SpaceX welding job in 2026: what you build, what you earn, and how to get hired
SpaceX hires more welders than any other commercial space company. The reason is straightforward: Starship is the largest rocket ever built, and it is made almost entirely of welded 304L stainless steel. Every barrel section, dome, nose cone, and structural element on both the Starship upper stage and Super Heavy booster is joined by welding. Add in Falcon 9 production at Hawthorne and engine testing support at McGregor, and SpaceX maintains a continuous demand for skilled TIG welders.
A SpaceX welding job is not a typical shop position. You will work long hours in a production environment that moves faster than any traditional aerospace company. The upside is that you watch the hardware you built fly to space, sometimes within weeks of welding it. The pay is competitive, stock options add long-term upside, and the experience on your resume carries significant weight in the aerospace welding market.
What you weld at each SpaceX location
SpaceX welding jobs exist at three primary facilities, and the work at each site is distinctly different.
Starbase, TX (Boca Chica) — Starship production
Starbase is where the bulk of SpaceX welding happens. Tank fabricators and welders here build the primary airframe of both the Starship upper stage and the Super Heavy booster. The material is 304L austenitic stainless steel, chosen for its cryogenic performance, weldability, and low cost compared to traditional aerospace alloys.
At Starbase, welders work on:
- Barrel section ring welds — joining large cylindrical steel sections into the 9-meter-diameter rocket body
- Dome welds — attaching convex tank end caps (domes) to barrel sections
- Nose cone assembly — welding the tapered upper section of Starship
- Internal structures — baffles, thrust structures, and mounting hardware inside propellant tanks
- Plumbing and manifolds — propellant feed lines, pneumatic systems, and engine interface hardware
- Hot gas hardware — components exposed to engine exhaust and reentry heating
The production environment at Starbase operates closer to a shipyard than a traditional aerospace cleanroom. Welders work outdoors and in partially enclosed production tents, often in the South Texas heat. The pace is relentless. SpaceX iterates on Starship design rapidly, which means welding procedures and fixturing change frequently. You must adapt quickly.
Hawthorne, CA — Falcon 9 and Dragon
The Hawthorne headquarters is where SpaceX manufactures Falcon 9 rockets and Dragon spacecraft. The primary structural material for Falcon 9 is aluminum-lithium alloy 2198 (Al-Li), which is lighter and stronger than conventional aluminum alloys. The tank walls and domes are joined using friction stir welding (FSW), an automated process, but manual TIG welding is used extensively for fittings, brackets, plumbing, and structural details.
Welders at Hawthorne also support Dragon capsule production, which involves welding pressure vessel components, structural members, and propulsion system hardware. The Hawthorne facility operates in a more traditional aerospace manufacturing environment compared to Starbase — climate-controlled, better tooling, and more structured processes.
McGregor, TX — Engine testing
The McGregor facility is SpaceX's rocket engine and stage testing complex. Welders here build and maintain the test stands, propellant delivery systems, and structural assemblies that support Raptor and Merlin engine tests. The materials include stainless steel, carbon steel, and Inconel (nickel-based superalloy) for high-temperature applications near engine test stands.
McGregor welding is different from production vehicle welding. Test stand hardware takes extreme loads and thermal cycling, and repairs and modifications are constant as test campaigns evolve. Welders at McGregor need to be versatile across multiple materials and joint types.
SpaceX Raptor engines use Inconel and other nickel superalloys for high-temperature combustion chamber and nozzle components. Welding Inconel requires different techniques and filler metals than stainless steel. Raptor production welding happens primarily at Hawthorne and McGregor. If you have experience welding nickel alloys, particularly Inconel 625 or 718, that skill set is in high demand at SpaceX.
SpaceX welding pay breakdown for 2026
SpaceX publishes pay bands for its welding positions. Here is the current compensation structure based on reported 2026 salary data.
| Position | Pay Range | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welder Level 1 | $20.00 – $27.00/hr | Hourly | Starbase, Hawthorne, McGregor |
| Welder Level 2 | $25.00 – $32.50/hr | Hourly | Starbase, Hawthorne, McGregor |
| Welder Level 3 | $30.00 – $38.00/hr | Hourly | Starbase, Hawthorne |
| Welding Engineer I | $95,000 – $115,000 | Salary | Starbase, Hawthorne |
| Welding Engineer II | $110,000 – $130,000 | Salary | Starbase, Hawthorne |
At a 50-hour work week (common at SpaceX), a Level 2 welder earning $30/hr base would earn approximately $78,000 annually before overtime premium. With 10 hours of weekly overtime at time-and-a-half ($45/hr), annual gross pay reaches roughly $90,000-$95,000.
Stock options: SpaceX offers equity compensation (stock options) to most employees, including welders. SpaceX stock has appreciated substantially over the past several years, and employees have periodic opportunities to sell shares in tender offers. The actual value of stock options depends on grant size, vesting schedule, and SpaceX's valuation at the time of sale. For some long-tenured welders, stock options have been worth more than years of base salary.
Benefits: SpaceX provides medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) with company match; short and long-term disability; life insurance; and paid parental leave. Starbase employees also receive housing assistance and relocation support given the remote location.
The work schedule: what 50-60 hours really means
The most discussed aspect of SpaceX welding jobs is the work schedule. Standard schedules vary by site and production phase, but here is what to expect.
Starbase typical schedule: 5 days per week, 10-12 hour shifts. During production pushes (ahead of launches or vehicle stacking), 6-day weeks at 10+ hours per day are common. Multiple shift patterns are offered, including day shift and night shift.
Hawthorne typical schedule: Similar to Starbase but with slightly more structure. 5x10 schedules are common, with overtime during production crunches.
McGregor typical schedule: Tied to test campaigns. When engine testing is active, hours increase. Between campaigns, the schedule may be closer to 5x8 or 5x9.
The intensity is real. A 55-hour week is closer to the norm than the exception at Starbase. Some weeks hit 60+ hours. The pace slows somewhat between major milestones, but SpaceX maintains a faster production tempo than any traditional aerospace company. If you have worked in oil and gas pipeline welding or shipyard fabrication, the hours will feel familiar. If your welding career has been in union shops with strict 40-hour weeks, the adjustment will be significant.
Starbase (Brownsville/South Padre area) has significantly lower housing costs than Hawthorne (Los Angeles metro). A Welder Level 2 earning $30/hr goes much further in South Texas than in LA. Hawthorne welders typically pay $2,000-$3,000/month for a one-bedroom apartment, while Starbase-area welders can find comparable housing for $800-$1,400/month. Factor in the cost of living when comparing pay rates between locations.
Qualifications and how to apply
SpaceX cares more about your hands than your credentials. The weld test is the ultimate filter.
Minimum requirements for Welder Level 1:
- 1+ years of TIG welding experience in manufacturing, OR
- Certificate of completion from an accredited welding program within the last 2 years
- Ability to read engineering drawings and welding symbols
- Physical ability to work in various positions (overhead, vertical, horizontal)
Preferred qualifications:
- TIG welding on stainless steel (304, 316) or aluminum alloys
- AWS D17.1 (Aerospace Fusion Welding) certification — not required but puts you ahead
- Experience with thin-wall pressure vessel welding
- Ability to weld to NASA 5009 or equivalent aerospace quality standards
- Prior aerospace, automotive, or petrochemical welding experience
The weld test: Every SpaceX welder must pass a hands-on weld test. You will TIG weld sample joints on materials representative of the program you are applying to. At Starbase, expect stainless steel butt joints and possibly pipe joints. The welds are visually inspected and may be X-rayed or destructively tested. This is a pass/fail evaluation. If your beads are consistent, your fusion is complete, and your porosity is minimal, you will pass.
How to apply: Search for welding positions at SpaceX careers or find current openings on Zero G Talent. SpaceX posts positions by location and level. Apply with a resume that highlights your TIG welding experience, the materials you have welded, and any relevant certifications.
SpaceX welding vs. traditional aerospace welding
The comparison with traditional defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing comes down to pace versus stability.
| Factor | SpaceX | Traditional Aerospace |
|---|---|---|
| Work hours | 50-60/week typical | 40-50/week typical |
| Production pace | Extremely fast, iterative | Slow, process-heavy |
| Material variety | Primarily 304L SS (Starship) | Multiple alloys per program |
| Job security | Higher turnover reported | Very stable, long programs |
| Benefits | Stock options, 401(k) | Pension, 401(k), tuition reimbursement |
| Clearance | Generally not required | Often required (Secret/TS) |
| Career ceiling | Flat structure, rapid advancement possible | Defined ladder, slower progression |
| Resume impact | Highly valued across industry | Valued but expected |
SpaceX welding experience carries outsized resume value. Hiring managers across aerospace know that SpaceX welders have been tested in a high-volume, high-quality environment. Two years of SpaceX welding on Starship will open doors at virtually any aerospace company.
The tradeoff is the intensity. Not everyone can sustain 55-hour weeks of demanding physical work. Turnover in SpaceX welding positions is higher than at traditional defense contractors, partly because of the schedule and partly because SpaceX's performance standards result in attrition. If you last two or more years, you leave with skills and a resume that set you apart.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a SpaceX welder make in 2026?
SpaceX welders earn $20 to $38 per hour depending on level. Level 1 welders start at $20-$27/hr, Level 2 earns $25-$32.50/hr, and Level 3 earns $30-$38/hr. With overtime at 50+ hour weeks, annual gross pay for a Level 2 welder can reach $90,000-$95,000. Stock options provide additional long-term compensation.
Do you need AWS D17.1 certification to weld at SpaceX?
No, AWS D17.1 is not required. SpaceX lists it as preferred, not mandatory. What is required is passing the hands-on weld test during the hiring process. Strong TIG welding skills on stainless steel are more important than any specific certification. That said, holding AWS D17.1 strengthens your application and may help you get to the interview stage faster.
What material does SpaceX weld on Starship?
Starship is built from 304L austenitic stainless steel. This alloy was chosen for its performance at cryogenic temperatures (it holds liquid methane and liquid oxygen), its weldability, its strength at high temperatures during reentry, and its low cost compared to aerospace-grade aluminum or carbon fiber. Falcon 9 uses aluminum-lithium alloy 2198.
How many hours do SpaceX welders work per week?
Most SpaceX welders work 50-60 hours per week, structured as five 10-12 hour shifts. Six-day weeks happen during production pushes. The schedule varies by site and production phase, with Starbase being the most demanding. Multiple shift options (day and night) are available.
Is a SpaceX welding job worth it?
It depends on your priorities. The work is physically demanding, the hours are long, and the pace is intense. But the pay is competitive, the stock options can be very valuable, and SpaceX welding experience is one of the strongest credentials a welder can have in aerospace. If you can handle 2-3 years of intense work, you will leave with skills, savings, and a resume that opens doors everywhere in the industry.
