Lockheed Martin intern pay in 2026: hourly rates by education level
Lockheed Martin intern pay in 2026 ranges from $22/hour for sophomore-level business interns to $38/hour for PhD-level engineering and research interns. The rate depends almost entirely on two things: your education level (freshman through PhD) and your field of study. Location has a smaller effect — Lockheed pays similar intern rates at Fort Worth as it does at Littleton, with only modest adjustments for high-cost sites like Sunnyvale.
Lockheed hires roughly 4,000 interns per year across its four business sectors, making it one of the largest internship employers in aerospace and defense. The program runs primarily during summer (May-August) with some fall and spring co-op positions available.
Intern hourly rate by education level
Lockheed Martin uses a standardized intern pay scale that increments with each year of education:
The ranges reflect variation by discipline. Engineering and computer science interns earn at the top of each band. Business, finance, and communications interns earn at the lower end. A junior-year mechanical engineering intern typically earns $28-$29/hr, while a junior-year business intern earns $25-$26/hr.
Grade progression is time-based. You move up one education band each year you return. Returning Lockheed interns who come back for a second or third summer often earn $1-$2/hr above the standard rate for their new education level — the premium reflects both your additional year of school and your proven value.
Intern pay by discipline
Engineering interns earn more than business or administrative interns at Lockheed, reflecting the market premium for technical talent:
| Discipline | Junior Rate | Senior Rate | Master's Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineering | $27-$30/hr | $29-$32/hr | $32-$35/hr |
| Aerospace / Mechanical Eng. | $26-$29/hr | $28-$31/hr | $31-$34/hr |
| Electrical Engineering | $26-$29/hr | $28-$31/hr | $31-$34/hr |
| Systems Engineering | $26-$29/hr | $28-$31/hr | $31-$34/hr |
| Cybersecurity / IT | $25-$28/hr | $27-$30/hr | $30-$33/hr |
| Finance / Accounting | $24-$27/hr | $26-$29/hr | $29-$32/hr |
| Business / Supply Chain | $23-$26/hr | $25-$28/hr | $28-$31/hr |
| Communications / HR | $22-$25/hr | $24-$27/hr | $27-$30/hr |
Software engineering interns earn the highest rates, consistent with the broader market where tech companies and defense contractors compete for the same CS talent. Aerospace and mechanical engineering interns are close behind.
What interns actually earn per summer
Taking the median rates and a standard 12-week summer program at 40 hours/week:
| Education Level | Hourly Rate (median) | Weekly Gross | Summer Gross (12 wk) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshman | $23/hr | $920 | $11,040 |
| Sophomore | $25/hr | $1,000 | $12,000 |
| Junior | $27/hr | $1,080 | $12,960 |
| Senior | $29/hr | $1,160 | $13,920 |
| Master's | $32/hr | $1,280 | $15,360 |
| PhD | $36/hr | $1,440 | $17,280 |
Some Lockheed internship positions extend to 16 weeks, adding roughly 33% to the total. Co-op positions (full semester rotations) can run 6 months, providing more substantial earnings.
Lockheed Martin does not provide health insurance for summer interns on 10-12 week programs. Students should stay on their university or parent plan during the internship. Co-op students on 6+ month rotations may be eligible for limited benefits. The hourly rate is effectively the complete compensation — there's no 401(k), no bonus, and no stock purchase plan for interns.
Intern benefits and perks beyond pay
While the hourly rate is the primary compensation, Lockheed Martin internships include:
Housing assistance — Stipends of $1,000-$2,000/month at some locations for interns who relocate. Availability varies by site and isn't guaranteed for all positions.
Relocation travel — Round-trip travel to the internship site is covered or reimbursed.
9/80 schedule — Interns at most Lockheed sites work the same compressed schedule as full-time employees: nine 9-hour days per pay period with every other Friday off. That's 6 three-day weekends during a 12-week internship.
Networking events — Intern cohort activities, executive speaker series, and site tours are standard at major Lockheed facilities.
No overtime expected — Interns work standard 40-hour weeks. Lockheed doesn't push intern hours the way SpaceX does. Evenings and weekends are yours.
How Lockheed Martin intern pay compares
| Employer | Junior Eng. Rate | Senior Eng. Rate | Housing | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockheed Martin | $26-$29/hr | $28-$31/hr | Some sites | 40/wk |
| Northrop Grumman | $25-$28/hr | $27-$30/hr | Some sites | 40/wk |
| Boeing | $24-$28/hr | $26-$30/hr | Some sites | 40/wk |
| Raytheon / RTX | $24-$27/hr | $26-$29/hr | Varies | 40/wk |
| SpaceX | $30-$35/hr | $33-$38/hr | Stipend | 50-60/wk |
| NASA (Pathways) | $20-$24/hr | $22-$26/hr | None | 40/wk |
| Google (SWE intern) | $50-$55/hr | $52-$58/hr | Stipend | 40/wk |
Lockheed Martin intern pay sits at the top of the defense contractor range. SpaceX pays more per hour but expects 50-60 hour weeks — normalize for hours worked and the effective rate is comparable. NASA Pathways internships pay the least but provide a pipeline to federal employment. Tech company internships pay dramatically more for software roles.
Lockheed converts roughly 70-80% of interns to full-time offers. Return offers include base salary $3K-$6K above standard campus-hire rates, a $5K-$10K signing bonus for engineering hires, and accelerated security clearance processing that can start during the internship itself. An intern earning $28/hr is really earning that rate plus a high-probability path to a $78K-$88K starting salary with a 10% 401(k) match.
How to get a Lockheed Martin internship
Lockheed recruits interns through three channels:
Campus recruiting — Lockheed targets roughly 200 universities with active career fair presence, focusing on ABET-accredited engineering schools. Career fairs in September-October lead to summer offers by November-December.
Online applications — All positions are posted on Lockheed's careers site. Search "intern" or "co-op" and filter by business sector. Applications open in August-September for the following summer.
Referrals — Current Lockheed employees (including interns) can refer candidates. Referrals receive priority screening at most defense contractors.
Key qualifications: GPA above 3.0 (3.5+ for competitive sites), US citizenship for most positions, relevant coursework or project experience, and club involvement (AIAA, FSAE, rocketry teams).
Frequently asked questions
How much does Lockheed Martin pay interns per hour?
Lockheed Martin pays interns $22-$38/hour in 2026, depending on education level and discipline. Freshman-level interns earn $22-$25/hr, juniors earn $25-$29/hr, seniors earn $27-$31/hr, and master's/PhD students earn $30-$38/hr. Engineering and CS interns earn at the top of each band.
Do Lockheed Martin interns get housing?
Some Lockheed sites offer housing stipends of $1,000-$2,000/month for relocating interns. Availability varies by location and position. Round-trip travel to the internship site is typically covered. Check with your recruiter for site-specific details.
Is a Lockheed Martin internship worth it for the pay?
The hourly rate is competitive but the real value is the return offer. With a 70-80% conversion rate, the internship is the most reliable path to full-time Lockheed employment with a $78K-$92K starting salary and 10% 401(k) match. Security clearance processing can also begin during the internship, giving you a 6-18 month head start.
How does Lockheed Martin intern pay compare to SpaceX?
SpaceX pays interns $30-$38/hr (undergraduate) and $35-$45/hr (graduate) — higher than Lockheed. But SpaceX interns work 50-60 hours/week versus Lockheed's 40-hour weeks. Per hour worked, the rates are closer. Lockheed's 9/80 schedule also gives interns every other Friday off.
Browse Lockheed Martin positions or explore all space internship opportunities on Zero G Talent. For monthly salary breakdowns, see the Lockheed Martin internship salary guide. For full-time pay data, see Lockheed Martin starting salary for aerospace engineers or the Lockheed Martin pay scale overview.
