LA's entertainment, aerospace, and tech companies use the CCAT to identify top talent. Prepare for roles at SpaceX, Hulu, Snap, and more.
Avg. Salary Range
$95,000–$185,000
CCAT Job Openings
2,600+ monthly
Top Industry
Tech / Aerospace
Los Angeles is the second-largest metropolitan economy in the United States, with a uniquely diverse job market spanning entertainment, aerospace, technology, and healthcare. The city's tech sector — sometimes called Silicon Beach — has grown rapidly, with companies like Snap, Hulu, and Riot Games establishing major operations in the Playa Vista and Santa Monica neighborhoods. SpaceX, headquartered in Hawthorne, uses cognitive aptitude assessments for engineering, operations, and mission planning roles where split-second problem-solving is critical. Northrop Grumman and Raytheon, both with significant LA-area operations, apply the CCAT for defense technology and systems engineering positions. The entertainment industry has also adopted cognitive testing for business operations roles at companies like Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Lionsgate. LA employers typically set CCAT thresholds between 70th and 85th percentile, with aerospace and tech companies at the higher end.
| Company | Industry | Typical Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| SpaceX | Aerospace / Space Tech | 85th+ percentile |
| Snap Inc. | Social Media / Tech | 75–85th percentile |
| Hulu | Streaming / Entertainment | 70–80th percentile |
| Riot Games | Gaming / Entertainment | 75–85th percentile |
| Northrop Grumman | Defense / Aerospace | 75–80th percentile |
| Green Dot Corporation | Fintech / Banking | 70–75th percentile |
Thresholds are approximate and may vary by role, department, and time of year. Data compiled from public job postings, Glassdoor reviews, and candidate reports.
Los Angeles has a unique CCAT landscape because the city's industries are so varied. Aerospace companies like SpaceX set some of the highest thresholds in the country — Elon Musk's companies are known for extreme selectivity, and a CCAT score below the 85th percentile is unlikely to advance your application. In contrast, entertainment companies tend to set more moderate thresholds (70th–75th percentile) for business operations roles, though creative and technical positions may not use the CCAT at all. Silicon Beach tech companies fall somewhere in between. One LA-specific advantage: the city's sprawling geography means many companies offer hybrid or flexible work arrangements, so your commute tolerance can significantly expand your job options once you clear the CCAT hurdle.
If you are targeting aerospace roles at SpaceX or Northrop Grumman, the spatial reasoning section is critical — these companies need people who can visualize 3D systems, interpret technical diagrams, and spot patterns in complex data. Practice matrix puzzles, rotation problems, and visual sequence completion until you can solve them in under 15 seconds each.
Take a free 25-question sample exam that simulates the real CCAT experience. 15-minute timer, instant scoring, and detailed explanations.
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