Guardians and others who operate satellites, track space debris, support rocket launches, forecast space weather, and stand watch over nuclear missiles.
Top pay: highest pay, longest training
Space Operations Officer: Space Force officer who flies satellites, tracks objects in orbit, and protects U.S. space systems. Typical pay $122k.
Space Acquisition Program Manager: Officer who manages multibillion-dollar programs to buy rockets, satellites, and ground systems from contractors. Typical pay $122k.
ICBM Missile Launch Officer (Missileer): Air Force officer who sits on alert in an underground capsule, ready to launch nuclear missiles if ordered by the President. Typical pay $122k.
Military Astronaut: Military officer selected by NASA to fly to space, while remaining in the military. Typical pay $150k.
Launch Range Safety Officer: Watches a rocket launch in real time and decides whether to destroy it if it veers toward populated areas. Typical pay $120k.
Space & Atmospheric Weather Officer: Officer meteorologist who forecasts weather for flights and launches, and space weather like solar storms that can disrupt satellites. Typical pay $122k.
Satellite Ground Systems Engineer: Engineer who builds and runs the software and antennas that control satellites from the ground. Typical pay $110k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Orbital Analyst: Tracks thousands of satellites and pieces of space debris and warns operators about possible collisions. Typical pay $100k.
Launch Vehicle Technician: Assembles, tests, and fuels rockets at launch sites like Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Space Force Base. Typical pay $80k.
Missile Defense Systems Operator: Operates radars and interceptor systems like Patriot and THAAD that shoot down incoming missiles and drones. Typical pay $70k.
Space Systems Operator: Enlisted Guardian who operates satellites, missile-warning radars, and space surveillance systems. Typical pay $62k.
Space Force Intelligence Specialist: Analyzes foreign space and counterspace capabilities, like satellites designed to attack other satellites. Typical pay $62k.
Nuclear Weapons Specialist: Maintains, inspects, and handles nuclear weapons under extremely strict security and safety rules. Typical pay $62k.
Weather Specialist: Enlisted forecaster who observes and forecasts weather for flight operations and missions. Typical pay $62k.
Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Crew Member: Part of the Guard crews that would launch interceptor missiles from Alaska and California to stop an enemy nuclear missile headed for the U.S. Typical pay $80k.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.