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How much do Astronauts get paid?

P

PCMarine

Diamond Member
So I'm sitting here at work, and my coworker and I were pondering about the people who spend months+ on the space station and how much they get paid. Probably halfway decent right? Since the job is pretty dangerous...
 
looks like they dont get paid much..

"Salaries for civilian Astronaut Candidates are based on the Federal Government's General Schedule pay scale for grades GS-12 through GS-13. Each person's grade is determined according to his/her academic achievements and experience. Currently, a GS-12 starts at $65,140 per year and a GS-13 can earn up to $100,701 per year.

Military Astronaut Candidates are assigned to the Johnson Space Center and remain in an active duty status for pay, benefits, leave, and other similar military matters."


http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/information/astronaut_faq.html#5
 
I'm sure the pay's not bad, but the perks certainly rock. I doubt they're making six figures.
 
Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
I think the travel benefits make the relatively low salary worth it . . . .
Click to expand...

That's one helluva a commute though. 😉
 
The first astronauts actually took a pay cut while they were in space, because the government was providing them room and board.
 
What amazes me is that astronauts are not as famous, rich, or likely to attract women as, say, baseball/football players.... what a f###ed-up world this is... kind of tells you where the priorities of the masses lie.
 
The most money you are going to make is after you done being an astronaut. I'm sure it's pretty easy to get speaking events that pay 10g's or so to talk about your trip into space, and other public appearences.
 
With the hours they put in, they probably barely make minimum wage. I somehow don't think a single one of them are in it for the money though. Most of the scientists have Ph.D's so could easily be making many times what they are now at half the trouble. It's the honor of being a participant in space that makes it worthwhile.
 
Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
I think the travel benefits make the relatively low salary worth it . . . .
Click to expand...

Heh.

I'm sure they don't get paid anywhere near what they would make in the private sector considering the level of competence, training and education that goes into getting up there. They have relatively short careers as actual astronauts, however, and I'm sure most of them make 6 figures as consultants to the many many contractors surrounding the space program after retiring.
 
Looks like that pay isn't that bad. Certainly well above average. But as others have pointed out, it's an awesome job that has lots of great benefits.
 
Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
What amazes me is that astronauts are not as famous, rich, or likely to attract women as, say, baseball/football players.... what a f###ed-up world this is... kind of tells you where the priorities of the masses lie.
Click to expand...
While I understand your point, and I agree with you in principle (entertainers are overpaid and scientists are underpaid), you have to use logic here. Only a very small fraction of people can be a good baseball/football player. Anyone in the world can go to space. Supply and demand are completely different here.

<- PhD myself, doing research.
 
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