Head-to-head
Iridium vs SpaceX
Which pays more, which is easier to get into, and which fits the work you want. Compared on the pay each states, the kind of company, where each hires, and the roles open right now.
Iridium
SpaceXIridium vs SpaceX, in brief
, the SpaceJobs.Now board shows 53 open Iridium roles at a typical $105k to $243k a year (median $123k) and 2,588 open SpaceX roles at a typical $109k to $245k a year (median $138k).
SpaceX pays more on typical work ($109k–$245k/yr typical (live median $138k/yr) vs Iridium's $105k–$243k/yr typical (live median $123k/yr)), and the rates both boards post make that 86% likely, and its ceiling is higher too.
What we know does not show which of the two hires more of the people who apply. Iridium works in space data and services; SpaceX in launch and propulsion.
Both hire for Launch & Ops, Technicians, and Programs & Business; Iridium also covers Software & IT, Systems & Test, and Flight Software; SpaceX also covers Propulsion, Avionics, and RF & Payloads.
Right now SpaceX has more live roles (2,588 vs 53).
Bottom line: SpaceX pays more, so pick SpaceX for the higher rate, or Iridium if its specific work fits you better.
| Iridium | SpaceX | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical pay | $105k–$243k/yr typical (live median $123k/yr) | $109k–$245k/yr typical (live median $138k/yr) |
| Type of company | Space data & services · Satellite communications operator | Launch & propulsion · Launch and satellite broadband |
| Kinds of work | Software & IT, Systems & Test, Flight Software, Launch & Ops, Technicians, and Programs & Business | Propulsion, Technicians, Launch & Ops, Avionics, RF & Payloads, and Programs & Business |
| Where it hires | McLean and Reston, VA; Tempe and Chandler, AZ; Huntsville, AL; Grand Forks, ND | Hawthorne, CA; Bastrop and Starbase, TX; Redmond, WA; plus launch and test sites in Florida, California and Texas |
| Open roles now | 53 live | 2,588 live |
| Employee ratings | See its review | See its review |
Pay shows each employer's live measured band where its board has enough roles that state pay, otherwise our compiled benchmark. How we compile pay.
Best for people looking for Software & IT and Systems & Test roles.
See 53 open roles →Best for people looking for Propulsion and Technicians roles, with higher pay.
See 2,588 open roles →Iridium and SpaceX in our research
What the two employers' open postings on 4 Nov 2026 show, measured the same way for both by our space industry research, rebuilt every day. Every figure opens the row of the report it comes from.
| Measure | Iridium | SpaceX |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles | 54 | 2,582 |
| Share of all open space roles | 0.3% | 13.8% |
| Posted in the last 30 days | 2 | 563 |
| Posted this week | 3 | 170 |
| Taken down this week | 3 | 176 |
| Open roles with a known posting date | 2 | 2,582 |
| Kinds of work hiring | 7 | 14 |
| Open only to US persons or citizens | 40.7% | 100.0% |
| Name a security clearance | 27.8% | 7.7% |
| Take a diploma or an associate's degree | 5.6% | 26.3% |
| Name a master's or PhD | 11.1% | 16.3% |
| Postings that count military experience | 3 | 25 |
| SkillBridge internships | 0 | 0 |
| Postings that state pay | 92.6% | 53.4% |
| Median posted pay a year | $123,000 | $138,000 |
| Starter roles (internships, new graduate, entry level) | 6 | 57 |
| Starter roles' share of its open roles | 11.1% | 2.2% |
| Internships and co-ops | 2 | 12 |
| Ask for weekend work | 0.0% | 90.0% |
| Ask for overtime or extended hours | 0.0% | 88.8% |
| Name an evening, night or rotating shift | 0.0% | 8.4% |
| State a share of time traveling | 48.1% | 25.7% |
| Postings that offer visa sponsorship | 0 | n/a |
| Postings that say the employer does not sponsor work visas | 1 | n/a |
| H-1B visa applications certified (Department of Labor) | 5 | 28 |
| Green card (PERM) certifications (Department of Labor) | 1 | 3 |
| Half of its postings come down within (days) | n/a | 104 |
| Postings that offer relocation | n/a | 14 |
| Postings that say no relocation is offered | n/a | 0 |
| Applications asking citizenship or U.S. person status | n/a | 99.5% |
| Applications asking about a security clearance | n/a | 99.1% |
| Applications asking a GPA | n/a | 79.1% |
| Applications asking SAT, ACT or GRE scores | n/a | 79.1% |
| Applications asking salary expectations | n/a | 0.0% |
| Applications asking about past work or interviews there | n/a | 99.5% |
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Iridium vs SpaceX: common questions
Which pays more, Iridium or SpaceX?
SpaceX pays more on typical work ($109k–$245k/yr typical (live median $138k/yr) vs Iridium's $105k–$243k/yr typical (live median $123k/yr)), and the rates both boards post make that 86% likely, and its ceiling is higher too.
Is Iridium or SpaceX easier to get hired at?
What we know does not show which of the two hires more of the people who apply. Iridium works in space data and services; SpaceX in launch and propulsion.
More comparisons
Sorted by the expected value of applying to the stronger employer in each pair. A referral agreement, if an employer has one, can raise it here but never changes its salary.