Key Points
- Astronaut salaries vary based on space agency, experience, and mission responsibilities.
- NASA astronauts typically earn between $84,365 and $115,079 annually, but can earn up to $152,258 depending on their role.
- Military astronauts at NASA keep their military salaries and benefits while working with NASA.
- ESA astronauts have lower salaries compared to NASA but benefit from tax exemptions.
- Roscosmos cosmonauts’ salaries are lower than those of Western counterparts, with recent increases proposed by the Russian government.
Looma News
Astronauts play a crucial role in space exploration, but their salaries and benefits vary significantly depending on their space agency and role. At NASA, astronauts are usually paid between $84,365 and $115,079 annually, according to the General Schedule pay scale. However, some NASA astronauts, especially those with military backgrounds, can earn up to $152,258 per year. Military astronauts retain their military pay and benefits while working at NASA, reflecting their continued service status.
For example, Matthew Dominick, a US Navy Commander and astronaut, earns about $8,199.60 per month, while Raja Chari, a Brigadier General in the US Air Force, earns around $10,638.90 per month. On the other hand, Sunita Williams, a retired US Navy Captain, is paid according to NASA’s 2024 rates.
European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts receive lower salaries compared to NASA astronauts, starting from approximately £5,019.45 annually in the UK and €6,251.51 in France. Their salaries increase with experience and after their first spaceflight, reaching up to £7,199.16 in the UK and €8,964.10 in France. However, ESA astronauts benefit from tax exemptions that improve their net income.
In Russia, Roscosmos cosmonauts earn less than their Western peers. Recent proposals by President Vladimir Putin suggested a 50-70% increase in salaries and allowances for cosmonauts. These changes could bring the average salary of new cosmonauts to around 300,000 Russian Rubles per month and experienced cosmonauts to over 500,000 Rubles, along with bonuses for their space missions.
