115 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
- 02TPrincipal Structural Dynamics Engineer, Space Based InterceptorsTrue Anomaly·Denver, CO$185K–$315K
- 03VSenior Mechanical Design Engineer, AvionicsVast·Long Beach, California, United States$138K–$265K
- 04TStructural Dynamics Engineer (III to Staff), Space Based InterceptorsTrue Anomaly·Denver, CO, Long Beach, CA$105K–$260K
- 05TStructural Integrity Lead, Space Based InterceptorTrue Anomaly·Denver, CO or Long Beach, CA$150K–$255K
- 06RPrincipal Mechanical Design & Analysis Engineer, ToolingRelativity Space·Long Beach, California$196K–$253K
- 07VManufacturing Engineer, StructuresVast·Long Beach, California, United States$86K–$230K
- 08VSenior Mechanical Engineer, StructuresVast·Long Beach, California, United States$136K–$230K
- 09VSenior Structural & Mechanical EngineerVast·Long Beach, California, United States$160K–$227K
- 10RStaff Structural Analyst, PropulsionRelativity Space·Long Beach, California$164K–$226K
§ 03Top employers hiring structural engineers
| Employer | Open roles | Median comp |
|---|---|---|
| SpaceX | 34 | $138K |
| Relativity Space | 28 | $157K |
| Vast | 8 | $167K |
| Rocket Lab | 7 | $116K |
| True Anomaly | 6 | $183K |
| Sierra Space | 5 | $108K |
| Isar Aerospace | 4 | — |
| K2 Space | 3 | $158K |
§ 04Top cities hiring structural engineers
| Metro | Open roles | Median comp |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach | 39 | $157K |
| Starbase | 17 | — |
| Hawthorne | 7 | $120K |
| Bastrop | 6 | — |
| Denver | 4 | $193K |
| Centennial | 4 | $120K |
| Ottobrunn | 4 | — |
| El Segundo | 3 | $149K |
§ 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 (34 open roles), Relativity Space (28 open roles), and Vast (8 open roles) lead by open-role volume. Browse all 115 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