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Engineer for NASA salary: what the federal pay scale means for you (2026)
By Zero G Talent•
Engineer for NASA salary: what the federal pay scale means for you (2026)
$58K–$197K
Engineer Range
4–5 Years
GS-7 to GS-13
If you're considering becoming an engineer for NASA, here's what the federal pay system means for your career and salary.
The GS system in plain English
NASA engineers are federal employees paid on a fixed scale. Your salary is determined by three things:
- Grade — Your job level (GS-7 for entry engineers up to GS-15 for senior leaders)
- Step — Your seniority within that grade (1 to 10, takes 18 years to go from 1 to 10)
- Location — Each NASA center has a different locality pay percentage
You don't negotiate salary — the grade and step are set by the position and your qualifications. What you can influence is which grade you enter at (BS = GS-7, MS = GS-9, PhD = GS-11).
What you'll earn at each stage
| Career Milestone | GS Grade | Houston Salary |
|---|---|---|
| First day (BS) | GS-7 Step 1 | $58,193 |
| After 1 year | GS-9 Step 1 | $71,181 |
| After 3 years | GS-11 Step 1 | $86,123 |
| After 4 years | GS-12 Step 1 | $103,225 |
| After 5 years (auto ceiling) | GS-13 Step 1 | $122,749 |
| After 23 years (max step) | GS-13 Step 10 | $159,575 |
For the full year-by-year progression table, see our NASA salary career progression guide. For salary tables by center, see our NASA engineer salary guide.
Browse NASA positions on Zero G Talent, or see our NASA careers guide.
