How Much Do NASA Astronauts Make? Salary, Pay Grades and Military Pay
Astronauts are government employees or service members, not contractors with flight bonuses. Here is what NASA and the federal pay tables say about their salaries.
NASA lists astronaut candidate pay at $152,258 a year, a figure it says reflects 2024 federal pay schedules and is adjusted with later raises. Civilian astronauts are federal employees, while military astronauts keep their service pay and benefits. Private astronauts who buy seats on commercial flights are not paid by NASA at all.
Astronaut pay works much like any other federal job in Houston. There is no extra pay per mission and no bonus for time in space.
How much does NASA pay astronauts?
NASA’s astronaut FAQ, last updated in August 2025, gives one number for astronaut candidates: $152,258 per year. NASA says that rate is an approximation based on 2024 pay schedules and will rise with any later federal pay increase.
Once candidates finish training and become astronauts, pay grows the way it does for other federal employees: through annual pay adjustments, step increases with time in the job and promotions. NASA’s astronaut office is at Johnson Space Center in Houston, so Houston locality pay applies.
What are the 2026 federal pay ranges in Houston?
The table shows 2026 General Schedule pay for the Houston area from the Office of Personnel Management. It includes the 1% General Schedule increase for 2026 and a 35% Houston locality payment. Many experienced NASA scientists, engineers and managers are paid in grades GS-12 to GS-15.
| Grade | Step 1 (2026) | Step 10 (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| GS-11 | $86,123 | $111,966 |
| GS-12 | $103,225 | $134,195 |
| GS-13 | $122,749 | $159,575 |
| GS-14 | $145,052 | $188,573 |
| GS-15 | $170,618 | $197,200 (capped) |
The GS-15 top step is held at the federal pay cap, Executive Schedule level IV. NASA’s candidate figure of $152,258 falls inside the upper GS-14 range on the 2026 table. The full table is on OPM’s Houston pay page.
How are military astronauts paid?
Military astronauts stay on active duty and are paid by their service, not on NASA’s civilian scale. NASA’s FAQ says military candidates are detailed to Johnson Space Center and remain in active-duty status “for pay, benefits, leave, and other similar military matters.”
In practice, a Navy commander or Air Force colonel flying for NASA earns the same base pay and allowances as any officer of that rank and length of service. Their pay depends on military pay tables, housing allowances and special pays that apply to their career field.
Do astronauts get paid extra for going to space?
No. NASA astronauts receive their regular salary whether they are training on the ground or living on the space station. There is no separate flight bonus or hazard pay for spaceflight.
Astronauts also have jobs between flights. They train, support other crews from Mission Control, test hardware and work on future spacecraft designs, all on the same salary. Many spend years on the ground between missions.
A long-duration mission does not change the paycheck either. Our guide on how long astronauts stay on the ISS covers the usual six-month rotations, and the pay during those months is the same as on any other work day.
Who pays private and commercial astronauts?
Private astronauts are not NASA employees and receive no NASA salary. People who fly on commercial missions to the space station or on tourist flights pay for their seats, or a company or government sponsor pays for them.
- Private mission customers: pay the company that sells the flight. Prices are set in private contracts.
- Company crew: professional astronauts employed by a private company, such as a mission commander on a private space station flight, are paid by that company.
- Astronauts from other agencies: astronauts from partners such as the European Space Agency or Japan’s JAXA are paid by their own agencies.
Our guide to how much space tourism costs lists the published prices that exist.
How do you qualify for an astronaut job?
NASA requires US citizenship, a master’s degree in a STEM field or an accepted equivalent, at least two years of related professional experience or 1,000 hours as pilot in command of jet aircraft, and the ability to pass the long-duration spaceflight physical. Competition is intense: the class announced on Sept. 22, 2025, had 10 candidates chosen from more than 8,000 applicants.
Our article on how NASA selects astronauts explains each step, and the official answers are in NASA’s Becoming an Astronaut FAQ. For other space careers, see our guide to NASA internships and space jobs.
Bottom line
NASA lists astronaut candidate pay at about $152,258 a year, based on 2024 pay schedules. Civilian astronauts are paid as federal employees with Houston locality pay, where 2026 rates for GS-12 to GS-15 run from $103,225 to $197,200. Military astronauts keep their service pay, there is no bonus for flying, and private astronauts are paid or charged by companies, not NASA.
FAQ
What is a NASA astronaut’s starting salary?
NASA’s FAQ gives $152,258 a year for astronaut candidates, based on 2024 pay schedules. NASA says the rate is approximate and rises with federal pay adjustments.
Do astronauts get paid more on a spacewalk or in space?
No. NASA astronauts earn the same salary in orbit as on the ground. A spacewalk or a long mission does not add a bonus.
Are astronauts paid for life?
No. Astronauts are paid only while employed by NASA or serving in the military. After leaving, they receive the federal or military retirement benefits they earned, like other employees.
How much do military astronauts make?
Military astronauts earn regular military pay for their rank and years of service, including allowances. NASA does not pay them a separate salary.
