Expert Aerospace Engineer salary in San Jose, CA
Based on 18 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Mountain View, Moffett Field, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Santa Clara.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $182,749 |
| 25th | $182,749 |
| 50th (median) | $187,782 |
| 75th | $202,946 |
| 90th | $210,425 |
Cost of living
San Jose's median expert Aerospace Engineer salary of $187,782 is worth about $170,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Jose = 110.4).
Compared with all workers here
All Aerospace Engineers in the San Jose, CA area earned a median of $181,630 in May 2025 (930 employed). The H-1B median here is $187,782, 3% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Archer Aviation | too few | 5 |
| Archer Aviation Operating | too few | 4 |
| Ceres Robotics | too few | 2 |
| Wisk Aero | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | too few | 2 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $135,000 | 15 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 4 |
| Expert · Level IV | $187,782 | 18 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $134,493 | $135,000 | 15 |
| Expert · Level IV | $187,782 | $187,782 | 18 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.