The Space Report: Highest Wages in Space Industry

According to The Space Report 2010: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity, space industry jobs stimulate the overall economy more than most other jobs because they offer higher salaries on average, providing more discretionary income and fostering a larger tax base.

Looking at 2008 figures, the top five states for space industry wages were:

Colorado – where the average space industry wage of $109,616 was 135 percent higher than the private sector wage of $46,726

Maryland – with an average space industry wage of $106,637, 124 percent higher than the private sector average of $47,545

Massachusetts – the space industry average wage was $106,111, or 85 percent higher than the average private sector wage of $57,283

Virginia – the average space industry wage of $102,890 was 120 percent higher than the private sector average of $46,708

California – with an average space industry wage of $101,948, or 101 percent higher than the private sector average of $50,704

The highest paid space workers in the United States were in Washington, D.C., with 1,185 workers in federal space research and technology jobs and an average annual salary of $114,642, 62 percent higher than the average private sector wage in the District of $71,266.

These, and other space industry employment facts, can be found in the Economic Impacts, Workforce, and Education section of The Space Report 2010.

Published by the Space Foundation, The Space Report 2010: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity is the definitive overview of the global space industry and serves as a valuable resource for government and business leaders, educators, financial analysts, students, and space-related businesses. Copies were distributed to registrants at the April 12-15 26th National Space Symposium and can be purchased online from www.TheSpaceReport.org.

 

This article is part of Space Watch: June 2010 (Volume: 9, Issue: 6).