Where do aerospace and defence occupiers lease office space in San Francisco?

Most cluster in Financial District. Rent runs ~78 USD/sqft ($78 USD) for trophy and prime stock.

What fit-out spec do aerospace and defence occupiers run in San Francisco?

Typically high-end at $235–330/sqft.

How much office space per seat should a aerospace and defence occupier plan in San Francisco?

Plan ~210 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 21,000 sqft.

What NAICS codes describe the aerospace and defence vertical?

Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 3364, 5415.

What is the talent index in San Francisco?

98/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Aerospace and defence occupiers in San Francisco typically cluster in Financial District, plan ~210 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out ($235–330/sqft), and pay around 78 USD/sqft ($78 USD) on Class A.

Preferred submarket: Financial District.
Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($235–330/sqft).
Plan ~210 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
Class A rent context: 78 USD/sqft ($78 USD).
Typical lease: 7 years with 22 months rent-free.
Talent depth in San Francisco: 98/100.

Aerospace and defence office space in San Francisco

Aerospace and defence occupiers in San Francisco typically cluster in Financial District, plan ~210 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out">fit-out ($235–330/sqft), and pay around 78 USD/sqft ($78 USD) on Class A.

TL;DR

Preferred submarket: Financial District.
Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($235–330/sqft).
Plan ~210 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
Class A rent context: 78 USD/sqft ($78 USD).
Typical lease: 7 years with 22 months rent-free.
Talent depth in San Francisco: 98/100.

Where they cluster

Aerospace and defence occupiers in San Francisco typically anchor in Financial District. Banking, asset managers, law firms, professional services.

What they pay

Class A rent in San Francisco runs 78 USD/sqft ($78 USD) on a 7-year lease with 22 months free. Prime submarkets sit at or modestly above the city index.

Spec and fit-out

Typical aerospace and defence fit-out targets high-end specification at $235–330/sqft. Branded reception, full client-facing programming, premium furniture, and specialist AV are standard.

Headcount sizing

Plan around 210 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount aero/defence office in San Francisco typically targets 21,000 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Programme leadership and contracting teams concentrate near government anchors; cleared-personnel logistics drive submarket selection. Deepest AI/ML and senior software engineering talent pool globally. Average all-in compensation indexes 98 vs. New York's 100.

Tax and lease context

Headline corporate tax: 27%. Modified-gross with operating-expense escalations over a base year. Rent-free of 18-30 months on a 10-year term is current market for trophy assets in lease-up. TI of $150-$220/sqft is achievable. Termination options at year 5 are increasingly negotiable.

Key facts

city	San Francisco
industry	Aerospace and defence
naics	3364, 5415
preferredSubmarket	Financial District
preferredFitoutSpec	High-end
fitoutBand	$235–330/sqft
sqftPerSeat	210
classARentLocal	78 USD/sqft/yr
classARentUsd	$78/sqft/yr
vacancyPct	31.5%
typicalLeaseYears	7
typicalRentFreeMonths	22
talentIndex	98
corporateTaxPct	27%

Frequently asked questions

Where do aerospace and defence occupiers lease office space in San Francisco?: Most cluster in Financial District. Rent runs ~78 USD/sqft ($78 USD) for trophy and prime stock.
What fit-out spec do aerospace and defence occupiers run in San Francisco?: Typically high-end at $235–330/sqft.
How much office space per seat should a aerospace and defence occupier plan in San Francisco?: Plan ~210 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 21,000 sqft.
What NAICS codes describe the aerospace and defence vertical?: Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 3364, 5415.
What is the talent index in San Francisco?: 98/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Miriam Hollander — Lead market analyst. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

Primary sources for this page

CBRE Marketview reports — CBRE
JLL Office Insight — JLL
Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat — Cushman & Wakefield
Savills World Research — Savills
Colliers Global Office Outlook — Colliers

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