Requirement:
Average NASA Astronaut’s original salary in 2025 In July Was $ 66,026 a year.
Rating:
Rating: Outdated
Context:
The claim was based on the minimum payment of the astronaut, which the astronaut could have been received, but even then the astronauts could start with a higher salary. 2024. All astronauts made more than double.
2025 In July The recording of the astronaut’s salary was widely distributed via X. Post (archived) 3 million times, stated that the average salary of the NASA astronaut was $ 66,026 per year. The claim was shared with the astronaut clip performing the space trail.
The same claims were made in X messages with the same clip in 2025. April (Archived) when it was reviewed 2.3 million times, and in 2022. January (Archived) with more than 22,000 estimates.
(@Postinclips on x)
The claim was outdated even when it was first shared in 2022. It was also not even accurately accurate; The number of the claim was just one of several possible initial salaries.
Annual salary for all NASA astronauts in 2025. Were $ 152 $ 258 per yearAccording to the NASA site. It was based on 2024. Payment schedules were still increased later this year.
The $ 66,000 salary was available on the archived NASA website page from 2019. October This page explained that at that time astronauts were supported by candidates and were based on a semi -schedule scale of the Federal Government, which determines the salary of most civilian government employees. Astronaut candidates were GS-11 to GS-14 on a wage scale based on Personal academic achievements and experience, which means that the initial salary of the astronaut can be just as low as the G-11 initial salary or as high as G-14’s original salary. The person 2015 G-11 scale in Houston (It is unclear why the scale was based in 2015), where the Johnson Space Center is, would start with $ 66,026 annually. Something at the same time and on the spot on the G-14 scale would have started at $ 111 204 a year.
Snopes NASA sent questions asking about the former pay scale, including why The page still used a salary scale from 2015, and the likelihood that the astronaut would start with G-11 salary rather than higher salaries, such as the G-14 salary, but will not receive an answer before announcing.
From 2021 Astronauts were no longer paid on the basis of a general schedule on the salary scale Archived page On the NASA website from 2023. October By then the original salary NASA astronauts for the candidate was $ 141 $ 888 per year;
Unlike the general schedule wage structure, the new wage structure of NASA astronauts began all remuneration. “Although NASA continues to employ astronauts with a different level of skills and experience, all astronauts start astronauts at the same level; no one has prior experience as an astronaut, so all astronauts start with the same pay rate.” NASA wrote At that time.
The “Astronaut Candidates” are those who have been selected to become NASA astronauts, but have not yet completed the training needed for space. All NASA astronauts begin as candidates for astronaut. 2023 NASA’s website explained that the increase in salaries was linked to ”Specific, work -related guidelines, such as successful completion of all astronauts’ teaching requirements. “So any astronaut that performs a space trail, like the one seen at X posts, would be paid more than the original salary.
Sources:
“Archive: Choosing Astronauts – Frequently Asked Questions”. NASAInternet Archive, web.archive.org/web/20191018205154/astronauts.nasa.gov/content/faq.htm. Accepted 2019 October 18
Dean, mature. “Archive: becoming an astronaut: often asked questions.” NASAInternet Archive, 2018 January 16, web.archive.org/web/20231002165809/www.nasa.gov/humans-in-pace/becoming-an-stronaut-frequents-asked-chos/. Accepted 2023. October 2
— “Becoming an astronaut: frequently asked questions – NASA”. NASA2018 January 16, www.nasa.gov/humans-in-pace/becoming-an-stronaut-frequenty-asked-chosons/. Accepted 2025. August 1
“Payment and holidays: Salaries and wages – OPM.Gov.” US Personnel Management Bureau2015 In January, www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaryars-sewages/salary- leables/15tables/hhou.aspx. Accepted 2025. August 1