Head-to-head
Northrop Grumman vs L3Harris
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.
Northrop Grumman vs L3Harris, in brief
, the SpaceJobs.Now board shows 767 open Northrop Grumman roles at a typical $107k to $251k a year (median $130k) and 214 open L3Harris roles.
L3Harris pays more on typical work (Stated per posting vs Northrop Grumman's $107k–$251k/yr typical (live median $130k/yr)), and the rates both boards post make that 70% likely.
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 Systems & Test, Technicians, Propulsion, and Mechanical; Northrop Grumman also covers Avionics and Launch & Ops; L3Harris also covers Flight Software and Science & Data.
Right now Northrop Grumman has more live roles (767 vs 214).
Bottom line: L3Harris pays more, so pick L3Harris for the higher rate, or Northrop Grumman if its specific work fits you better.
| Northrop Grumman | L3Harris | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical pay | $107k–$251k/yr typical (live median $130k/yr) | Stated per posting |
| Type of company | Spacecraft & stations · Space systems (part of a defense prime) | Spacecraft & stations · Space systems (part of a defense prime) |
| Kinds of work | Systems & Test, Technicians, Propulsion, Avionics, Mechanical, and Launch & Ops | Systems & Test, Technicians, Mechanical, Propulsion, Flight Software, and Science & Data |
| Where it hires | Redondo Beach, CA; Dulles, VA; Gilbert, AZ; Utah; Kennedy Space Center, FL | Palm Bay, FL; Stennis Space Center, MS; Schriever SFB, CO; Wilmington, MA; Cape Canaveral, FL |
| Open roles now | 767 live | 214 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.
Northrop Grumman vs L3Harris 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 Systems & Test and Technicians roles.
See 767 open roles →Best for people looking for Systems & Test and Technicians roles, with higher pay.
See 214 open roles →Northrop Grumman and L3Harris 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 | Northrop Grumman | L3Harris |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles | 765 | 216 |
| Share of all open space roles | 4.1% | 1.2% |
| Posted in the last 30 days | 508 | 126 |
| Posted this week | 207 | 32 |
| Taken down this week | 192 | 42 |
| Open roles with a known posting date | 765 | 216 |
| Half of its postings come down within (days) | 17 | 22 |
| Kinds of work hiring | 14 | 13 |
| Open only to US persons or citizens | 99.5% | 3.2% |
| Name a security clearance | 84.4% | 100.0% |
| Take a diploma or an associate's degree | 9.5% | 7.4% |
| Name a master's or PhD | 83.1% | 4.2% |
| Postings that count military experience | 13 | 5 |
| SkillBridge internships | 8 | 0 |
| Postings that state pay | 98.0% | 41.7% |
| Median posted pay a year | $130,000 | $131,000 |
| Starter roles (internships, new graduate, entry level) | 21 | 2 |
| Starter roles' share of its open roles | 2.7% | 0.9% |
| Internships and co-ops | 7 | 0 |
| Ask for weekend work | 6.7% | 4.2% |
| Ask for overtime or extended hours | 97.8% | 2.8% |
| Name an evening, night or rotating shift | 4.1% | 4.2% |
| State a share of time traveling | 88.5% | 16.7% |
| Postings that offer relocation | 494 | 8 |
| Postings that say no relocation is offered | 270 | 0 |
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Northrop Grumman vs L3Harris: common questions
Which pays more, Northrop Grumman or L3Harris?
L3Harris pays more on typical work (Stated per posting vs Northrop Grumman's $107k–$251k/yr typical (live median $130k/yr)), and the rates both boards post make that 70% likely.
Is Northrop Grumman or L3Harris 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.