183 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
- 01SSenior Propulsion EngineerStoke Space·Kent, Washington$151K–$328K
- 02STurbomachinery EngineerStoke Space·Kent, Washington$129K–$328K
- 03TDirector, Propulsion EngineeringTrue Anomaly·Denver, CO$190K–$320K
- 04TStaff Propulsion Analyst, Engine PerformanceTrue Anomaly·Denver, CO or Long Beach, CA$175K–$305K
- 05
Staff Propulsion Integration Engineer, OmenAnduril Industries·Costa Mesa, California, United States$220K–$292K - 06
Senior / Principal Propulsion EngineerRocket Lab·Long Beach, CA$116K–$270K - 07TStaff Propulsion EngineerTrue Anomaly·Denver, CO OR Long Beach, CA$155K–$260K
- 08RPrincipal Turbomachinery EngineerRelativity Space·Long Beach, California$185K–$254K
- 09RPrincipal Propulsion Engineer, Engine Systems & TestRelativity Space·Long Beach, California$185K–$254K
- 10RPrincipal Turbomachinery Engineer, Turbine DevelopmentRelativity Space·Long Beach, California$185K–$254K
§ 03Top employers hiring propulsion engineers
| Employer | Open roles | Median comp |
|---|---|---|
| Relativity Space | 44 | $157K |
| SpaceX | 43 | $118K |
| Rocket Lab | 27 | $151K |
| True Anomaly | 12 | $163K |
| Anduril Industries | 9 | $170K |
| Vast | 7 | $154K |
| Astranis | 6 | $156K |
| Varda Space | 6 | $186K |
§ 04Top cities hiring propulsion engineers
| Metro | Open roles | Median comp |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach | 63 | $155K |
| Hawthorne | 35 | $118K |
| Denver | 9 | $170K |
| Costa Mesa | 7 | $170K |
| Starbase | 6 | — |
| El Segundo | 6 | $186K |
| San Francisco | 6 | $156K |
| Stennis Space Center | 6 | $124K |
§ 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?
- Relativity Space (44 open roles), SpaceX (43 open roles), and Rocket Lab (27 open roles) lead by open-role volume. Browse all 183 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 Denver. 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