Working in Information Technology at Lockheed Martin means operating at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and national security. For IT professionals, a career with this aerospace and defense giant is not only prestigious but also financially rewarding. If you're considering a role here, you're likely wondering what to expect in terms of salary. IT professionals at Lockheed Martin can earn a competitive salary, often ranging from approximately $80,000 for entry-level roles to well over $160,000 for senior and specialized positions.
This guide will break down what an IT professional at Lockheed Martin does, the average compensation you can expect, and the key factors that will influence your specific earning potential.
What Does an IT Professional at Lockheed Martin Do?
An IT role at Lockheed Martin goes far beyond typical corporate IT support. Here, IT professionals are integral to designing, developing, securing, and maintaining the complex digital infrastructure that underpins everything from advanced fighter jets like the F-35 to deep-space exploration missions and sophisticated missile defense systems.
Their responsibilities are mission-critical and can include:
- Software Engineering: Developing and maintaining the code for avionics, command and control systems, and mission-planning software.
- Cybersecurity: Defending the company's and the nation's most sensitive data from cyber threats, conducting vulnerability assessments, and ensuring compliance with strict government security protocols.
- Systems Engineering: Integrating complex hardware and software components into a cohesive, functioning system for defense platforms.
- Network Architecture: Designing and managing secure, resilient networks that can operate in challenging environments.
- Data Science and Analytics: Analyzing vast datasets from various sources to provide actionable intelligence and improve system performance.
- Cloud Infrastructure: Managing and securing cloud environments that host critical applications and development platforms.
Average IT Salary at Lockheed Martin
When analyzing salaries at a large organization like Lockheed Martin, it's helpful to look at both an overall average and the typical range.
According to data compiled from leading salary aggregators, the average base salary for an IT-related position at Lockheed Martin is approximately $112,000 per year. However, this is just a midpoint. A more realistic picture is a salary range that accounts for experience and role:
- Typical Salary Range: $85,000 to $165,000 per year.
- Entry-Level Positions (e.g., Associate Software Engineer, IT Support Analyst) typically start in the $75,000 to $95,000 range.
- Senior and Lead Positions (e.g., Senior Cybersecurity Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer) can command salaries of $140,000 to $170,000+.
It's also crucial to consider total compensation. According to Payscale, bonuses, profit sharing, and other incentives can add an additional $5,000 to $20,000 annually to an employee's total pay, depending on their role and performance.
*(Sources: Glassdoor, Payscale, and Salary.com, 2024 data.)*
Key Factors That Influence Salary
Your specific salary at Lockheed Martin will be determined by a combination of factors. Understanding these variables is key to negotiating your offer and planning your career trajectory.
###
Level of Education
A solid educational foundation is the entry ticket for most IT roles at Lockheed Martin.
- Bachelor’s Degree: A Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or a related engineering field is the standard requirement for most technical roles.
- Master’s Degree: Holding a Master’s degree (e.g., M.S. in Cybersecurity, M.S. in Computer Engineering) can provide a significant advantage. It often qualifies you for higher-level positions, can lead to a 10-15% higher starting salary, and may accelerate your path to leadership roles.
- Certifications: Industry certifications are highly valued as they validate specific, in-demand skills. Holding certifications like CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), Security+, PMP (Project Management Professional), or cloud-specific credentials like AWS Certified Solutions Architect can directly increase your earning potential and marketability.
###
Years of Experience
Experience is one of the most significant drivers of salary growth. Lockheed Martin often classifies its roles by experience level.
- Entry-Level (0-2 years): Professionals in this bracket are typically building foundational skills. Salaries often range from $75,000 to $95,000.
- Mid-Career (3-8 years): With proven expertise and a track record of successful projects, mid-career professionals see a substantial salary increase, typically earning between $95,000 and $135,000.
- Senior/Lead (8+ years): Senior professionals and technical leads who manage teams or architect complex systems are the highest earners. Their salaries frequently start at $135,000 and can extend well beyond $170,000, especially for those with specialized expertise and security clearances.
###
Geographic Location
Lockheed Martin has a major presence in numerous states, and salary offers are adjusted based on the local cost of living. You can expect higher pay in major tech hubs and high-cost-of-living areas.
- High-Cost Locations: Offices in areas like Bethesda, MD, Sunnyvale, CA, and Littleton, CO will generally offer higher salaries to compensate for the cost of living.
- Moderate-Cost Locations: Major hubs like Orlando, FL, Fort Worth, TX, and Marietta, GA, offer competitive salaries that are benchmarked to the local market. While the nominal salary might be lower than in California, the purchasing power could be equivalent or even greater.
According to Salary.com, a Software Engineer's salary can vary by as much as 15-20% between different metropolitan areas.
###
Company Type
While this article focuses on Lockheed Martin, it's useful to understand how the aerospace and defense (A&D) industry compares to others.
- Security Clearance Premium: Many IT roles at Lockheed Martin require a government security clearance (e.g., Secret, Top Secret). Obtaining and maintaining a clearance makes a professional highly valuable and often comes with a salary premium compared to similar roles in the commercial sector that do not require one.
- Stability vs. High-Risk/High-Reward: Compared to Big Tech (FAANG) or startups, A&D companies like Lockheed Martin may offer slightly lower top-end salaries for pure software roles but often provide superior job stability, strong retirement benefits, and a better work-life balance.
###
Area of Specialization
Within IT, what you specialize in has a massive impact on your value. High-demand fields command higher salaries.
- Cybersecurity Engineer: Given the nature of defense work, cybersecurity is paramount. Glassdoor data shows average salaries for these roles often range from $100,000 to $150,000.
- Software Engineer: This is a core role with a wide salary band depending on level and project complexity, typically ranging from $90,000 to $155,000+.
- Systems Engineer: These professionals are critical for integrating diverse technologies. Their salaries are strong, often falling between $105,000 and $165,000.
- Data Scientist: As data analytics becomes more crucial for defense intelligence, data scientists are in high demand, with salaries often mirroring or exceeding those of senior software engineers.
Job Outlook
The future is bright for IT professionals, especially those in sectors critical to national infrastructure and security. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects robust growth in key IT fields between 2022 and 2032.
- Information Security Analysts: Projected to grow by 32%, a rate considered "much faster than average."
- Software Developers: Projected to grow by 25%, also "much faster than average."
As a leader in the defense industry, Lockheed Martin will be a primary driver of this demand. The increasing sophistication of military technology and the persistent threat of cyber warfare ensure that the need for talented IT professionals will remain strong for the foreseeable future.
Conclusion
A career in Information Technology at Lockheed Martin offers a unique opportunity to work on challenging, meaningful projects while earning a highly competitive salary. Your compensation will be shaped by your education, experience, location, and, most importantly, your area of specialization.
For aspiring professionals, the path to a high-paying IT role at Lockheed Martin is clear: build a strong educational foundation, gain hands-on experience in high-demand fields like cybersecurity or software engineering, and pursue industry certifications to validate your skills. By doing so, you can position yourself for a stable, challenging, and financially rewarding career at the forefront of technology and defense.