Head-to-head
Stoke Space vs Varda Space Industries
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.
Stoke Space
Varda Space IndustriesStoke Space vs Varda Space Industries, in brief
, the SpaceJobs.Now board shows 73 open Stoke Space roles at a typical $110k to $328k a year (median $157k) and 119 open Varda Space Industries roles at a typical $136k to $261k a year (median $160k).
Stoke Space pays more on typical work ($110k–$328k/yr typical (live median $157000) vs Varda Space Industries's $136k–$261k/yr typical (live median $160000)), a 52% chance on the rates the two boards state, and its ceiling is higher too.
What we know does not show which of the two hires more of the people who apply. Stoke Space is a launch & propulsion; Varda Space Industries is a spacecraft & stations.
Both hire for Technicians, Mechanical, and Avionics; Stoke Space also covers Propulsion and Launch & Ops; Varda Space Industries also covers Flight Software, Systems & Test, and Science & Data.
Right now Varda Space Industries has more live roles (119 vs 73).
Bottom line: Stoke Space pays more, so pick Stoke Space for the higher rate, or Varda Space Industries if its specific work fits you better.
| Stoke Space | Varda Space Industries | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical pay | $110k–$328k/yr typical (live median $157000) | $136k–$261k/yr typical (live median $160000) |
| Type of company | Launch & propulsion · Launch | Spacecraft & stations · In-space manufacturing and reentry |
| Kinds of work | Propulsion, Technicians, Mechanical, Avionics, and Launch & Ops | Mechanical, Avionics, Flight Software, Systems & Test, Technicians, and Science & Data |
| Where it hires | Kent, WA; Moses Lake, WA; Cape Canaveral, FL | El Segundo, CA |
| Open roles now | 73 live | 119 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 Propulsion and Technicians roles, with higher pay.
See 73 open roles →Best for people looking for Mechanical and Avionics roles.
See 119 open roles →Stoke Space and Varda Space Industries in our research
What the two employers' open postings on 2026-10-29 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 | Stoke Space | Varda Space Industries |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles | 74 | 119 |
| Share of all open space roles | 0.9% | 1.5% |
| Posted in the last 30 days | 17 | 77 |
| Kinds of work hiring | 12 | 13 |
| Open only to US persons or citizens | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Name a security clearance | 1.4% | 10.1% |
| Take a diploma or an associate's degree | 5.4% | 4.2% |
| Name a master's or PhD | 23.0% | 16.8% |
| Postings that state pay | 93.2% | 76.5% |
| Median posted pay a year | $152,000 | $160,000 |
| Starter roles (internships, new graduate, entry level) | 6 | 28 |
| Starter roles' share of its open roles | 8.1% | 23.5% |
| Internships and co-ops | 3 | 27 |
| Ask for weekend work | 13.5% | 3.4% |
| Ask for overtime or extended hours | 8.1% | 2.5% |
| Name an evening, night or rotating shift | 8.1% | 0.0% |
| State a share of time traveling | 2.7% | 6.7% |
| H-1B visa applications certified (Department of Labor) | 0 | 0 |
| Green card (PERM) certifications (Department of Labor) | 0 | 0 |
| Postings that offer relocation | 3 | 25 |
| Postings that say no relocation is offered | 0 | 0 |
| Applications asking citizenship or U.S. person status | 18.9% | 96.6% |
| Applications asking about a security clearance | 0.0% | 2.5% |
| Applications asking a GPA | 4.1% | 0.0% |
| Applications asking SAT, ACT or GRE scores | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Applications asking salary expectations | 95.9% | 0.0% |
| Applications asking about past work or interviews there | 0.0% | 0.0% |
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Stoke Space vs Varda Space Industries: common questions
Which pays more, Stoke Space or Varda Space Industries?
Stoke Space pays more on typical work ($110k–$328k/yr typical (live median $157000) vs Varda Space Industries's $136k–$261k/yr typical (live median $160000)), a 52% chance on the rates the two boards state, and its ceiling is higher too.
Is Stoke Space or Varda Space Industries easier to get hired at?
What we know does not show which of the two hires more of the people who apply. Stoke Space is a launch & propulsion; Varda Space Industries is a spacecraft & 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.