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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 logoNorthrop Grumman
vs
L3Harris logoL3Harris

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 vs L3Harris, live figures as of 5 Nov 2026
 Northrop GrummanL3Harris
Typical pay$107k–$251k/yr typical (live median $130k/yr)Stated per posting
Type of companySpacecraft & stations · Space systems (part of a defense prime)Spacecraft & stations · Space systems (part of a defense prime)
Kinds of workSystems & Test, Technicians, Propulsion, Avionics, Mechanical, and Launch & OpsSystems & Test, Technicians, Mechanical, Propulsion, Flight Software, and Science & Data
Where it hiresRedondo Beach, CA; Dulles, VA; Gilbert, AZ; Utah; Kennedy Space Center, FLPalm Bay, FL; Stennis Space Center, MS; Schriever SFB, CO; Wilmington, MA; Cape Canaveral, FL
Open roles now767 live214 live
Employee ratingsSee its reviewSee 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.

ProfessionNorthrop GrummanL3Harris
Systems Engineer$143k/yr (105 roles)$132k/yr (50 roles)
Software Engineer$137k/yr (84 roles)$139k/yr (31 roles)
Manufacturing Engineer$112k/yr (26 roles)$120k/yr (15 roles)
Stated per postingPlatform-stated

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.

MeasureNorthrop GrummanL3Harris
Open roles765216
Share of all open space roles4.1%1.2%
Posted in the last 30 days508126
Posted this week20732
Taken down this week19242
Open roles with a known posting date765216
Half of its postings come down within (days)1722
Kinds of work hiring1413
Open only to US persons or citizens99.5%3.2%
Name a security clearance84.4%100.0%
Take a diploma or an associate's degree9.5%7.4%
Name a master's or PhD83.1%4.2%
Postings that count military experience135
SkillBridge internships80
Postings that state pay98.0%41.7%
Median posted pay a year$130,000$131,000
Starter roles (internships, new graduate, entry level)212
Starter roles' share of its open roles2.7%0.9%
Internships and co-ops70
Ask for weekend work6.7%4.2%
Ask for overtime or extended hours97.8%2.8%
Name an evening, night or rotating shift4.1%4.2%
State a share of time traveling88.5%16.7%
Postings that offer relocation4948
Postings that say no relocation is offered2700

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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.

Which has more open roles right now, Northrop Grumman or L3Harris?

Right now Northrop Grumman has more live roles (767 vs 214).

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.