What is a NASA astronaut’s salary?

According to the General Service (GS) rates in 2024, NASA’s civilian astronauts are paid $84,365 to $115,079 considering their rank at GS 12-13.

The pay scale is also used for Civilian US government employees.

The federal government sets the pay grades for civilian astronaut candidates based on academic achievements and experience.

According to NASA’s website, astronauts are paid $152,258 a year in 2024 while the salary in 2020 was $104,898 to $161,141 at GS levels 13-14.

However, this pay rate [$152,258.00 per year] reflects the 2024 pay schedules and will be adjusted to reflect any increase in 2025.

Candidates for military astronaut status are detailed to the Johnson Space Center and maintain an active-duty status for pay, benefits, leave, and other military matters.

There are a few of the benefits offered to civilian astronauts: They are health care, travel, paid holidays, challenging and interesting work, state-of-the-art training facilities, and paid leave.

What is an astronaut?

An astronaut is a highly trained person who directs pilots or serves as a crewmember on a spacecraft.

The main responsibilities of astronauts include travelling into space, participating in space exploration activities, and conducting scientific experiments.

They participate in rigorous training programs tailored to their civilian or military position while on Earth.

At scheduled media events, astronauts often appear in public. Astronauts frequently appear in public at organised media appearances.

What are the responsibilities of astronauts?

Their responsibilities in space include conducting space research and experiments, taking photos and scientific measurements in space, and maintaining and repairing equipment on board space stations and in spacecraft, handling and unloading shipments from Earth – such as food and supply shipments to the ISS, conducting ‘space walks’ and handling communications with Mission Control on Earth –- transmitting scientific results.