NASA employees salary in 2026: engineers, scientists, administrators, and astronauts
NASA employs roughly 18,000 civil servants across ten field centers, a headquarters complex, and several smaller facilities. The agency's workforce spans an extraordinary range of occupations — from janitors and administrative assistants to rocket propulsion engineers, planetary scientists, and active astronauts. Every one of these positions is paid using federal government pay scales, primarily the General Schedule (GS) system for most employees and the Senior Executive Service (SES) pay band for top leadership.
This guide covers NASA employees salary across all major categories in 2026, including the locality pay adjustments that create significant differences between centers and the total compensation package that makes federal employment more valuable than base salary alone suggests.
The GS pay system: foundation of NASA salaries
The General Schedule covers the vast majority of NASA employees. It consists of 15 grades (GS-1 through GS-15) with 10 steps in each grade. For 2026, the base payscale received a 1 percent across-the-board raise, while locality pay percentages remained frozen at 2025 levels.
| GS Grade | Step 1 Base | Step 10 Base | Common NASA Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 to GS-4 | $22,584–$31,103 | $28,248–$40,436 | Student trainees, clerical support |
| GS-5 to GS-6 | $34,799–$38,791 | $45,239–$50,428 | Technicians, admin assistants |
| GS-7 to GS-9 | $43,106–$52,727 | $56,039–$68,549 | Entry-level engineers and scientists |
| GS-11 to GS-12 | $63,795–$76,463 | $82,938–$99,404 | Mid-career professionals |
| GS-13 to GS-14 | $90,925–$107,446 | $118,204–$139,684 | Senior engineers, branch chiefs |
| GS-15 | $126,384 | $164,301 | Division chiefs, technical authorities |
These are base salary figures. The actual take-home amount is higher because every NASA center receives a locality pay adjustment based on its geographic area.
NASA salary by employee category
Engineers (largest category)
Engineers represent the single largest occupational group at NASA, spanning aerospace, mechanical, electrical, computer, chemical, and systems engineering disciplines. Most engineers enter at GS-7 (BS degree) or GS-9 (MS degree) through the Pathways program or direct hire authority.
Typical 2026 salary progression for NASA engineers:
- Entry (GS-7 to GS-9): $50,000 to $70,000 with locality
- Early career (GS-11 to GS-12): $75,000 to $100,000 with locality
- Full performance (GS-13): $107,000 to $160,000 with locality
- Senior technical (GS-14 to GS-15): $130,000 to $192,000 with locality
Scientists
Research scientists at NASA work in astrophysics, planetary science, Earth science, heliophysics, materials science, and biological sciences. Their pay follows the same GS structure as engineers, though many enter at higher grades due to PhD requirements.
Typical 2026 ranges: GS-11 ($75,000–$100,000 with locality) for postdoctoral hires through GS-15 ($150,000–$192,000) for senior research scientists and principal investigators.
Administrative and mission support
NASA's administrative workforce includes financial managers, procurement officers, human resources specialists, public affairs officers, and program analysts. These positions typically range from GS-7 to GS-14.
Typical 2026 ranges: $50,000 to $165,000 with locality. The most senior administrative positions (center CFOs, procurement directors) reach GS-15.
Technicians and trades
Lab technicians, electronics technicians, machinists, and other skilled trades workers at NASA typically fall in the GS-5 to GS-11 range, or in the Federal Wage System (WG/WL/WS) for blue-collar positions. These roles are essential to NASA's test and fabrication capabilities.
Typical 2026 ranges: $40,000 to $85,000 with locality.
Astronauts
NASA astronauts are federal employees classified at GS-12 or GS-13 on the General Schedule. Candidate astronauts start at GS-12, while experienced astronauts who have completed training and are assigned to missions are classified at GS-13.
| Astronaut Level | GS Grade | Base Pay Range | Houston Locality (32.55%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | GS-12 | $76,463–$99,404 | $101,355–$131,760 |
| Mission-assigned | GS-13 | $90,925–$118,204 | $120,521–$156,679 |
NASA astronauts are among the most highly trained professionals in the world, yet their salary sits at the same level as a mid-career government engineer. The GS-13 pay grade with Houston locality tops out at approximately $157,000 — less than a senior software engineer at a mid-size tech company. Astronauts accept this compensation for the mission, not the money.
Senior Executive Service (SES) pay
The Senior Executive Service covers NASA's top leadership positions, including center directors, associate administrators, and mission directorate heads. SES positions are above GS-15 and use a broad pay band rather than the grade-and-step structure.
2026 SES pay band: $147,649 to $221,900 (Level II of Executive Schedule)
SES members may also be eligible for performance bonuses of up to 20 percent of base salary, which can bring total cash compensation above $260,000 for the highest-performing executives.
The NASA Administrator and Deputy Administrator are presidential appointees paid on the Executive Schedule rather than SES. The Administrator's salary is set at Executive Level II ($221,900 in 2026).
Center-by-center salary comparison
Location matters enormously for NASA salaries because locality pay adjustments vary from 17 percent to over 45 percent above base pay.
| NASA Center | State | Locality % | GS-12 Step 1 | GS-15 Step 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames Research Center | CA | 45.25% | $111,072 | $183,573 |
| Goddard Space Flight Center | MD | 33.94% | $102,417 | $169,277 |
| NASA Headquarters | DC | 33.94% | $102,417 | $169,277 |
| Johnson Space Center | TX | 32.55% | $101,355 | $167,520 |
| Jet Propulsion Laboratory* | CA | 32.30% | N/A (non-GS) | N/A |
| Glenn Research Center | OH | 23.30% | $94,275 | $155,815 |
| Langley Research Center | VA | 22.39% | $93,580 | $154,668 |
| Marshall Space Flight Center | AL | 22.49% | $93,656 | $154,793 |
| Kennedy Space Center | FL | 17.06% | $89,507 | $147,944 |
| Stennis Space Center | MS | 17.06% | $89,507 | $147,944 |
*JPL is operated by Caltech and uses its own salary structure, not the GS system.
The $21,000 gap between a GS-12 at Ames ($111,072) and Kennedy ($89,507) disappears when you factor in housing costs. A two-bedroom apartment near Kennedy Space Center rents for roughly $1,500 per month, while the same apartment near Ames in Mountain View costs $3,800 or more. Marshall in Huntsville and Glenn in Cleveland offer the strongest balance of reasonable locality pay with affordable housing.
Total compensation beyond base salary
Federal salaries at NASA include benefits that add 30 to 50 percent in value beyond the base paycheck:
FERS pension: 1 to 1.1 percent of your high-3 average salary per year of service. A 30-year NASA employee retiring at 62 with a $150,000 average salary receives approximately $49,500 per year in retirement income, adjusted for inflation.
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): Federal 401(k) with NASA matching 5 percent of salary. TSP expense ratios are among the lowest in the industry at approximately 0.04 percent.
Health insurance: FEHB covers roughly 72 percent of premiums. NASA employees choose from dozens of health plans offered through the federal system.
Leave: 13 to 26 days of annual leave (based on years of service) plus 13 days of sick leave per year. Federal holidays (11 days) are additional.
Student loan repayment: NASA offers up to $10,000 per year ($60,000 lifetime) in student loan repayment assistance for qualifying positions.
Frequently asked questions
How much do NASA astronauts make?
NASA astronauts earn GS-12 to GS-13 level salaries. With Houston locality pay (32.55 percent), astronaut candidates start at approximately $101,000 and experienced mission-assigned astronauts earn up to approximately $157,000. This does not include flight pay bonuses or hazard pay during missions.
What is the highest salary at NASA?
The NASA Administrator earns $221,900 (Executive Level II). Among career civil servants, SES members can earn up to $221,900 in base pay plus performance bonuses. The highest GS salary is GS-15 Step 10 at approximately $191,900 (capped at Executive Level IV).
Do NASA employees get paid more than private sector?
At entry and mid-career levels, NASA salaries are generally competitive with or slightly below private sector aerospace companies. At senior levels, the GS pay cap creates a meaningful gap — a GS-15 maxes out at $192,000 while equivalent private sector roles may pay $200,000 to $300,000. The federal pension, TSP match, and job security partially offset this gap over a full career.
How do I find NASA salary data for a specific position?
All NASA job postings on USAJobs.gov include the GS grade and salary range. You can also use the OPM GS Salary Calculator to determine the exact pay for any grade, step, and locality combination.
Browse NASA career openings and explore all space industry jobs on Zero G Talent.
