Aerospace Engineer Salary at NASA in 2026
NASA employs over 3,000 aerospace engineers as civil servants across its ten field centers. Unlike private-sector employers where salaries are negotiated individually, NASA pay follows the federal General Schedule (GS) system with well-defined grades, steps, and locality adjustments. This guide explains exactly how NASA aerospace engineer compensation works in 2026, from GS-7 entry positions through GS-15 senior roles, with center-by-center locality comparisons.
How the GS pay system works
Every NASA civil servant position is assigned a GS grade (1 through 15) based on the role's responsibilities and requirements. Within each grade, there are 10 steps that represent incremental raises based on time in service and performance. The 2026 GS base pay scale reflects an approximately 1 percent overall adjustment from 2025, with locality pay percentages remaining unchanged.
| GS Grade | Step 1 Base Pay (2026) | Step 5 Base Pay | Step 10 Base Pay | Typical NASA Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-7 | $44,800 | $50,200 | $58,300 | Entry engineer (bachelor's) |
| GS-9 | $54,800 | $61,400 | $71,300 | Entry engineer (master's or 1 yr exp) |
| GS-11 | $66,400 | $74,400 | $86,300 | Early career engineer |
| GS-12 | $76,463 | $85,700 | $99,400 | Full-performance engineer |
| GS-13 | $90,925 | $101,900 | $118,200 | Lead engineer / technical expert |
| GS-14 | $107,400 | $120,300 | $139,600 | Senior engineer / branch chief |
| GS-15 | $126,300 | $141,500 | $176,300 | Division chief / technical authority |
Step increases and timing
Within each grade, step increases follow a fixed schedule:
- Steps 1 to 4: One year between each step
- Steps 4 to 7: Two years between each step
- Steps 7 to 10: Three years between each step
A GS-12 engineer entering at Step 1 reaches Step 10 in 18 years without any grade promotions. Most engineers, however, are promoted to higher grades well before reaching Step 10 at any single level.
Locality pay by NASA center
Locality pay is where NASA salaries diverge significantly from base pay tables. Each NASA center falls within a locality pay area that applies a percentage adjustment to base pay. The 2026 locality rates remain the same as 2025 percentages. Here is how the major centers compare for a GS-12 Step 5 engineer with a base salary of $85,700:
| NASA Center | Location | Locality Rate | GS-12/5 Total | GS-14/5 Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) | Greenbelt, MD | 33.94% | $114,800 | $161,100 |
| Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)* | Pasadena, CA | 35.15% | $115,800 | $162,600 |
| Johnson Space Center (JSC) | Houston, TX | 35.04% | $115,700 | $162,500 |
| Ames Research Center | Moffett Field, CA | 44.15% | $123,500 | $173,400 |
| Kennedy Space Center (KSC) | Cape Canaveral, FL | 22.10% | $104,600 | $146,800 |
| Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) | Huntsville, AL | 24.69% | $106,900 | $150,000 |
| Langley Research Center (LaRC) | Hampton, VA | 30.34% | $111,700 | $156,800 |
| Glenn Research Center | Cleveland, OH | 26.60% | $108,500 | $152,300 |
| Stennis Space Center | Hancock County, MS | 17.91% | $101,100 | $141,800 |
*JPL is managed by Caltech and uses a separate compensation system for most staff, though civil servant positions at JPL follow the GS scale with Los Angeles locality pay.
Center-by-center breakdown
Johnson Space Center (JSC) — Houston, TX
JSC is NASA's hub for human spaceflight. Aerospace engineers here work on Orion, the Lunar Gateway, the Commercial Crew Program, and ISS operations. The Houston locality rate of 35.04 percent is among the highest in the GS system, and Texas's zero state income tax adds further value. JSC is the largest NASA center by headcount and offers the widest variety of aerospace engineering disciplines.
Typical salary range: $85,000 (GS-9 entry) to $176,000 (GS-15 senior)
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) — Pasadena, CA
JPL operates under a unique arrangement: Caltech manages the lab under a NASA contract. Most JPL engineers are Caltech employees, not federal civil servants, and earn salaries that can exceed GS equivalents, often ranging from $95,000 to $200,000+. Civil servant positions at JPL follow the GS scale with Los Angeles area locality pay. JPL focuses on robotic exploration, planetary science missions, and deep space communications.
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) — Greenbelt, MD
GSFC is the largest concentration of scientists and engineers in the United States. Aerospace engineers work on Earth-observing satellites, the James Webb Space Telescope (operations), and Hubble servicing. The Washington, DC-area locality rate of 33.94 percent combined with Maryland's moderate cost of living (relative to DC proper) makes GSFC competitive for recruitment.
Typical salary range: $82,000 (GS-9 entry) to $172,000 (GS-15 senior)
Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) — Huntsville, AL
MSFC manages the Space Launch System (SLS) program and has a long history in propulsion engineering dating back to the Saturn V. Huntsville's lower cost of living (cost-of-living index around 89) means MSFC engineers achieve strong purchasing power despite slightly lower locality adjustments. The area has a dense aerospace ecosystem including Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and dozens of smaller contractors.
Typical salary range: $78,000 (GS-9 entry) to $165,000 (GS-15 senior)
NASA pay vs. private sector compensation
A common question is whether NASA civil servant pay is competitive with the private sector. The answer depends on what you value.
| Factor | NASA (Civil Servant) | Defense Contractor | Commercial Space (SpaceX, Blue Origin) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | Moderate ($76K–$176K) | Competitive ($80K–$190K) | Higher ($85K–$200K+) |
| Retirement | FERS pension + TSP (5% match) | 401(k) (4-8% match) | 401(k) (varies) |
| Job stability | Very high | Program-dependent | Variable |
| Work-life balance | Generally good (40-hr weeks) | Good | Demanding (50-60+ hrs) |
| Equity / stock | None | Limited (RSUs at some primes) | Stock options / RSUs |
| Mission variety | Broad (space + aero research) | Program-specific | Company-specific |
NASA contractor salaries vs. civil servant pay
Many aerospace engineers at NASA centers are employed by contractors such as Jacobs, KBR, Leidos, or SAIC rather than by NASA directly. Contractor salaries for equivalent roles are typically 5 to 15 percent lower than civil servant GS pay, and contractor benefits (retirement, healthcare) are generally weaker. However, contractor positions are often easier to obtain and can serve as a pathway to civil servant conversion.
The average NASA contractor salary is approximately $80,000 to $120,000 for engineering roles, compared to $95,000 to $160,000 for equivalent civil servant positions at the GS-12 to GS-14 level with locality pay.
How to get hired as an aerospace engineer at NASA
- Apply through USAJobs.gov. All NASA civil servant positions are posted on USAJobs. Search for series 0861 (Aerospace Engineering) and filter by NASA as the agency.
- Use Pathways for recent graduates. NASA's Pathways Recent Graduates Program hires engineers at GS-7 or GS-9 with a career ladder to GS-12. Applications typically open in the fall.
- Target career ladder positions. Postings listed as GS-7/9/11/12 are career ladder positions that offer automatic grade promotions over four years, giving you the fastest salary growth.
- Consider contractor-to-civil-servant conversion. Working as a contractor at a NASA center builds relationships and experience that make civil servant applications more competitive.
Explore current NASA positions on our space industry job board or browse NASA-related opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What GS level do aerospace engineers start at NASA?
Most aerospace engineers start at GS-7 (bachelor's degree) or GS-9 (master's degree or one year of specialized experience). Career ladder positions allow automatic advancement to GS-12 within approximately four years with satisfactory performance.
How much does a GS-13 aerospace engineer make at NASA?
A GS-13 Step 1 aerospace engineer earns $90,925 in base pay. With locality adjustments, this becomes approximately $122,800 in Houston, $121,800 in the DC area, or $113,400 in Huntsville. Mid-step GS-13 engineers earn $100,000 to $118,000 base, or $135,000 to $160,000 with locality.
Is JPL pay different from other NASA centers?
Yes. Most JPL employees are Caltech employees, not federal civil servants, and are paid on Caltech's salary structure rather than the GS scale. Caltech salaries for engineers at JPL are generally competitive with or slightly above equivalent GS-scale positions, ranging from $95,000 to $200,000+. A smaller number of civil servant positions at JPL do follow the GS scale with Los Angeles locality pay.
Does NASA pay for relocation?
NASA offers relocation incentives for hard-to-fill positions, which can include moving expense reimbursement, temporary quarters subsistence, and relocation bonuses of up to 25 percent of base pay. Not all positions include relocation, so check the specific job announcement on USAJobs.
How does NASA pay compare to SpaceX or Blue Origin?
NASA base salaries are typically 10 to 20 percent lower than SpaceX or Blue Origin for equivalent roles. However, NASA's pension (FERS), TSP matching, subsidized healthcare, and work-life balance close most of the gap. Engineers who value job stability and mission variety often prefer NASA. For Blue Origin's compensation structure, see our Blue Origin levels guide.
