NASA pay rate in 2026: GS tables and how federal pay works
NASA pay rates follow the federal General Schedule (GS), the same system used across most federal agencies. The 2026 GS tables include a 1% across-the-board increase effective January 2026. Here's how the system works and what NASA positions pay.
How GS pay works
Every GS position has three components:
Grade (GS-1 to GS-15) — Reflects job complexity, responsibility, and required qualifications. Higher grade = higher pay. Engineers start at GS-7 to GS-11 depending on education.
Step (1 to 10) — Within-grade increases on a fixed schedule:
- Steps 1→2→3: 1 year between each
- Steps 4→5→6: 2 years between each
- Steps 7→8→9: 3 years between each
- Total: 18 years from Step 1 to Step 10
Locality pay — A percentage increase based on your work location. NASA center locality rates for 2026:
| NASA Center | Location | Locality % |
|---|---|---|
| Ames | Mountain View, CA | 44.15% |
| JPL* | Pasadena, CA | 35.49% |
| JSC | Houston, TX | 35.00% |
| GSFC | Greenbelt, MD | 33.94% |
| Langley | Hampton, VA | 27.84% |
| Glenn | Cleveland, OH | 23.89% |
| MSFC | Huntsville, AL | 21.91% |
| KSC | Merritt Island, FL | 20.15% |
| SSC | Stennis, MS | ~18% |
*JPL employees are Caltech employees, not GS — their pay is typically 10–20% above equivalent GS rates.
2026 GS rates for common NASA grades (Houston, 35%)
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 5 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $42,162 | $47,094 | $51,533 |
| GS-7 | $58,193 | $65,285 | $75,653 |
| GS-9 | $71,181 | $79,981 | $92,541 |
| GS-11 | $86,123 | $96,874 | $111,966 |
| GS-12 | $103,225 | $116,197 | $134,195 |
| GS-13 | $122,749 | $139,117 | $159,575 |
| GS-14 | $145,052 | $164,394 | $188,573 |
| GS-15 | $170,618 | $191,016 | $197,200* |
*GS-15 is capped at Executive Level IV ($197,200) regardless of locality or step.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) publishes complete GS pay tables annually at opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/. Select "General Schedule" and your locality area. Every NASA job posting on USAJobs.gov also lists the specific grade and salary range.
NASA pay vs. other agencies
NASA pays the same GS rates as every other federal agency in the same locality area. A GS-13 Step 5 engineer at NASA Houston earns the same base pay as a GS-13 Step 5 at the Department of Energy in Houston. The difference is in the work, not the pay scale.
Some agencies offer special pay rates (physicians, IT specialists) above the standard GS table. NASA's special rate authority is limited — most positions use the standard locality tables above.
Annual raises
Federal employees receive two types of annual raises:
- Across-the-board increase — Set by the President, applies to all GS employees. 2026: 1%.
- Step increase — Automatic within-grade increase on the schedule above (every 1–3 years depending on step).
These combine so that a typical NASA engineer sees 2–4% annual growth in the early career years (combining the general raise with step increases).
For role-specific salary breakdowns, see our NASA engineer salary guide and NASA employee salary overview. Browse NASA positions on Zero G Talent.
