🧑🚀 How much does an astronaut make?
There’s no verified “most” or top figure. NASA’s rough estimate is $152,258 a year; Japan’s closest official comparison is ¥9.12 million for JAXA research staff, not astronauts alone.
U.S. pay depends on federal grade and experience; JAXA pay depends on role and experience, and neither publishes an astronaut-only salary ladder.
US Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| NASA’s published approximate astronaut salary | $152,258 | NASA FAQ estimate based on 2024 pay schedules |
Per month and per day
| Who | Per month | Per day (÷365) |
|---|---|---|
| NASA’s published approximate astronaut salary | $12,688 | $417 |
Where does the money come from?
- Annual federal salary: NASA gives an approximate annual salary of $152,258 based on 2024 pay schedules. Source
- Military pay: Astronauts selected from the military stay on active duty and receive military pay and benefits. Source
- Travel incidentals: On space trips, NASA covers meals, lodging, and travel, plus $5 per day for incidental costs. Source
How do you become an astronaut?
In the United States, earn a STEM master’s degree and build related work experience, or gain 1,000 hours as pilot in command of a jet aircraft. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and pass NASA’s medical screening. Those selected train for about two years before becoming eligible for a flight assignment.
- Study math and science in high school.
- Study a STEM subject in college.
- Earn a STEM master’s degree and build related experience.
- Apply to NASA and complete its selection and medical checks.
- Train for about two years and become eligible for a flight assignment.
A day as an astronaut
On the International Space Station, astronauts check their schedule, run experiments, and make observations. They inspect or repair equipment and keep exercise gear ready. They also work out and review the next day’s tasks.
Common questions
What is the monthly equivalent of NASA astronaut pay?
NASA’s estimate is $152,258 per year. Dividing by 12 gives a simple monthly equivalent of about $12,688. Source
Do astronauts get extra pay for long space missions?
No. NASA says astronauts do not get overtime, holiday, or weekend pay while in space. They do receive $5 per day for incidental costs. Source
How are military astronauts paid?
Military astronauts stay on active duty while assigned to NASA, so they keep receiving military pay, benefits, and leave. Source
Do all NASA employees earn the same salary?
No. Federal GS pay depends on a job’s difficulty, responsibility, and required qualifications. Each grade also has steps, and most GS employees may receive location-based pay adjustments. Source
Can an astronaut’s pay rise with experience?
Within a GS grade, steps can rise with time in service and acceptable performance. Moving to a higher grade is a promotion, not an automatic yearly increase. Source
This section summarizes public sources. We only show numbers that have a source.
In Japan
Japan Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| JAXA research-staff comparison (average; not astronaut-specific) | $60,800 | JAXA FY2024 average for research staff, not an astronaut-only figure |
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Data table and sources
- www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/becoming-an-astronaut-frequently-asked-questions/
- searchpub.nssc.nasa.gov/servlet/sm.web.Fetch/Astronaut_Candidate_Brochure_2011.p
- www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/26Table
- www.jaxa.jp/about/disclosure/data/hosyu2024.pdf
- www.jaxa.jp/about/employ/trial_j.html
- www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/astronauts/astronaut-requirements
- www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/astronauts/astronaut-selection-program
- www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/606877main_fs-2011-11-057-jsc-astro_trng
- www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/general-schedule/
- www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/us/nasa-astronauts-overtime.html
This job is not covered directly by government wage statistics, so the figures come from leagues, associations, surveys and the press.
- No special pay table for astronauts exists. This shows average pay for all JAXA researchers, about 8.5-9.5 million yen. (JAXA staff salary disclosure)
- No astronaut-only pay table exists; pay used federal GS grades 11-14, $85,270-$186,700 in Houston. This is the midpoint. (US Office of Personnel Management)
- The 2024-25 astronaut candidate classes use individually set pay instead of GS grades, about $141,888 to $152,000. (Fortune (news report))