Astronautical engineering salary at NASA in 2026
Astronautical engineering at NASA focuses on spacecraft design, orbital mechanics, life support systems, and space mission operations. NASA classifies these roles under the 0861 Aerospace Engineering series, with identical pay to aeronautical engineers.
Salary by career stage (Houston, 35% locality)
| Stage | GS Grade | Salary | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry (BS) | GS-7 | $58,193–$75,653 | Year 1 |
| Early career | GS-9/11 | $71,181–$111,966 | Years 2–3 |
| Mid-career | GS-12 | $103,225–$134,195 | Years 4–5 |
| Senior | GS-13 | $122,749–$159,575 | Years 5–23 |
| Lead | GS-14 | $145,052–$188,573 | Competitive |
| Division chief | GS-15 | $170,618–$197,200 | Competitive |
Astronautical engineering roles at NASA
| Role | Centers | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| GNC Engineer | JSC, GSFC | Orion, Gateway, rovers |
| Structures Engineer | MSFC, JSC | SLS, Orion |
| Thermal Engineer | JSC, GSFC | Spacecraft thermal control |
| Life Support Engineer | JSC | ISS, Artemis crew systems |
| Orbital Mechanics | JSC, GSFC, JPL | Mission design, trajectory |
| Systems Engineer | All centers | Cross-cutting, mission-level |
JSC (Houston) has the highest concentration of astronautical engineering positions due to its role as NASA's human spaceflight center.
NASA doesn't formally distinguish between "astronautical" and "aerospace" engineers in its pay system — both fall under the 0861 series and the same GS tables. The distinction matters for your work content (spacecraft vs. aircraft) but not for salary. JPL (Caltech-managed) pays outside the GS system, typically 10–20% higher.
For detailed salary tables by NASA center, see our NASA engineer salary guide. Browse NASA positions on Zero G Talent.
