Rocket Lab jobs with salary estimates
Estimated pay breakdown by level
| Level | Roles | Base salary | Bonus | Stock / equity | Benefits value | Total comp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | 4 | $79K to $128K est. | $5K to $8K est. | not estimated | $34K to $54K est. | $117K to $190K est. |
| Experienced | 49 | $75K to $106K est. | $5K to $7K est. | not estimated | $32K to $46K est. | $110K to $157K est. |
| Internships | 45 | about $28 an hour est. | Hourly roles. We don't add bonus or benefits to these. | |||
How we estimate
Base salary. If Rocket Lab posted a pay range, we use it and mark it posted. If not, we use the median to 90th-percentile yearly wage for the matching occupation from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. That isn't starting pay; many people in the job earn less than the low end.
Bonus and benefits. We use BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, June 2026, Table 2. For professional jobs like engineering, wages are 67.7% of what employers spend per worker, supplemental pay (bonuses and overtime) is 3.0%, and paid leave, insurance, retirement and required benefits make up the rest. We scale base pay by those shares (for example 67.7% wages and 3% supplemental pay for professional and related jobs). These are national averages, not Rocket Lab's own plan.
Stock and equity. We don't estimate it. Government data doesn't cover it and Rocket Lab doesn't post it, so total comp here leaves equity out. For many tech and space companies, stock can be a large part of pay.
Estimates are a guide, not an offer. Full details on how we estimate pay.
Every open Rocket Lab role and its pay
| Role | Level | Location | Base salary | Bonus | Benefits value | Total comp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal Flight Software Engineer | Experienced | Littleton, CO | $136K to $215K est. | $6K to $10K est. | $59K to $93K est. | $201K to $317K est. |
| Principal Flight Software Engineer | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $136K to $215K est. | $6K to $10K est. | $59K to $93K est. | $201K to $317K est. |
| Senior Flight Software Engineer I | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $136K to $215K est. | $6K to $10K est. | $59K to $93K est. | $201K to $317K est. |
| Senior Flight Software Engineer II | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $136K to $215K est. | $6K to $10K est. | $59K to $93K est. | $201K to $317K est. |
| Senior Flight Software Engineer II - Secret Clearance | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $136K to $215K est. | $6K to $10K est. | $59K to $93K est. | $201K to $317K est. |
| Senior Flight Software Engineer I - Secret Clearance | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $136K to $215K est. | $6K to $10K est. | $59K to $93K est. | $201K to $317K est. |
| Principal Embedded Software Engineer | Experienced | Tucson, AZ | $136K to $215K est. | $6K to $10K est. | $59K to $93K est. | $201K to $317K est. |
| Manufacturing Engineer II - Propulsion | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $135K to $206K est. | $6K to $9K est. | $58K to $89K est. | $199K to $304K est. |
| Senior Avionics Test and Launch Engineer | Experienced | Wallops Island, VA | $135K to $206K est. | $6K to $9K est. | $58K to $89K est. | $199K to $304K est. |
| Avionics Test and Launch Engineer II | Experienced | Wallops Island, VA | $135K to $206K est. | $6K to $9K est. | $58K to $89K est. | $199K to $304K est. |
| Principal Spacecraft GNC Engineer - Secret Clearance | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $135K to $206K est. | $6K to $9K est. | $58K to $89K est. | $199K to $304K est. |
| Senior Spacecraft GNC Engineer I | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $135K to $206K est. | $6K to $9K est. | $58K to $89K est. | $199K to $304K est. |
| Senior Spacecraft GNC Engineer II | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $135K to $206K est. | $6K to $9K est. | $58K to $89K est. | $199K to $304K est. |
| Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Test Engineer I | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $135K to $206K est. | $6K to $9K est. | $58K to $89K est. | $199K to $304K est. |
| Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Test Engineer II | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $135K to $206K est. | $6K to $9K est. | $58K to $89K est. | $199K to $304K est. |
| Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Components Engineer II | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $135K to $206K est. | $6K to $9K est. | $58K to $89K est. | $199K to $304K est. |
| Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer I | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $135K to $206K est. | $6K to $9K est. | $58K to $89K est. | $199K to $304K est. |
| Lead, Test & Launch Operations Engineer – Avionics | Experienced | Wallops Island, VA | $123K to $190K est. | $5K to $8K est. | $53K to $82K est. | $182K to $281K est. |
| Senior Manufacturing Engineer I - Avionics & Test | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $102K to $160K est. | $5K to $7K est. | $44K to $69K est. | $151K to $236K est. |
| Senior Manufacturing Engineer II - Avionics & Test | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $102K to $160K est. | $5K to $7K est. | $44K to $69K est. | $151K to $236K est. |
| Lead Manufacturing Engineer - Avionics & Test | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $102K to $160K est. | $5K to $7K est. | $44K to $69K est. | $151K to $236K est. |
| Business Development Engineer I | Entry-level | Littleton, CO | $83K to $150K est. | $6K to $11K est. | $35K to $63K est. | $124K to $224K est. |
| Business Development Engineer I | Entry-level | Long Beach, CA | $83K to $150K est. | $6K to $11K est. | $35K to $63K est. | $124K to $224K est. |
| Electrical Technician III | Experienced | Stennis Space Center, MS | $78K to $116K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $34K to $50K est. | $115K to $171K est. |
| Senior Electrical Technician | Experienced | Stennis Space Center, MS | $78K to $116K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $34K to $50K est. | $115K to $171K est. |
| Test Technician III | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $75K to $106K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $32K to $46K est. | $110K to $157K est. |
| Assembly Integration & Test Technician | Experienced | Tucson, AZ | $75K to $106K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $32K to $46K est. | $110K to $157K est. |
| Senior Vehicle Integration and Test Technician | Experienced | Wallops Island, VA | $75K to $106K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $32K to $46K est. | $110K to $157K est. |
| Lead Assembly Integration & Test Technician | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $75K to $106K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $32K to $46K est. | $110K to $157K est. |
| Senior Quality Technician | Experienced | Albuquerque, NM | $75K to $106K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $32K to $46K est. | $110K to $157K est. |
| GSE Mechanical Technician II | Experienced | Stennis Space Center, MS | $75K to $106K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $32K to $46K est. | $110K to $157K est. |
| Precision Cleaning Technician II - B Shift | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $75K to $106K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $32K to $46K est. | $110K to $157K est. |
| Senior Mechanical Technician | Experienced | Wallops Island, VA | $75K to $106K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $32K to $46K est. | $110K to $157K est. |
| Test Technician III - C Shift | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $75K to $106K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $32K to $46K est. | $110K to $157K est. |
| Aerospace Test Technician II | Experienced | Silver Spring, MD | $75K to $106K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $32K to $46K est. | $110K to $157K est. |
| Aerospace Test Technician III | Experienced | Silver Spring, MD | $75K to $106K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $32K to $46K est. | $110K to $157K est. |
| Environmental Test Technician II | Experienced | Silver Spring, MD | $75K to $106K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $32K to $46K est. | $110K to $157K est. |
| Fluids Technician III - B Shift | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $75K to $106K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $32K to $46K est. | $110K to $157K est. |
| Launch Technician I - Mechanical | Entry-level | Mahia, NZ | $75K to $106K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $32K to $46K est. | $110K to $157K est. |
| Technician I-III, Ops Support – Facilities | Entry-level | Albuquerque, NM | $75K to $106K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $32K to $46K est. | $110K to $157K est. |
| Equipment Maintenance Technician II | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $65K to $95K est. | $4K to $5K est. | $27K to $40K est. | $95K to $141K est. |
| Senior Equipment Maintenance Technician | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $65K to $95K est. | $4K to $5K est. | $27K to $40K est. | $95K to $141K est. |
| Master HVAC Technician | Experienced | Middle River, MD | $61K to $95K est. | $3K to $5K est. | $26K to $40K est. | $90K to $141K est. |
| CNC Machinist III - A Shift | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $59K to $80K est. | $5K to $7K est. | $24K to $32K est. | $88K to $119K est. |
| Senior CNC Machinist - C Shift | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $59K to $80K est. | $5K to $7K est. | $24K to $32K est. | $88K to $119K est. |
| Senior CNC Machinist - D Shift | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $59K to $80K est. | $5K to $7K est. | $24K to $32K est. | $88K to $119K est. |
| Senior Welder - B Shift | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $54K to $78K est. | $5K to $7K est. | $22K to $31K est. | $80K to $116K est. |
| Orbital Tube Welder III - B Shift | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $54K to $78K est. | $5K to $7K est. | $22K to $31K est. | $80K to $116K est. |
| Senior HITL Technician | Experienced | Auckland, NZ | $52K to $74K est. | $2K to $3K est. | $23K to $32K est. | $77K to $110K est. |
| CNC Operator | Experienced | Warkworth, NZ | $51K to $74K est. | $4K to $7K est. | $21K to $30K est. | $76K to $110K est. |
| Propulsion Assembly Technician III - A Shift | Experienced | Long Beach, CA | $46K to $63K est. | $4K to $6K est. | $19K to $25K est. | $68K to $94K est. |
| Aerospace Production Technician II | Experienced | Silver Spring, MD | $46K to $63K est. | $4K to $6K est. | $19K to $25K est. | $68K to $94K est. |
| Reaction Wheel Assembly Technician | Experienced | Auckland, NZ | $32K to $44K est. | $3K to $4K est. | $13K to $18K est. | $48K to $66K est. |
| Ground Systems Engineering Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Middle River, MD | ~$32/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Ground Systems Engineering Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Middle River, MD | ~$32/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Quality Engineering Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Long Beach, CA | ~$36/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Ground Systems Engineering Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Stennis Space Center, MS | ~$32/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Supply Chain Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Silver Spring, MD | ~$24/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Export Compliance Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Long Beach, CA | ~$23/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Ground Systems Engineering Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Stennis Space Center, MS | ~$32/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Supply Chain Intern | Internship | Long Beach, CA | ~$24/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Government Operations Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Littleton, CO | ~$23/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Government Operations Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Washington, DC | ~$23/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Government Operations Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Littleton, CO | ~$23/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Government Operations Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Washington, DC | ~$23/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Test Engineering Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Wallops Island, VA | ~$36/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Test Engineering Intern - Manufacturing Spring 2027 | Internship | Long Beach, CA | ~$36/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Manufacturing Engineering Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Wallops Island, VA | ~$36/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Test Engineering Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Stennis Space Center, MS | ~$36/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Test Engineering Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Stennis Space Center, MS | ~$36/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Business Development Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Toronto, CAN | ~$18/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Business Development Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Toronto, CAN | ~$18/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Electrical Engineering Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Pasadena, CA | ~$37/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Optical Engineering Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Tucson, AZ | ~$28/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| People & Culture Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Long Beach, CA | ~$23/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| R&D Engineering Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Albuquerque, NM | ~$28/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| R&D Engineering Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Albuquerque, NM | ~$28/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Supply Chain Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Middle River, MD | ~$24/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Supply Chain Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Tucson, AZ | ~$24/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Supply Chain Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Silver Spring, MD | ~$24/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Supply Chain Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Long Beach, CA | ~$24/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Supply Chain Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Middle River, MD | ~$24/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Supply Chain Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Long Beach, CA | ~$24/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Systems Engineering Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Chantilly, VA | ~$32/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Systems Engineering Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Pasadena, CA | ~$32/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Manufacturing Engineering Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Long Beach, CA | ~$36/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Manufacturing Engineering Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Middle River, MD | ~$36/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Manufacturing Engineering Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Long Beach, CA | ~$36/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Manufacturing Engineering Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Middle River, MD | ~$36/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Propulsion Analyst Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Long Beach, CA | ~$42/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Propulsion Analyst Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Long Beach, CA | ~$42/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Indirect Procurement Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Long Beach, CA | ~$23/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Indirect Procurement Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Long Beach, CA | ~$23/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Test Engineering Intern - Avionics Summer 2027 | Internship | Long Beach, CA | ~$36/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Flight Software Intern Spring 2027 | Internship | Littleton, CO | ~$40/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Flight Software Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Littleton, CO | ~$40/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Additive Manufacturing Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Long Beach, CA | ~$16/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
| Integration & Test Intern Summer 2027 | Internship | Long Beach, CA | ~$28/hr est. | Hourly or rough figure, no breakdown | ||
All Rocket Lab jobs Filter Rocket Lab on the jobs board How we estimate pay
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About the pay figures (~): These are estimates. Yearly figures are estimated total comp ranges: the employer's posted pay range, or, with no posted pay, the median to 90th-percentile BLS wage for similar jobs, plus typical benefits and bonus, without stock. Hourly figures for internships and contract roles are posted rates or BLS hourly wage ranges. Figures outside the U.S. and for loosely matched titles are rough ballparks. How we estimate