Are NASA and JPL the same?
Managed by Caltech, JPL is NASA’s only federally-funded research and development center. Designed, built, and operated the United States’ first satellite, Explorer 1, launched in 1958. Explorer 1 produced the first-ever scientific result from space: the discovery of the Van Allen Radiation Belts. Just to be considered for a job with NASA requires a lot of hard work and dedication. If you’ve got a good degree and/or relevant experience, it pays to follow the steps laid out above. Get your resume and interview techniques on point by using the STAR method, and practice, practice, practice.Nestled at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory – JPL for short – is a federally funded research and development center managed by Caltech.It’s not everywhere that you can go to get a chance to work with spacecraft going to Mars. The prestige of working at JPL alone make some of the downsides all worth it. Also, great 403b plan and a 9/80 work schedule. The annual evaluation system makes promotions difficult to achieve.Unique Place in the Universe JPL is the leader in robotic space exploration sending rovers to Mars, probes in the far reaches of the universe. It’s awesome to see the Mission Control were they receive and communicate with the rovers, The Space Assembly area were they build the spacecraft.
Is JPL owned by NASA?
Explore the JPL campus virtually with interactive 360 panoramas of Mission Control, the Spacecraft Assembly Facility, the visitor museum, and more. JPL is federally funded by NASA and managed by Caltech. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a division of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC).Managed by Caltech, JPL is NASA’s only federally-funded research and development center. Designed, built, and operated the United States’ first satellite, Explorer 1, launched in 1958. Explorer 1 produced the first-ever scientific result from space: the discovery of the Van Allen Radiation Belts.JPL is NASA’s Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) operated by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).From JPL to NASA With Explorer I, JPL vaulted the U. S. NASA. On December 3, 1958, two months after NASA started operations, JPL was transferred from Army jurisdiction to that of the new civilian space agency.
Are JPL employees NASA employees?
On Mars, it operates the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers. The latter is collecting Martian rock and dust for a possible sample return mission, in which JPL is also heavily involved. The laboratory employs about 5,500 NASA personnel and onsite subcontractors. JPL is run by contractors working for Cal Tech. When the government shuts down, JPL keeps going, at least for a while. The deep space network that communicates with all (most? NASA’s spacecraft that aren’t Earth orbiters, is run by JPL.
How much do NASA JPL interns get paid?
Average NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Student Intern daily pay in the United States is approximately $313, which is 158% above the national average. The average NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory salary ranges from approximately $65,443 per year for Senior Staff Assistant to $264,093 per year for Section Manager. Average NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory hourly pay ranges from approximately $21. Business Intern to $33. Student Intern.The average NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory salary ranges from approximately $62,512 per year for Postdoctoral Fellow to $129,479 per year for System Engineer. Average NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory hourly pay ranges from approximately $19. Intern to $23. Software Engineer.The estimated total pay range for a Research Scientist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is $126K–$178K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay. The average Research Scientist base salary at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is $150K per year.The estimated total pay range for a Engineer at NASA is $114K–$158K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay. The average Engineer base salary at NASA is $134K per year. The average additional pay is $0 per year, which could include cash bonus, stock, commission, profit sharing or tips.
Does NASA JPL pay well?
How much does a Nasa Jpl make in Pasadena, California? As of Nov 27, 2025, the average annual pay for a Nasa Jpl in Pasadena is $108,784 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $52. This is the equivalent of $2,092/week or $9,065/month. According to NASA, astronauts are not paid overtime or bonuses for time in space. Instead, they receive their standard federal salaries and a $5 daily incidental travel allowance while on official duty. That means each astronaut earned just under $1,500 extra over the course of the mission.Under NASA rules, astronauts are paid at the rate of their usual 40-hours-a-week salary, roughly $152,258 per year, during their time aboard the station — plus $5 a day for expenses.NASA pay FAQs The average salary for an Astronaut is $151,676 per year (estimate) in US, which is 14% higher than the average NASA salary of $133,463 per year (estimate) for this job.While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $174,000 and as low as $20,000, the majority of Nasa salaries currently range between $62,000 (25th percentile) to $117,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $150,000 annually across the United States.