulsion systems engineer's salary ranges from $75,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $138,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a propulsion systems engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $138,000 | $11,500 | $66 |
| 75th Percentile | $119,000 | $9,917 | $57 |
| Average | $102,136 | $8,511 | $49 |
| 25th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| 10th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
Highest paying propulsion systems engineer jobs
The highest paying types of propulsion systems engineers are master lay out specialist, senior engineer/scientist, and stress engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stress Analyst | $85,194 | $7,100 | $40.96 | 8,437 |
| Engineering Scientist | $90,138 | $7,511 | $43.34 | 97,496 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Aircraft Engineer | $72,867 | $6,072 | $35.03 | 5,718 |
| Aeronautical Engineer | $80,442 | $6,703 | $38.67 | 28,911 |
| Aerodynamics Engineer | $99,629 | $8,302 | $47.90 | 20,152 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for propulsion systems engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Michael Rudisill
Department Head and Professor of Engineering Technology, Northern Michigan University
Top companies hiring propulsion systems engineers now:
Which companies pay propulsion systems engineers the most?
Propulsion systems engineer salaries at Cirrus Aircraft and Randstad North America, Inc. are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average propulsion systems engineer salary at companies like Nutcracker Therapeutics and Electric are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cirrus Aircraft | $109,603 | $52.69 |
| 2 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $102,062 | $49.07 |
| 3 | Nutcracker Therapeutics | $100,259 | $48.20 |
| 4 | Electric | $99,979 | $48.07 |
| 5 | Serco | $99,979 | $48.07 |
| 6 | ABL Space Systems | $99,864 | $48.01 |
| 7 | Rocket Lab | $99,812 | $47.99 |
| 8 | FCA US LLC | $97,269 | $46.76 |
| 9 | Bell Flight | $97,132 | $46.70 |
| 10 | General Motors | $95,259 | $45.80 |
| 11 | Textron | $94,243 | $45.31 |
| 12 | Boeing | $93,922 | $45.15 |
| 13 | AST | $93,469 | $44.94 |
| 14 | Rivian | $92,790 | $44.61 |
| 15 | Ford Motor | $92,478 | $44.46 |
| 16 | BAE Systems | $91,230 | $43.86 |
| 17 | SpaceX | $91,028 | $43.76 |
| 18 | Serco | $89,534 | $43.05 |
| 19 | Siemens | $88,770 | $42.68 |
| 20 | Relativity | $88,407 | $42.50 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Propulsion systems engineer salary trends
The average propulsion systems engineer salary has risen by $13,941 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average propulsion systems engineer earned $88,195 annually, but today, they earn $102,136 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for propulsion systems engineers over the last decade.
Compare propulsion systems engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average propulsion systems engineer salary over time
Compare propulsion systems engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Propulsion systems engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $102,000 | $49.10 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $100,000 | $48.23 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $99,200 | $47.70 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $97,300 | $46.79 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | $94,400 | $45.39 | +1.7% |
Recently added propulsion systems engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joby Aviation | Systems Engineer, Integrated Flight and Propulsion Control System (Ifpcs) | Santa Cruz, CA | 06/19/2025 | $87,700 |
| Ursa Major | Propulsion Engineer II-Fluid and Mechanical Systems | Berthoud, CO | 06/18/2025 | $100,000 |
| Spacex | SR. Propulsion Engineer, Engine Systems (Raptor) | Hawthorne, CA | 06/17/2025 | $125,000 |
| Boom Supersonic | Senior Propulsion Engineer-Systems Performance & Operability | Denver, CO | 06/14/2025 | $160,000 |
| Spacex | SR. Propulsion Engineer, Engine Systems (Raptor) | Hawthorne, CA | 05/27/2025 | $125,000 |
| Spacex | SR. Propulsion Engineer, Engine Systems (Raptor) | Hawthorne, CA | 04/28/2025 | $125,000 |
| Ursa Major | Propulsion Engineer II-Fluid and Mechanical Systems, In-Space | Berthoud, CO | 04/28/2025 | $90,000 |
| Bae Systems | Icbm Propulsion Systems Electrical Engineer | Clearfield, UT | 04/25/2025 | $52,080 |
| Blue Origin Personnel | Propulsion Integration Systems Engineer II-New Glenn | Seattle, WA | 04/17/2025 | $96,310 |
| Penn State University | Electrical Propulsion and Power Systems Engineer | Parkesburg, PA | 04/16/2025 | $76,700 |
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