NASA pay scale in 2026: GS grades, SES bands, astronaut pay, and locality tables
NASA compensates its approximately 18,000 civil servants using the same federal pay system that governs most of the US government workforce. Understanding the NASA pay scale requires knowing three interconnected systems: the General Schedule (GS) for most employees, the Senior Executive Service (SES) pay band for top leaders, and the Executive Schedule for presidential appointees. For 2026, federal employees received a 1 percent base pay raise with no locality pay adjustment increase — resulting in a modest overall bump that leaves the fundamental pay structure unchanged from 2025.
This guide provides the complete 2026 GS base pay table, the SES and astronaut pay bands, and locality pay tables for the four metropolitan areas where NASA has the largest workforce concentrations: Houston, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Denver.
The 2026 GS base pay table
The General Schedule has 15 grades, each with 10 steps. Base pay is the starting point before locality adjustments are applied. Here is the complete 2026 base pay table:
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 5 | Step 7 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $22,584 | $23,340 | $24,092 | $25,588 | $27,077 | $28,248 |
| GS-2 | $25,393 | $25,994 | $26,832 | $28,193 | $29,553 | $31,953 |
| GS-3 | $27,708 | $28,631 | $29,555 | $31,402 | $33,249 | $36,024 |
| GS-4 | $31,103 | $32,140 | $33,177 | $35,251 | $37,325 | $40,436 |
| GS-5 | $34,799 | $35,959 | $37,119 | $39,439 | $41,759 | $45,239 |
| GS-6 | $38,791 | $40,083 | $41,376 | $43,961 | $46,546 | $50,428 |
| GS-7 | $43,106 | $44,543 | $45,979 | $48,852 | $51,725 | $56,039 |
| GS-8 | $47,738 | $49,329 | $50,920 | $54,102 | $57,284 | $62,057 |
| GS-9 | $52,727 | $54,484 | $56,242 | $59,757 | $63,272 | $68,549 |
| GS-10 | $58,064 | $59,999 | $61,934 | $65,804 | $69,674 | $75,479 |
| GS-11 | $63,795 | $65,921 | $68,047 | $72,299 | $76,551 | $82,938 |
| GS-12 | $76,463 | $79,012 | $81,561 | $86,659 | $91,757 | $99,404 |
| GS-13 | $90,925 | $93,956 | $96,987 | $103,049 | $109,111 | $118,204 |
| GS-14 | $107,446 | $111,027 | $114,608 | $121,770 | $128,932 | $139,684 |
| GS-15 | $126,384 | $130,597 | $134,810 | $143,236 | $151,662 | $164,301 |
Steps 1 through 4 increase annually, steps 4 through 7 increase every two years, and steps 7 through 10 increase every three years. The total time from Step 1 to Step 10 is 18 years. Performance-based quality step increases (QSIs) can accelerate this timeline — a QSI advances you one step immediately without resetting the waiting period for your next regular step increase.
Locality pay tables for major NASA areas
Locality pay transforms the base table into your actual salary. Here are the four largest NASA employment areas with locality-adjusted figures for common engineering grades:
Houston-The Woodlands, TX (32.55% locality)
Johnson Space Center — home to astronaut training, Mission Control, and the Orion program.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 5 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-7 | $57,137 | $64,752 | $74,278 |
| GS-9 | $69,889 | $79,208 | $90,860 |
| GS-11 | $84,562 | $95,837 | $109,934 |
| GS-12 | $101,355 | $114,851 | $131,760 |
| GS-13 | $120,521 | $136,591 | $156,679 |
| GS-14 | $142,420 | $161,386 | $185,132 |
| GS-15 | $167,520 | $189,858 | $191,900* |
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA (33.94% locality)
Goddard Space Flight Center and NASA Headquarters.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 5 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-7 | $57,734 | $65,428 | $75,054 |
| GS-9 | $70,618 | $80,035 | $91,808 |
| GS-11 | $85,444 | $96,836 | $111,089 |
| GS-12 | $102,417 | $116,056 | $133,142 |
| GS-13 | $121,785 | $138,024 | $158,323 |
| GS-14 | $143,914 | $163,078 | $187,073 |
| GS-15 | $169,277 | $191,847 | $191,900* |
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (32.30% locality)
Jet Propulsion Laboratory area (though JPL uses Caltech pay, not GS).
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 5 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-7 | $57,024 | $64,624 | $74,131 |
| GS-9 | $69,750 | $79,051 | $90,680 |
| GS-11 | $84,394 | $95,647 | $109,715 |
| GS-12 | $101,154 | $114,623 | $131,498 |
| GS-13 | $120,282 | $136,320 | $156,367 |
| GS-14 | $142,137 | $161,065 | $184,764 |
| GS-15 | $167,188 | $189,481 | $191,900* |
Denver-Aurora, CO (30.52% locality)
Nearby Lockheed Martin Space (Littleton) and some NASA-affiliated work.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 5 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-7 | $56,264 | $63,763 | $73,143 |
| GS-9 | $68,821 | $77,997 | $89,471 |
| GS-11 | $83,260 | $94,361 | $108,239 |
| GS-12 | $99,796 | $113,084 | $129,733 |
| GS-13 | $118,668 | $134,490 | $154,271 |
| GS-14 | $140,230 | $158,903 | $182,283 |
| GS-15 | $164,944 | $186,938 | $191,900* |
*Capped at Executive Schedule Level IV ($191,900).
SES and astronaut pay
Senior Executive Service
SES members at NASA — center directors, associate administrators, and other senior leaders — are paid on a broad band rather than the GS grade-and-step structure.
2026 SES pay range: $147,649 to $221,900
SES performance bonuses of up to 20 percent of base salary are possible, though awards averaging 5 to 15 percent are more common. The NASA Administrator is paid at Executive Schedule Level II ($221,900).
Astronaut pay
NASA astronauts are classified as GS-12 (candidates) or GS-13 (experienced, mission-assigned) and are stationed at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
| Status | GS Grade | Houston Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| Astronaut Candidate | GS-12 Step 1–10 | $101,355–$131,760 |
| Active Astronaut | GS-13 Step 1–10 | $120,521–$156,679 |
Astronauts receive the same automatic step increases as other federal employees. An astronaut who enters as GS-12 Step 1 and spends their career at GS-13 will reach GS-13 Step 10 ($156,679 with Houston locality) after approximately 18 years at that grade. Astronaut class selection occurs roughly every 4 to 6 years, with the most recent class selected in 2021. The next class selection has not been announced as of early 2026.
How to use the pay tables
Step 1: Determine your GS grade based on education and experience. BS = GS-7, MS = GS-9, PhD = GS-11. Industry experience may qualify you for a higher grade.
Step 2: Identify the locality area for your target center. Houston (32.55%), Washington DC (33.94%), Los Angeles (32.30%), Denver (30.52%), Huntsville (22.49%), or Rest of US (17.06%).
Step 3: Calculate your total pay: Base Pay + (Base Pay x Locality Percentage).
Step 4: Account for the Executive Level IV cap ($191,900) — if your calculation exceeds this at GS-15, your pay is truncated to the cap.
Frequently asked questions
How much did federal pay increase in 2026?
The 2026 General Schedule received a 1 percent across-the-board base pay increase. Locality pay percentages were not increased and remain at 2025 levels. The combined effect is an average raise of approximately 1 percent for most federal employees.
What is the maximum a NASA employee can earn?
The NASA Administrator earns $221,900 at Executive Level II. The maximum SES salary is also $221,900. The maximum GS salary is $191,900 (GS-15 Step 10, capped at Executive Level IV in most locality areas).
Are NASA salaries public information?
Yes. All federal salary information is public. You can look up individual NASA employee salaries through the OPM FedScope database or through transparency websites. All NASA job postings on USAJobs.gov include the GS grade and salary range.
How does NASA pay compare to SpaceX or other private space companies?
NASA GS pay is generally lower than equivalent private sector positions at companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, or Boeing, particularly at senior levels where the GS-15 cap limits federal compensation. Private sector aerospace engineers with 15+ years of experience can earn $180,000 to $300,000 or more, while the GS system caps at $192,000. Federal benefits including the FERS pension partially offset this gap.
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