NASA employee salary in 2026: what every role pays
NASA has approximately 18,000 civil servants (before recent workforce reductions). Employees span engineering, science, administration, IT, technicians, and management — all paid on the federal General Schedule. Here's what each category earns.
Salary by job category
| Role Category | Typical GS Grades | Houston Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative/Clerical | GS-4 to GS-7 | $38,000–$75,000 |
| IT Specialist | GS-9 to GS-13 | $71,000–$160,000 |
| Technician | GS-5 to GS-11 | $42,000–$112,000 |
| Engineer (0800 series) | GS-7 to GS-15 | $58,000–$197,200 |
| Scientist (1300 series) | GS-9 to GS-15 | $71,000–$197,200 |
| Mission Specialist | GS-12 to GS-14 | $103,000–$189,000 |
| Program Manager | GS-14 to GS-15 | $145,000–$197,200 |
| Center Director (SES) | Senior Executive | $147,649–$221,900 |
| NASA Administrator | Executive Level I | ~$246,400 |
Engineer and scientist pay (the majority of NASA)
Engineers and scientists make up the core of NASA's workforce. Both follow the same GS pay tables:
| Grade | Typical Profile | Houston Salary (Step 1–10) |
|---|---|---|
| GS-7 | BS graduate, entry | $58,193–$75,653 |
| GS-9 | MS graduate or 1 year | $71,181–$92,541 |
| GS-11 | PhD or 2 years | $86,123–$111,966 |
| GS-12 | Journey-level | $103,225–$134,195 |
| GS-13 | Senior/lead (auto ceiling) | $122,749–$159,575 |
| GS-14 | Branch chief (competitive) | $145,052–$188,573 |
| GS-15 | Division chief (competitive) | $170,618–$197,200 |
The automatic promotion ladder (GS-7 through GS-13) takes 4–5 years. GS-14 and GS-15 require applying to specific vacancy announcements.
GS-15 Step 10 salary is capped at Executive Level IV ($197,200 in 2026) regardless of locality rate. This means a GS-15 Step 10 at high-locality centers like Ames (44.15%) earns the same as one at low-locality centers like Stennis (~18%). The cap only affects GS-15; all other grades receive full locality pay.
Non-engineering roles at NASA
Not every NASA job requires an engineering degree:
- Financial management (GS-9 to GS-14): Budget analysts, auditors, financial managers
- Human resources (GS-7 to GS-13): Staffing specialists, employee relations
- Public affairs (GS-9 to GS-14): Communications, media relations, social media
- Legal (GS-11 to GS-15): Patent attorneys, procurement lawyers, ethics counsel
- Contracting (GS-7 to GS-14): Contract specialists, procurement officers
- Safety & Mission Assurance (GS-11 to GS-15): Quality engineers, reliability analysts
All positions are posted on USAJobs.gov. Most require U.S. citizenship.
Workforce changes in 2025–2026
NASA's workforce has been affected by government-wide restructuring. Approximately 4,000 employees (out of ~18,000) accepted deferred resignation offers. KSC may lose approximately 311 civil servant positions under proposed FY2026 budget cuts. New hiring has slowed significantly.
For detailed salary tables by NASA center, see our NASA engineer salary guide. Browse NASA positions on Zero G Talent, or see our NASA careers guide.
