# Salary for NASA positions in 2026: engineers, scientists, and support roles

**Author:** Zero G Talent
**Published:** 2026-02-28
**Category:** salary-guides
**Tags:** nasa, salary, aerospace, career-guide

[Read on Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com/blog/salary-for-nasa-2026)

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# Salary for NASA positions in 2026: engineers, scientists, and support roles

<div class="blog-stats">
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">$58K–$197K</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">Engineer Range</div>
  </div>
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">10 Centers</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">NASA Locations</div>
  </div>
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">+35%</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">Houston Locality</div>
  </div>
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NASA salaries are set by the federal General Schedule (GS) pay system with locality adjustments. The 2026 tables include a 1% across-the-board increase from January 2026. Here's what NASA pays across different roles.

## What determines your NASA salary

Three factors set your pay:

1. **Grade (GS-1 to GS-15):** Based on job complexity and your qualifications. Engineers typically enter at GS-7 (BS), GS-9 (MS), or GS-11 (PhD).

2. **Step (1 to 10):** Within-grade increases that happen on a fixed schedule. Step 1 to Step 10 takes approximately 18 years.

3. **Locality pay:** A percentage added based on your NASA center's geographic area. Ranges from ~18% (Stennis, MS) to 44.15% (Ames/Mountain View, CA).

**Formula:** Base GS salary × (1 + locality percentage) = your salary

## Quick salary lookup

| If you're a... | Expect... | Details |
|----------------|-----------|---------|
| New BS engineer | $52K–$76K | GS-7, varies by location |
| New MS engineer | $64K–$93K | GS-9, varies by location |
| Engineer after 5 years | $103K–$135K | GS-12, journey-level |
| Senior engineer | $111K–$160K | GS-13, auto-promotion ceiling |
| Technical lead | $131K–$189K | GS-14, competitive promotion |
| Division chief | $154K–$197K | GS-15, capped at $197,200 |
| Astronaut | $105K–$161K | GS-13 to GS-14 |
| Center Director | $148K–$222K | Senior Executive Service |

For detailed salary tables by NASA center, see our [NASA engineer salary guide](/blog/nasa-engineer-salary-2026).

## Benefits that increase effective compensation

NASA benefits add $30K–$50K in annual value beyond base salary:

| Benefit | Value |
|---------|-------|
| FERS pension (30 yr) | ~30% of final salary, annually, for life |
| TSP employer match | 5% of salary (~$6K/yr on $120K) |
| Health insurance (FEHB) | ~70% employer-paid, continues in retirement |
| Annual leave | 13–26 days + 13 sick days |
| Student loan repayment | Up to $10K/year |
| Work-life balance | 4.0/5 Glassdoor rating |

<div class="blog-callout blog-callout-info">
  <div class="blog-callout-title">NASA vs. private sector: the 30-year view</div>
  <p>A GS-13 engineer earning $140K at NASA receives approximately $165K–$175K in total annual compensation when you add pension accrual, TSP match, and health coverage. Over a 30-year career, the FERS pension alone can be worth $1M+ in equivalent retirement savings. See our <a href="/blog/nasa-engineer-salary-2026">career progression salary guide</a> for the full math.</p>
</div>

## How to find NASA salary for a specific position

1. Go to **USAJobs.gov**
2. Search the position title + "NASA"
3. The posting lists the GS grade and salary range
4. Look up the exact figure on the OPM GS locality pay table for that center's area

Browse [NASA positions on Zero G Talent](/space-jobs-at-nasa), or see our [NASA careers guide](/blog/nasa-careers-2026), [NASA aerospace engineer salary](/blog/nasa-aerospace-engineering-salary-2026), and [astronaut salary guide](/blog/astronaut-salary-2026).


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*Source: [Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com), the job board for space, defense, AI, robotics and frontier-tech companies.*