168 OPEN
SALARIES · STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Structural Engineer [YoY +8%]
Median total compensation for structural engineer roles in space. Open roles by salary, direct from each employer.
[ SENIOR COMPENSATION · ANNUAL · BASE ]
$180,000 – $230,000USD
§ 01Compensation by level
[ MID ]
$135K
[ SENIOR ]
$180K
[ STAFF ]
$230K
[ PRINCIPAL ]
$290K
§ 02Top-paid open roles
- 01SSenior Structures Design EngineerStoke Space·Kent, Washington$151K–$328K
- 02RPrincipal Mechanical Design & Analysis Engineer, ToolingRelativity Space·Long Beach, California$185K–$277K
- 03TStructural Integrity Lead, Space Based InterceptorTrue Anomaly·Denver, CO; Long Beach, CA$190K–$275K
- 04VSenior Mechanical Design Engineer, AvionicsVast·Long Beach, California, United States$138K–$265K
- 05VStructures Design Reliability EngineerVast·Long Beach, California, United States$162K–$265K
- 06VPropulsion Structures EngineerVast·Long Beach, California, United States$138K–$265K
- 07
Senior Spacecraft Structural Analysis Engineer II - TS/SCI ClearanceRocket Lab·Long Beach, CA$132K–$255K - 08SMechanical Design Manager - Nova Stage 1 AftStoke Space·Kent, Washington$129K–$252K
- 09RStaff Structures EngineerRelativity Space·Long Beach, California$164K–$246K
- 10RStaff Structures Engineer (Terran-R Vehicle)Relativity Space·Long Beach, California$164K–$246K
§ 03Top employers hiring structural engineers
| Employer | Open roles | Median comp |
|---|---|---|
| SpaceX | 48 | $130K |
| Relativity Space | 33 | $162K |
| Rocket Lab | 13 | $135K |
| Vast | 11 | $178K |
| Isar Aerospace | 7 | — |
| Varda Space | 7 | $136K |
| Stoke Space | 6 | $171K |
| Axiom Space | 6 | — |
§ 04Top cities hiring structural engineers
| Metro | Open roles | Median comp |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach | 51 | $162K |
| Starbase | 19 | — |
| Hawthorne | 18 | $130K |
| El Segundo | 7 | $136K |
| Bastrop | 6 | — |
| Houston | 6 | — |
| Costa Mesa | 5 | $168K |
| Centennial | 5 | $108K |
§ 05FAQ
- How much do structural engineers make in the space industry?
- Senior structural engineers in the space industry typically earn $180K base salary at top employers. Staff-level roles run $230K and principal-level reach $290K. Numbers are median base salary across 108 data points; total compensation including equity is typically 15-30% higher at private space companies.
- Who is hiring the most structural engineers right now?
- SpaceX (48 open roles), Relativity Space (33 open roles), and Rocket Lab (13 open roles) lead by open-role volume. Browse all 168 open structural engineer roles sorted by recency.
- Where are most structural engineer jobs located?
- The top space industry hubs for structural engineer roles right now are Long Beach, Starbase, and Hawthorne. 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 structural 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 structural engineer role