RF engineer salary in California
In California, space employers offer RF and communications engineers a median of $182k a year, the middle half $152k–$202k $8k above the national posted median. From 135 jobs at 29 employers that name a salary in their postings.
- 25th percentile$151,987.50/hr
- Median (50th)$181,500/hr
- 75th percentile$202,000/hr
- Distinct posted rates135
- Jobs stating an hourly rate135
- Employers29
The median is the middle of the 135 distinct rates they post, and the middle half, $151,987.50–$202,000 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$151,987.50/hr
- Median (50th)$181,500/hr
- 75th percentile$202,000/hr
- Distinct posted rates135
- Jobs stating an hourly rate135
- Employers29
The median is the middle of the 135 distinct rates they post, and the middle half, $151,987.50–$202,000 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$181,500
- Hours in a full-time year2,080
- The same per hour, full time$87.26/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.
- SpaceX24 jobs
- Amazon Leo14 jobs
- Boeing12 jobs
- Rocket Lab11 jobs
- Blue Origin8 jobs
- K2 Space7 jobs
- Northwood Space6 jobs
- E-Space6 jobs
- Viasat5 jobs
- Impulse Space5 jobs
Jobs stating pay, the employers with the most first: 98 at the 10 shown and 37 at 19 other employers, 135 in all.
The jobs themselves: RF engineer jobs in California · RF engineer pay nationwide
What RF and communications engineers are paid in California
Each bar counts the open jobs posting pay in its step of pay (a range at its midpoint).
Median $182k a year. Middle half $152k to $202k. Point at a bar for its count. Tap a bar for its count.
Posted on open jobs in California
Middle half of 135 distinct posted rates (a job posted many times at one rate counted once), median $182k. 79% of the 170 open RF engineer jobs in California state pay.
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RF 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $187k | $108k–$377k | 20 (4) |
| El Segundo | $167k | $98.6k–$317k | 18 (4) |
| Long Beach | $165k | $88k–$275k | 17 (4) |
| Hawthorne | $173k | $105k–$340k | 13 (2) |
| Los Angeles | $162k | $77k–$270k | 12 (3) |
| Irvine | $193k | $105k–$340k | 9 (1) |
| Palo Alto | $208k | $105k–$280k | 8 (1) |
| Torrance | $183k | $104k–$226k | 6 (1) |
| Redondo Beach | $159k | $105k–$220k | 6 (2) |
| Carlsbad | $183k | $95k–$336k | 5 (1) |
| Redwood City | $210k | $150k–$300k | 4 (1) |
| Burlingame | $178k | $130k–$210k | 4 (1) |
| Santa Clara | $170k | $100k–$200k | 4 (1) |
| Sunnyvale | $215k | $135k–$288k | 3 (3) |
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.
RF engineer pay by employer in California
What each employer posts for RF and communications 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 RF and communications engineers nationwide when it has such a page.
Best-paid open RF engineer jobs in California
The open jobs posting the highest pay figures tonight, at most two from one employer.
$269,175–$376,844/yr- $269,175–$376,844/yr
$210,000–$340,000/yr
$212,500–$335,500/yr
$219,161–$316,566/yr- $210,000–$300,000/yr
$218,000–$279,000/yr
$185,200–$287,500/yr
$200,000–$270,000/yr
$190,000–$275,000/yr- $190,000–$275,000/yr
$205,800–$257,200/yr
RF engineer salary in California: common questions
How much does a RF engineer make in California?
Open RF engineer jobs in California that state pay post a median of $182k, the middle half $152k–$202k (135 jobs from 29 employers).
Where in California do RF and communications engineers earn the most?
By the median rate open jobs post, in the towns with the most jobs stating pay: San Diego ($187k), El Segundo ($167k), Long Beach ($165k) and Hawthorne ($173k). The town table lists 14.
Which employers in California pay RF and communications engineers the most?
Among employers stating a rate on at least three open jobs here: Blue Origin ($276k), Array Labs ($210k) and Varda Space Industries ($207k).
How does California compare with the rest of the country?
The posted median in California ($182k) is $8k above the national posted median of $174k.
Where do these figures come from?
From the pay open jobs state, read every night from each employer's own job board: 135 of 170 open RF engineer jobs in California (79%) state pay. No pay is estimated for a job that states none; "up to" ceilings and weekly travel rates are left out.
RF engineer pay in other states
Sources and method
Cite this page
SpaceJobs.Now. (2026). RF engineer salary in California. Data as of 7 Nov 2026. https://spacejobs.now/salaries/rf-engineers/california