253 OPEN
SALARIES · PROPULSION ENGINEER
Propulsion Engineer [YoY +8%]
Median total compensation for propulsion engineer roles in space. Open roles by salary, direct from each employer.
[ SENIOR COMPENSATION · ANNUAL · BASE ]
$195,000 – $255,000USD
§ 01Compensation by level
[ MID ]
$145K
[ SENIOR ]
$195K
[ STAFF ]
$255K
[ PRINCIPAL ]
$320K
§ 02Top-paid open roles
- 01
Principal Propulsion EngineerRocket Lab·Long Beach, CA$162K–$351K - 02Principal Electric Propulsion EngineerRocket Lab·Long Beach, CA$162K–$350K
- 03Principal Combustion Devices EngineerRocket Lab·Long Beach, CA$162K–$350K
- 04
Principal Propulsion Engineer, Air Vehicles (Solid Rocket Motor Integration)Anduril Industries·Costa Mesa, California, United States$253K–$336K - 05Principal Propulsion Engineer, Air Vehicles (Air Breathing Engine Integration)Anduril Industries·Costa Mesa, California, United States$253K–$336K
- 06STurbomachinery EngineerStoke Space·Kent, Washington$129K–$328K
- 07SSenior Propulsion EngineerStoke Space·Kent, Washington$151K–$328K
- 08Senior Combustion Devices Engineer IIRocket Lab·Long Beach, CA$132K–$320K
- 09Staff Propulsion Integration Engineer, OmenAnduril Industries·Costa Mesa, California, United States$220K–$292K
- 10Staff Propulsion Engineer, Air Vehicles (Solid Rocket Motor Integration)Anduril Industries·Costa Mesa, California, United States$220K–$292K
§ 03Top employers hiring propulsion engineers
| Employer | Open roles | Median comp |
|---|---|---|
| SpaceX | 69 | $130K |
| Rocket Lab | 42 | $162K |
| Relativity Space | 31 | $155K |
| Anduril Industries | 21 | $193K |
| True Anomaly | 14 | $200K |
| Vast | 10 | $160K |
| Ursa Major | 9 | $126K |
| K2 Space | 9 | $158K |
§ 04Top cities hiring propulsion engineers
| Metro | Open roles | Median comp |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach | 70 | $163K |
| Hawthorne | 59 | $130K |
| Costa Mesa | 17 | $193K |
| Denver | 10 | $203K |
| Los Angeles | 9 | $158K |
| Berthoud | 9 | $126K |
| El Segundo | 8 | $160K |
| San Francisco | 8 | $165K |
§ 05FAQ
- How much do propulsion engineers make in the space industry?
- Senior propulsion engineers in the space industry typically earn $195K base salary at top employers. Staff-level roles run $255K and principal-level reach $320K. Numbers are median base salary across 184 data points; total compensation including equity is typically 15-30% higher at private space companies.
- Who is hiring the most propulsion engineers right now?
- SpaceX (69 open roles), Rocket Lab (42 open roles), and Relativity Space (31 open roles) lead by open-role volume. Browse all 253 open propulsion engineer roles sorted by recency.
- Where are most propulsion engineer jobs located?
- The top space industry hubs for propulsion engineer roles right now are Long Beach, Hawthorne, and Costa Mesa. Defense space tends to concentrate in DC/Northern Virginia and Colorado Springs (clearance-required roles), while commercial launch is heaviest in LA basin and Florida's Space Coast.
- Do propulsion engineer roles in space require security clearance?
- Many do. Defense space programs at Anduril, Lockheed Martin Space, Northrop Grumman, Sierra Space, and the US Space Force require Secret or TS/SCI clearance. Commercial-space roles at SpaceX, Rocket Lab, Vast, and Astranis generally do not, though some specific government contracts may. ITAR registration is more common than clearance — most rocket roles require it.
§ 06See all open roles
Browse every propulsion engineer role