The defense industry is shifting, but there is still money to be earned careers such as aerospace engineering. The top five highest paying states for aerospace engineers, according to the most recent Department of Labor statistics, include states from coast to coast.
#1 Washington State
The highest paying state won’t come as a surprise – Washington. Washington, and the Seattle metro area, in particular, is home to a major cluster of aerospace companies, including The Boeing Company. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?
#2 Kansas
The heartland turns out number two on the list – Kansas is the second highest paying state. State leaders are working hard to ensure Wichita remains the Air Capital. Kansas is home to 200 aviation suppliers with 30,000 aviation workers.
#3 Alabama
Alabama is third, thanks to Rocket City, or Huntsville, Ala. Huntsville is home to Redstone Arsenal, the Army’s center for missile and rocket programs.
#4 Connecticut
Connecticut comes in at fourth. Big aerospace companies mean big business and high pay for aerospace jobs. The worldwide headquarters for United Technologies Corporation and its subsidiaries Sikorsky, Pratt & Whitney and Hamilton Sundstrand, is located in Connecticut.
#5 Florida
Number five on the list is Florida, home to nearly 500 aerospace companies and several U.S. Air Force bases. And we can’t forget the critical role of the space coast, site of unmanned civilian and military space launches.
Aerospace engineering is a competitive, demanding field. But the right job in the right state could spell significant pay and career potential.
