How much do NASA employees make in 2026?

NASA employs everyone from administrative assistants to astronauts, and their pay varies accordingly. Unlike private aerospace companies where salaries are negotiated behind closed doors, every NASA civil servant's compensation follows the published General Schedule. That transparency is useful if you know how to read the tables. This article walks through exactly how much NASA employees make in 2026 across every job type, from entry-level support roles through GS-15 senior scientists and SES executives.

Pay structure overview

NASA civil servants are paid under the General Schedule (GS) system, which covers about 1.5 million federal employees across all agencies. The 2026 GS scale reflects a 1% across-the-board raise with locality pay rates frozen at 2025 levels. Total compensation equals base pay multiplied by a locality adjustment that ranges from 17.06% to 46.34%.

A handful of NASA employees fall outside the GS system:

• Senior Executive Service (SES): Center directors, associate administrators, and other senior leaders
• Astronauts: Classified under the GS scale at GS-12 or GS-13
• Senior Scientific and Technical (ST) positions: Rare, high-level researcher roles
• Administratively Determined (AD) positions: The NASA Administrator and Deputy Administrator

Salary ranges by job category

Here is what NASA employees actually earn across the major job families:

Job Category	Typical GS Grades	Base Pay Range	With Avg Locality (~28%)
Administrative Support	GS-5 to GS-8	$36,400–$56,000	$46,600–$71,700
Accounting / Budget	GS-9 to GS-13	$52,700–$118,200	$67,500–$151,300
IT Specialist	GS-9 to GS-14	$52,700–$139,700	$67,500–$178,800
Engineering (all types)	GS-7 to GS-15	$43,100–$164,300	$55,200–$197,200
Physical Scientist	GS-9 to GS-15	$52,700–$164,300	$67,500–$197,200
Program/Project Manager	GS-13 to GS-15	$90,900–$164,300	$116,400–$197,200
Astronaut	GS-12 to GS-13	$76,500–$118,200	$102,500–$151,300
SES Executive	SES Tier 1–3	N/A	$147,000–$204,000

The "With Avg Locality" column uses approximately 28%, which represents a midpoint among NASA centers. Actual locality varies by location.

What do astronauts get paid?

NASA astronauts are federal employees classified at the GS-12 or GS-13 level. In 2026, a new astronaut candidate starts as a GS-12 Step 1, which puts base pay at $76,463. After promotion to GS-13, which typically happens within 2-3 years, base pay starts at $90,925.

With Houston locality pay (34.10%), the numbers look like this:

Astronaut Level	GS Grade	Base Pay (Step 1)	Houston Total
Candidate	GS-12	$76,463	$102,537
Astronaut (early)	GS-13 Step 1	$90,925	$121,930
Astronaut (experienced)	GS-13 Step 5	$103,049	$138,189
Astronaut (senior)	GS-13 Step 10	$118,204	$158,519

There is no hazard pay for spaceflight, no per-diem for orbiting the Earth, and no bonus for moonwalks. Astronaut pay is strictly GS-based. The prestige is the perk.

GS scale deep dive: step progression

Within each grade, step increases provide incremental raises of about 3% each. The waiting periods between steps create a predictable but slow advancement pattern:

• Steps 1–3: 1 year between each step
• Steps 4–6: 2 years between each step
• Steps 7–9: 3 years between each step
• Step 10: Terminal step

Reaching Step 10 from Step 1 within a single grade takes 18 years of satisfactory performance. Most engineers promote to a higher grade before maxing out steps.

SES and executive pay

NASA's senior leadership falls under the Senior Executive Service pay system. SES salaries are not grade-based but fall within a certified pay range. In 2026, the SES scale runs from approximately $147,000 to $204,000 depending on the agency's performance certification.

Position	Approximate Salary	Notes
NASA Administrator	$203,500	Executive Level I
Deputy Administrator	$183,600	Executive Level II
Associate Administrator	$195,000–$204,000	SES Tier 1
Center Director	$185,000–$204,000	SES
Deputy Center Director	$170,000–$195,000	SES

These figures are modest by corporate standards. A center director managing 3,000+ employees and multibillion-dollar programs earns less than a mid-level VP at most tech companies.

Benefits that add real value

The total value of NASA's benefits package adds 35-40% on top of base salary. Here is the breakdown:

FERS pension: NASA employees earn 1% of their high-3 average salary for each year of federal service. Retire at 62 after 30 years with an average high-3 of $145K, and the annual pension is $43,500 for life, adjusted for inflation via annual COLAs.

Thrift Savings Plan: 5% automatic agency match. The TSP's index funds have expense ratios of 0.04-0.06%, far below private-sector 401(k) plans. A GS-13 contributing 5% with the match accumulates roughly $1.2M over 30 years assuming 7% real returns.

Health insurance (FEHB): The government pays 72% of premiums. NASA employees choose from dozens of plan options, with out-of-pocket family premiums running $4,800–$8,400 annually.

Leave: 13 days vacation (years 1–3), 20 days (years 4–15), 26 days (years 15+), plus 13 sick days and 11 federal holidays. That tops out at 50 paid days off per year.

Student loan repayment: Up to $10,000/year, capped at $60,000 total. Not automatic; you must apply and be approved.

NASA vs contractor pay at the same desk

About 60% of the NASA workforce are contractor employees rather than civil servants. They work in the same buildings, attend the same meetings, and sometimes sit at adjacent desks. But their pay and benefits differ:

Factor	NASA Civil Servant	NASA Contractor
Salary (mid-career engineer)	$100K–$130K with locality	$95K–$145K
Retirement	FERS pension + TSP (5% match)	401(k) (3-6% match typical)
Job security	Very high	Contract recompete risk every 5-7 yrs
Health insurance	FEHB (72% employer-paid)	Varies by contractor
Paid leave	13-26 days + 13 sick + 11 holidays	15-20 days PTO typical
Career mobility	Transfer between centers	Limited to contract scope

Contractors often earn slightly higher base salaries for equivalent work, especially at the mid-career level. The tradeoff is weaker benefits and the risk that your job disappears during a contract transition.

Salary by NASA center

Each NASA center has a different mix of job types and locality adjustments, which creates noticeable salary differences:

Center	Location	Top Programs	Avg Engineer Salary (est.)
Johnson Space Center	Houston, TX	Astronauts, ISS, Orion	$118,000
Goddard Space Flight Center	Greenbelt, MD	Hubble, Webb, Earth science	$122,000
Jet Propulsion Laboratory	Pasadena, CA	Mars rovers, Europa Clipper	$135,000 (Caltech)
Marshall Space Flight Center	Huntsville, AL	SLS, propulsion	$108,000
Kennedy Space Center	Merritt Island, FL	Launch ops, ground systems	$105,000
Ames Research Center	Moffett Field, CA	Aeronautics, AI/ML	$128,000
Langley Research Center	Hampton, VA	Aeronautics, structures	$112,000
Glenn Research Center	Cleveland, OH	Propulsion, power	$110,000
Stennis Space Center	Kiln, MS	Engine testing	$100,000

How to check any NASA employee's salary

Federal employee salaries are public information. You can look up any NASA employee's name, title, grade, and salary on FederalPay.org or other open-data sites that publish OPM records. This transparency works both ways: use it to research realistic salary expectations before applying, and know that your own salary will be equally visible once you join.

FAQ

What is the highest-paid position at NASA?

The NASA Administrator earns approximately $203,500 per year (Executive Level I). Among career employees, SES executives can earn up to $204,000. The highest-paid civil service engineers are GS-15 Step 10 in high-locality areas, capped at $197,200. JPL principal engineers (Caltech employees) can exceed $215,000 since they follow private-sector pay scales.

Do NASA interns get paid?

Yes. NASA Pathways interns earn hourly rates based on their GS equivalent grade. Undergraduate interns typically earn GS-3 to GS-5 rates ($15–$22/hour), while graduate interns earn GS-7 to GS-9 rates ($22–$30/hour). Interns do not receive benefits. Explore NASA internship opportunities on Zero G Talent.

How does NASA pay compare to SpaceX or Blue Origin?

NASA base salaries are generally lower, especially at the mid-career level where a GS-12 earns $95K–$130K versus $120K–$160K at SpaceX. However, NASA's pension, job security, and generous leave close that gap significantly over a 20-30 year career. Blue Origin salaries fall between NASA and SpaceX for most engineering roles.

Can you negotiate your starting salary at NASA?

Sort of. You cannot negotiate the GS pay scale itself, but you can request a higher starting step within your grade. A "superior qualifications appointment" allows hiring managers to offer Steps 2-10 to candidates with exceptional experience or competing private-sector offers. You can also negotiate student loan repayment as part of your offer.

Do NASA employees get a raise in 2026?

Yes. The 2026 federal pay raise provides a 1% increase to base GS pay. Locality rates remained frozen at 2025 levels. Law enforcement personnel covered under special authorities received a 3.8% increase. The raise took effect the first pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

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Data sourced from the 2026 OPM General Schedule pay tables, FederalPay.org, PayScale, and NASA policy documents. Locality figures use the January 2026 adjustment. Individual compensation depends on grade, step, duty station, and any special pay authorities.

Browse all NASA positions or explore space industry jobs by category on Zero G Talent.