Head-to-head
Peraton vs Parsons
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.
Peraton
ParsonsPeraton vs Parsons, in brief
, the SpaceJobs.Now board shows 9 open Peraton roles at a typical $81.1k to $128k a year (median $86k) and 24 open Parsons roles at a typical $142k to $271k a year (median $148k).
Parsons pays more on typical work ($142k–$271k/yr typical (live median $148k/yr) vs Peraton's $81.1k–$128k/yr typical (live median $86k/yr)), and the rates both boards post leave little doubt, 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 space data and services.
Both hire for Launch & Ops, Flight Software, Software & IT, Systems & Test, and Programs & Business; Peraton also covers RF & Payloads.
Right now Parsons has more live roles (24 vs 9).
Bottom line: Parsons pays more, so pick Parsons for the higher rate, or Peraton if its specific work fits you better.
| Peraton | Parsons | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical pay | $81.1k–$128k/yr typical (live median $86k/yr) | $142k–$271k/yr typical (live median $148k/yr) |
| Type of company | Space data & services · Space and mission operations (a government contractor) | Space data & services · Space domain awareness, satellite operations and Space Force ground systems (part of a government contractor) |
| Kinds of work | Launch & Ops, Flight Software, Software & IT, Systems & Test, RF & Payloads, and Programs & Business | Launch & Ops, Software & IT, Systems & Test, Flight Software, and Programs & Business |
| Where it hires | Wallops Island, VA; Las Cruces, NM; Aurora and Colorado Springs, CO; Greenbelt, MD | Across the US (each posting names its site) |
| Open roles now | 9 live | 24 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 Launch & Ops and Flight Software roles.
See 9 open roles →Best for people looking for Launch & Ops and Software & IT roles, with higher pay.
See 24 open roles →Peraton and Parsons 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 | Peraton | Parsons |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles | 9 | 24 |
| Share of all open space roles | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Posted in the last 30 days | 1 | 16 |
| Posted this week | 1 | 8 |
| Taken down this week | 2 | 3 |
| Open roles with a known posting date | 1 | 24 |
| Kinds of work hiring | 5 | 7 |
| Open only to US persons or citizens | 77.8% | 12.5% |
| Name a security clearance | 55.6% | 100.0% |
| Take a diploma or an associate's degree | 55.6% | 16.7% |
| Name a master's or PhD | 11.1% | 25.0% |
| Postings that state pay | 88.9% | 100.0% |
| Median posted pay a year | $86,000 | $148,000 |
| Ask for weekend work | 22.2% | 4.2% |
| Ask for overtime or extended hours | 100.0% | 4.2% |
| Name an evening, night or rotating shift | 33.3% | 4.2% |
| State a share of time traveling | 0.0% | 12.5% |
| Half of its postings come down within (days) | n/a | 15 |
| Starter roles (internships, new graduate, entry level) | n/a | 1 |
| Starter roles' share of its open roles | n/a | 4.2% |
| Internships and co-ops | n/a | 0 |
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Peraton vs Parsons: common questions
Which pays more, Peraton or Parsons?
Parsons pays more on typical work ($142k–$271k/yr typical (live median $148k/yr) vs Peraton's $81.1k–$128k/yr typical (live median $86k/yr)), and the rates both boards post leave little doubt, and its ceiling is higher too.
Is Peraton or Parsons 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.