Head-to-head
KBR vs Leidos
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.
KBR
LeidosKBR vs Leidos, in brief
, the SpaceJobs.Now board shows 226 open KBR roles at a typical $124k to $217k a year (median $153k) and 56 open Leidos roles at a typical $122k to $278k a year (median $130k).
KBR pays more on typical work ($124k–$217k/yr typical (live median $153k/yr) vs Leidos's $122k–$278k/yr typical (live median $130k/yr)), and the rates both boards post make that 93% likely.
What we know does not show which of the two hires more of the people who apply. Both work in space data and services.
Both hire for Systems & Test, Science & Data, Launch & Ops, Software & IT, and Programs & Business; KBR also covers Technicians; Leidos also covers RF & Payloads.
Right now KBR has more live roles (226 vs 56).
Bottom line: KBR pays more, so pick KBR for the higher rate, or Leidos if its specific work fits you better.
| KBR | Leidos | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical pay | $124k–$217k/yr typical (live median $153k/yr) | $122k–$278k/yr typical (live median $130k/yr) |
| Type of company | Space data & services · Engineering and operations for NASA's human spaceflight and military space programs (part of a government contractor) | Space data & services · Space systems engineering, satellite payloads and NASA mission support (part of a government contractor) |
| Kinds of work | Systems & Test, Science & Data, Launch & Ops, Technicians, Software & IT, and Programs & Business | Systems & Test, RF & Payloads, Software & IT, Science & Data, Launch & Ops, and Programs & Business |
| Where it hires | Houston and Webster, TX (Johnson Space Center); Stennis Space Center, MS; Colorado Springs, CO; Chantilly, VA | Huntsville, AL; Fort Meade and Odenton, MD; Kennedy Space Center, FL; other US sites per posting |
| Open roles now | 226 live | 56 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 Systems & Test and Science & Data roles, with higher pay.
See 226 open roles →Best for people looking for Systems & Test and RF & Payloads roles.
See 56 open roles →KBR and Leidos 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 | KBR | Leidos |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles | 226 | 55 |
| Share of all open space roles | 1.2% | 0.3% |
| Posted in the last 30 days | 0 | 26 |
| Posted this week | 0 | 10 |
| Taken down this week | 10 | 9 |
| Open roles with a known posting date | 226 | 55 |
| Kinds of work hiring | 12 | 13 |
| Open only to US persons or citizens | 5.8% | 45.5% |
| Name a security clearance | 78.8% | 92.7% |
| Take a diploma or an associate's degree | 8.0% | 9.1% |
| Name a master's or PhD | 46.9% | 38.2% |
| Postings that count military experience | 8 | n/a |
| SkillBridge internships | 1 | n/a |
| Postings that state pay | 67.7% | 76.4% |
| Median posted pay a year | $153,000 | $130,000 |
| Starter roles (internships, new graduate, entry level) | 16 | n/a |
| Starter roles' share of its open roles | 7.1% | n/a |
| Internships and co-ops | 1 | n/a |
| Ask for weekend work | 2.2% | 5.5% |
| Ask for overtime or extended hours | 1.8% | 1.8% |
| Name an evening, night or rotating shift | 1.8% | 5.5% |
| State a share of time traveling | 19.5% | 3.6% |
| Postings that offer relocation | 97 | n/a |
| Postings that say no relocation is offered | 0 | n/a |
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KBR vs Leidos: common questions
Which pays more, KBR or Leidos?
KBR pays more on typical work ($124k–$217k/yr typical (live median $153k/yr) vs Leidos's $122k–$278k/yr typical (live median $130k/yr)), and the rates both boards post make that 93% likely.
Is KBR or Leidos 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 space data and services.
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.