Mission operations engineer salary in California
In California, space employers offer mission and launch operations engineers a median of $152k a year, the middle half $133k–$172k $10.4k above the national posted median. From 66 jobs at 25 employers that name a salary in their postings.
- 25th percentile$133,225/hr
- Median (50th)$152,250/hr
- 75th percentile$171,875/hr
- Distinct posted rates66
- Jobs stating an hourly rate66
- Employers25
The median is the middle of the 66 distinct rates they post, and the middle half, $133,225–$171,875 an hour, runs from their 25th percentile to their 75th: half of the rates fall between them. Each range counts at its midpoint, and a job posted many times at one rate counts once, so no employer's posting volume sets the figure.
- 25th percentile$133,225/hr
- Median (50th)$152,250/hr
- 75th percentile$171,875/hr
- Distinct posted rates66
- Jobs stating an hourly rate66
- Employers25
The median is the middle of the 66 distinct rates they post, and the middle half, $133,225–$171,875 an hour, runs from their 25th percentile to their 75th: half of the rates fall between them. Each range counts at its midpoint, and a job posted many times at one rate counts once, so no employer's posting volume sets the figure.
- Median posted pay, a year$152,300
- Hours in a full-time year2,080
- The same per hour, full time$73.20/hr
Every figure here is a year's pay: a job that posts pay counts at 2,080 hours (40 a week for 52 weeks). Rounded to the nearest $100.
- SpaceX12 jobs
- Rocket Lab7 jobs
- Northrop Grumman6 jobs
- K2 Space4 jobs
- Vast4 jobs
- Anduril3 jobs
- Impulse Space3 jobs
- Astrolab3 jobs
- Reflect Orbital3 jobs
- Firefly Aerospace2 jobs
Jobs stating pay, the employers with the most first: 47 at the 10 shown and 19 at 15 other employers, 66 in all.
The jobs themselves: Mission operations engineer jobs in California · Mission operations engineer pay nationwide
What mission and launch operations engineers are paid in California
Each bar counts the open jobs posting pay in its step of pay (a range at its midpoint).
Median $152k a year. Middle half $133k to $172k. Point at a bar for its count. Tap a bar for its count.
Posted on open jobs in California
Middle half of 66 distinct posted rates (a job posted many times at one rate counted once), median $152k. 87% of the 76 open mission operations engineer jobs in California state pay.
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Mission operations engineer pay by town in California
Towns where at least three open jobs state pay, the towns with the most such jobs first.
| Town | Median posted | Posted range | Jobs (employers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach | $154k | $84.5k–$260k | 16 (5) |
| Hawthorne | $140k | $80k–$275k | 16 (4) |
| Redondo Beach | $143k | $91.8k–$266k | 9 (2) |
| Los Angeles | $163k | $99.2k–$221k | 7 (4) |
| El Segundo | $155k | $86.8k–$215k | 4 (4) |
| Costa Mesa | $162k | $127k–$243k | 3 (1) |
| Torrance | $138k | $88.4k–$175k | 3 (2) |
Median of employers' rates in the town, the lowest and highest rate posted, and the jobs and employers behind them. A town opens its own job page.
Mission operations engineer pay by employer in California
What each employer posts for mission and launch operations engineers here, the employers with the most jobs stating pay first.
Median of each employer's jobs in California (a range at its midpoint), and its lowest and highest rate here. An employer's name opens its pay for mission and launch operations engineers nationwide when it has such a page.
Best-paid open mission operations engineer jobs in California
The open jobs posting the highest pay figures tonight, at most two from one employer.
$180,000–$275,000/yr
$177,000–$265,600/yr
$195,000–$240,000/yr
$173,300–$259,850/yr
$183,000–$243,000/yr
$175,000–$225,000/yr
$180,000–$210,000/yr
$161,000–$221,000/yr
$150,000–$230,000/yr- $175,000–$200,000/yr
$165,000–$205,000/yr- $155,000–$215,000/yr
Mission operations engineer salary in California: common questions
How much does a mission operations engineer make in California?
Open mission operations engineer jobs in California that state pay post a median of $152k, the middle half $133k–$172k (66 jobs from 25 employers).
Where in California do mission and launch operations engineers earn the most?
By the median rate open jobs post, in the towns with the most jobs stating pay: Long Beach ($154k), Hawthorne ($140k), Redondo Beach ($143k) and Los Angeles ($163k). The town table lists 7.
Which employers in California pay mission and launch operations engineers the most?
Among employers stating a rate on at least three open jobs here: K2 Space ($174k), Anduril ($162k) and Impulse Space ($160k).
How does California compare with the rest of the country?
The posted median in California ($152k) is $10.4k above the national posted median of $142k.
Where do these figures come from?
From the pay open jobs state, read every night from each employer's own job board: 66 of 76 open mission operations engineer jobs in California (87%) state pay. No pay is estimated for a job that states none; "up to" ceilings and weekly travel rates are left out.
Mission operations engineer pay in other states
Sources and method
Cite this page
SpaceJobs.Now. (2026). Mission operations engineer salary in California. Data as of 7 Nov 2026. https://spacejobs.now/salaries/mission-operations-engineers/california