Head-to-head
K2 Space vs Apex
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.
K2 Space
ApexK2 Space vs Apex, in brief
, the SpaceJobs.Now board shows 232 open K2 Space roles at a typical $124k to $250k a year (median $158k) and 124 open Apex roles at a typical $135k to $226k a year (median $158k).
K2 Space pays more on typical work ($124k–$250k/yr typical (live median $158k/yr) vs Apex's $135k–$226k/yr typical (live median $158k/yr)), and the rates both boards post make that 53% likely, and its ceiling is higher too.
What we know does not show which of the two hires more of the people who apply. Both work in spacecraft and stations.
Both hire for Avionics, Mechanical, Technicians, Systems & Test, and Flight Software; K2 Space also covers Propulsion.
Right now K2 Space has more live roles (232 vs 124).
Bottom line: K2 Space pays more, so pick K2 Space for the higher rate, or Apex if its specific work fits you better.
| K2 Space | Apex | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical pay | $124k–$250k/yr typical (live median $158k/yr) | $135k–$226k/yr typical (live median $158k/yr) |
| Type of company | Spacecraft & stations · Satellite manufacturer | Spacecraft & stations · Satellite buses |
| Kinds of work | Avionics, Mechanical, Technicians, Systems & Test, Propulsion, and Flight Software | Technicians, Avionics, Mechanical, Flight Software, and Systems & Test |
| Where it hires | Los Angeles, CA; Seattle, WA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Open roles now | 232 live | 124 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.
K2 Space vs Apex salary by profession
The median of what each employer's open roles of the same work post, from its own job board. Each figure opens that employer's salary page for the work, by level and by site.
Best for people looking for Avionics and Mechanical roles, with higher pay.
See 232 open roles →Best for people looking for Technicians and Avionics roles.
See 124 open roles →K2 Space and Apex 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 | K2 Space | Apex |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles | 232 | 125 |
| Share of all open space roles | 1.2% | 0.7% |
| Posted in the last 30 days | 28 | 58 |
| Posted this week | 9 | 13 |
| Taken down this week | 10 | 10 |
| Open roles with a known posting date | 232 | 125 |
| Half of its postings come down within (days) | 70 | 36 |
| Kinds of work hiring | 14 | 14 |
| Open only to US persons or citizens | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Name a security clearance | 11.2% | 11.2% |
| Take a diploma or an associate's degree | 1.7% | 3.2% |
| Name a master's or PhD | 19.4% | 29.6% |
| Postings that state pay | 97.8% | 96.8% |
| Median posted pay a year | $158,000 | $158,000 |
| Starter roles (internships, new graduate, entry level) | 7 | 3 |
| Starter roles' share of its open roles | 3.0% | 2.4% |
| Internships and co-ops | 7 | 3 |
| Ask for weekend work | 8.6% | 0.0% |
| Ask for overtime or extended hours | 8.2% | 2.4% |
| Name an evening, night or rotating shift | 0.0% | 1.6% |
| State a share of time traveling | 10.8% | 2.4% |
| H-1B visa applications certified (Department of Labor) | 0 | n/a |
| Green card (PERM) certifications (Department of Labor) | 0 | n/a |
| Applications asking citizenship or U.S. person status | 98.3% | 100.0% |
| Applications asking about a security clearance | 98.3% | 2.4% |
| Applications asking a GPA | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Applications asking SAT, ACT or GRE scores | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Applications asking salary expectations | 98.3% | 0.0% |
| Applications asking about past work or interviews there | 0.0% | 0.0% |
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K2 Space vs Apex: common questions
Which pays more, K2 Space or Apex?
K2 Space pays more on typical work ($124k–$250k/yr typical (live median $158k/yr) vs Apex's $135k–$226k/yr typical (live median $158k/yr)), and the rates both boards post make that 53% likely, and its ceiling is higher too.
Is K2 Space or Apex easier to get hired at?
What we know does not show which of the two hires more of the people who apply. Both work in spacecraft and stations.
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.