How Much Do NASA Astronauts Earn? Artemis II Salaries and Pay Scales
- The Artemis II mission, which launched on April 1, 2026, represents the first human journey beyond low Earth orbit in many years.
- The crew consists of four astronauts: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen.
- NASA astronauts are paid according to fixed yearly salaries based on federal government pay rules.
The Artemis II mission, which launched on April 1, 2026, represents the first human journey beyond low Earth orbit in many years. While the mission carries significant technological and scientific weight, it has also drawn attention to the compensation structures of the crew members tasked with navigating the spacecraft around the Moon.
The crew consists of four astronauts: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. They are currently on a 10-day mission that takes them to the far side of the Moon before returning to Earth. Despite the high-risk nature of the journey, these astronauts are compensated as government employees rather than receiving specialized mission bonuses.
NASA Salary Structures and Pay Scales
NASA astronauts are paid according to fixed yearly salaries based on federal government pay rules. For U.S. Astronauts, Here’s determined by the General Services
pay scale. This system calculates salaries based on three primary factors: the rigor of the position, the employee’s length of service with the federal government, and their physical work location.
Most NASA astronauts are based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Many have served as federal employees for at least 10 years, which typically places them at Step 7
of the government’s seniority ranking. They are classified as GS-13 employees, one of the higher tiers on the 15-point scale used to determine job difficulty.
Regarding the specific figures for 2024, NASA reports an average salary of approximately $152,258 per year. However, other estimates suggest a broader range. Data from FederalPay.org indicates that many astronauts earn between $89,693 and $122,336 per year.
Mission Pay and Overtime
A notable aspect of the astronaut compensation model is the lack of hazard pay or overtime. The fixed yearly salary remains the same regardless of whether the astronaut is stationed on Earth or operating in space. In other words that the 10-day journey around the Moon does not result in additional mission-specific pay or overtime compensation for the crew.
The payment system also varies by the astronaut’s professional background. Civilian astronauts follow the federal pay scales, while those who come from a military background continue to receive their salaries through military systems.
Employee Benefits and Support
While the base salary may be viewed as modest relative to the risks of lunar exploration, NASA provides a comprehensive suite of federal benefits to its astronauts. These benefits include:
- Health insurance and retirement plans
- Paid leave
- Access to specialized training facilities
- Travel support and subsidized transport
- Parking and memberships in federal credit unions
- Participation in NASA-linked scholarship programs
Mission Context and Objectives
The Artemis II mission is often compared to Apollo 13, which flew in 1970. However, Artemis II is designed to go further than previous missions of its kind. The spacecraft’s flight path began with entry into Earth’s orbit before proceeding toward the Moon, crossing distances that human crews had not traversed in many years.
The mission serves as a critical step in NASA’s efforts to return humans to the lunar vicinity. By sending a crew of four on this 10-day trip, the agency is testing the capabilities of the spacecraft and the endurance of the crew in deep space environments before attempting lunar landings.