15 OPEN
SALARIES · RESEARCH SCIENTIST
Research Scientist [YoY +8%]
Median total compensation for research scientist roles in space. Open roles by salary, direct from each employer.
[ SENIOR COMPENSATION · ANNUAL · BASE ]
$235,000 – $305,000USD
§ 01Compensation by level
[ MID ]
$170K
[ SENIOR ]
$235K
[ STAFF ]
$305K
[ PRINCIPAL ]
$385K
§ 02Top-paid open roles
- 01PVisiting Staff ScientistPlanet Labs·San Francisco, CA$232K–$289K
- 02RMission Operations Responsible Engineer/ScientistRelativity Space·Long Beach, California$164K–$226K
- 03MSenior Instrument Calibration ScientistMuon Space·Mountain View or San Jose CA$184K–$223K
- 04RSenior AI/ML Scientist, Planetary ScienceRelativity Space·Long Beach, California$154K–$211K
- 05VStaff ScientistVast·Houston; Long Beach, California, United States$160K–$210K
- 06VRadiation Effects ScientistVoyager Technologies·San Diego, CA; Long Beach, CA$165K–$205K
- 07PVisiting Scientist (San Francisco Office)Planet Labs·San Francisco, CA$145K–$181K
- 08VSenior Scientist, Biologics FormulationVarda Space·El Segundo, California, United States$140K–$180K
- 09VSenior Scientist, Analytical SciencesVarda Space·El Segundo, California, United States$140K–$180K
- 10MSenior Applied Scientist, GeospatialMuon Space·Northern VA or Remote$123K–$176K
§ 03Top employers hiring research scientists
| Employer | Open roles | Median comp |
|---|---|---|
| Varda Space | 4 | $140K |
| Relativity Space | 3 | $183K |
| Muon Space | 2 | $177K |
| Slingshot Aerospace | 2 | $139K |
| Planet Labs | 2 | $212K |
| Vast | 1 | $185K |
| Voyager Technologies | 1 | $185K |
§ 04Top cities hiring research scientists
| Metro | Open roles | Median comp |
|---|---|---|
| El Segundo | 4 | $140K |
| Long Beach | 3 | $183K |
| San Francisco | 2 | $212K |
| Remote | 2 | $139K |
| Northern VA or Remote | 1 | $150K |
| Houston; Long Beach | 1 | $185K |
| San Diego | 1 | $185K |
| Mountain View or San Jose CA | 1 | $204K |
§ 05FAQ
- How much do research scientists make in the space industry?
- Senior research scientists in the space industry typically earn $235K base salary at top employers. Staff-level roles run $305K and principal-level reach $385K. Numbers are median base salary across 64 data points; total compensation including equity is typically 15-30% higher at private space companies.
- Who is hiring the most research scientists right now?
- Varda Space (4 open roles), Relativity Space (3 open roles), and Muon Space (2 open roles) lead by open-role volume. Browse all 15 open research scientist roles sorted by recency.
- Where are most research scientist jobs located?
- The top space industry hubs for research scientist roles right now are El Segundo, Long Beach, and San Francisco. 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 research scientist 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 research scientist role