Head-to-head
Virgin Galactic vs SpaceX
Which posts more pay, which has more jobs open and of which kinds, and where each one hires, read from both employers' own job boards.
Virgin Galactic vs SpaceX: the short answer
, SpaceJobs.Now lists 75 open jobs at Virgin Galactic (typical pay $83.2k to $245k a year, median $126k) and 2,591 open jobs at SpaceX (typical pay $110k to $245k a year, median $138k).
For the same job, median posted pay: systems, integration & test: Virgin Galactic $181k/yr, SpaceX $135k/yr; launch & mission operations: Virgin Galactic $112k/yr, SpaceX $120k/yr; programs & business: Virgin Galactic $154k/yr, SpaceX $145k/yr. Virgin Galactic posts more in 4 of the 5 kinds of job both have measured.
Both hire in California; Virgin Galactic also hires in 2 other states, SpaceX in 9 others.
Both hire most for manufacturing & technicians: SpaceX has 507 of those jobs open, Virgin Galactic 22.
Right now SpaceX has more open jobs (2,591 vs 75).
Bottom line: Virgin Galactic for higher posted pay, SpaceX for more openings to choose from. Many people apply to both.
| Virgin Galactic | SpaceX | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems, Integration & Test pay | $164k–$269k/yr | $116k–$230k/yr |
| Launch & Mission Operations pay | $103k–$228k/yr | $77.7k–$175k/yr |
| Programs & Business pay | $136k–$297k/yr | $113k–$243k/yr |
| Propulsion & Engines pay | $139k–$207k/yr | $109k–$215k/yr |
| Typical posted pay, every kind of job | $83.2k–$245k/yr typical (live median $126k/yr) | $110k–$245k/yr typical (live median $138k/yr) |
| Open jobs now | 75 open | 2,591 open |
| Most open jobs in | Technicians 22, Mechanical 17, Systems & Test 7 and Launch & Ops 5 | Technicians 507, Supply Chain 497, Software & IT 422 and Programs & Business 359 |
| Kind of employer | Launch & propulsion · Suborbital spaceflight | Launch & propulsion · Launch and satellite broadband |
| Headquarters | Not listed | Not listed |
| Where it hires | New Mexico, California and Arizona | 10 states |
| Pay on listings | 100% of its open roles state a salary | 53.2% of its open roles state a salary |
| How you apply | On its own careers site | On its own careers site |
Pay shows each employer's live measured band where its open jobs post enough hourly rates; it mixes every kind of job the employer has open, before shift differentials and bonuses. Where our pay data comes from.
Best for people who want the higher posted pay, especially in systems & test.
75 open jobs now →Best for the widest choice of openings, above all for technicians.
2,591 open jobs now →Job alerts
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Virgin Galactic vs SpaceX: common questions
Which pays more, Virgin Galactic or SpaceX?
For the same job, median posted pay: systems, integration & test: Virgin Galactic $181k/yr, SpaceX $135k/yr; launch & mission operations: Virgin Galactic $112k/yr, SpaceX $120k/yr; programs & business: Virgin Galactic $154k/yr, SpaceX $145k/yr. Virgin Galactic posts more in 4 of the 5 kinds of job both have measured.
Which has more open jobs, Virgin Galactic or SpaceX?
Where do Virgin Galactic and SpaceX hire?
Virgin Galactic hires in New Mexico, California and Arizona; SpaceX in 10 states. Both hire in California; Virgin Galactic also hires in 2 other states, SpaceX in 9 others.
What jobs are Virgin Galactic and SpaceX hiring for?
Both hire most for manufacturing & technicians: SpaceX has 507 of those jobs open, Virgin Galactic 22.
Can you apply to both Virgin Galactic and SpaceX?
Yes. They are separate launch & propulsion, each with its own careers site, so applying to one does not affect an application at the other.