This is the salary of an astronaut who works for NASA

NASA astronauts go through an exhaustive approval process before being selected. Their annual salaries are determined using an American government pay scale, and beginning, they fall under two grades: GS-12 and GS-13.

 

According to the 2018 government pay scale, an astronaut earns between $ 63,600 and $ 98,317 per year.

 

But, to apply to be a NASA astronaut, you must first pass a strict list of requirements, including being a U.S. citizen, having a credited university degree in science, engineering or mathematics and three years of professional experience or 1,000 hours flying a jet plane.

 

So you have to go through an exhaustive selection process that is about 74 times more difficult than entering Harvard University. NASA selects a new class of astronauts once every two years, and chose only 12 out of 18,300 candidates in 2017.

 

So how much does NASA reward its astronauts for their experience, extensive training and willingness to risk their lives to explore space? According to a FAQ page on the NASA website, the annual salary "is based on the federal government's general hourly pay scale for grades GS-12 to GS-13".

 

“Each person's degree is determined according to their academic achievements and experiences,” adds NASA.

 

In 2018, a new astronaut with experience and performance in the GS-12 grade would earn $ 63,600 a year. After several years of excellent performance, the same astronaut can be paid for a new phase of the GS-12, where he earns $ 82,680 a year.

 

Meanwhile, the most qualified astronauts with a GS-13 salary note could initially receive $ 75,628 per year and, after several years of experience, up to $ 98,317 per year.

 

But astronauts are not locked in the GS-12 and GS-13 in their careers, they can still gain another level, the GS-15, where it rises to over $ 120,000 a year, depending on position, responsibilities and performance. [ IFLS ]