Head-to-head
European Space Agency (ESA) vs NASA
Which posts more pay, which has more jobs open and of which kinds, and where each one hires, read from both employers' own job boards.
European Space Agency (ESA) vs NASA: the short answer
, SpaceJobs.Now lists 196 open jobs at European Space Agency (ESA) and 8 open jobs at NASA (typical pay $124k to $203k a year, median $157k).
NASA's open roles state enough salaries to measure: $124k–$203k/yr typical (live median $157k/yr). European Space Agency (ESA)'s do not yet, so check the pay each of its listings states.
European Space Agency (ESA) hires most for programs & business and NASA for mechanical, structures & thermal; both have programs & business, quality and mechanical jobs open.
Right now European Space Agency (ESA) has more open jobs (196 vs 8).
Bottom line: European Space Agency (ESA) has more jobs open right now, so it is the wider net; NASA is the pick if it hires for your exact job where you live.
| European Space Agency (ESA) | NASA | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical posted pay, every kind of job | Ranges posting by posting (given on 0% of its open roles) | $124k–$203k/yr typical (live median $157k/yr) |
| Open jobs now | 196 open | 8 open |
| Most open jobs in | Programs & Business 51, Science & Data 31, Systems & Test 31 and Software & IT 24 | Mechanical 2, Programs & Business 2, Quality 2 and Supply Chain 2 |
| Kind of employer | Spacecraft & stations · Europe's intergovernmental space agency: science, Earth observation, navigation and launcher missions | Spacecraft & stations · The US civil space agency: science missions, human spaceflight, aeronautics and technology |
| Headquarters | Not listed | Not listed |
| Where it hires | Noordwijk, Netherlands; Darmstadt and Cologne, Germany; Frascati, Italy; Villanueva de la Canada, Spain; Redu, Belgium; Paris, France | Texas, Alabama, Florida, Maryland, Mississippi and New Jersey |
| Pay on listings | 0% of its open roles state a salary | 100% of its open roles state a salary |
| How you apply | On its own careers site | On its own careers site |
Pay shows each employer's live measured band where its open jobs post enough hourly rates; it mixes every kind of job the employer has open, before shift differentials and bonuses. Where our pay data comes from.
Best for the widest choice of openings, above all for programs & business.
196 open jobs now →Best for mechanical looking for spacecraft & stations work in its states.
8 open jobs now →Job alerts
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European Space Agency (ESA) vs NASA: common questions
Which pays more, European Space Agency (ESA) or NASA?
NASA's open roles state enough salaries to measure: $124k–$203k/yr typical (live median $157k/yr). European Space Agency (ESA)'s do not yet, so check the pay each of its listings states.
Which has more open jobs, European Space Agency (ESA) or NASA?
Right now European Space Agency (ESA) has more open jobs (196 vs 8).
What jobs are European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA hiring for?
European Space Agency (ESA) hires most for programs & business and NASA for mechanical, structures & thermal; both have programs & business, quality and mechanical jobs open.
Can you apply to both European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA?
Yes. They are separate spacecraft & stations, each with its own careers site, so applying to one does not affect an application at the other.