How much does a rocket scientist at NASA JPL make?
As of May 14, 2026, the average annual pay for a Nasa Rocket Scientist in the United States is $88,377 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $42. This is the equivalent of $1,699/week or $7,364/month. 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.The highest paying role reported at NASA is Administrative Assistant at the Common Range Average level with a yearly total compensation of $241,200. This includes base salary as well as any potential stock compensation and bonuses. The median yearly total compensation reported at NASA is $112,710.U. S. General Services pay scale, which is how federal officials calculate how much a salaried employee should make. For astronauts, according to NASA, that comes out to approximately $152,258 per year (as of 2024).Armstrong and Scott received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and the Air Force awarded Scott the Distinguished Flying Cross as well. Scott was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and Armstrong received a $678 raise in pay to $21,653 a year (equivalent to $214,864 in 2025), making him NASA’s highest-paid astronaut.While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $171,721 and as low as $22,699, the majority of Nasa Jpl Engineer salaries currently range between $114,500 (25th percentile) to $157,900 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $170,734 annually in California.
Who is the highest paid NASA employee?
In 2023 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) reported 12,147 employees making more than $100,000 per year; the average salary was $114,651. The highest reported pay for the federal agency was $272,100 for Casey Swails, Miscellaneous Administration and Program. Media reports suggest Sunita Williams typically fall under the G-15 category and as per NASA records, this means her estimated annual salary is around $152,258 (₹1. This compensation reflects both the rigorous training astronauts undergo and the high-risk nature of their missions.