“Space Salaries: What Astronauts Really Make for Nine Months in Orbit”
Imagine spending nearly a year in the cosmos, only to find out your paycheck remains as grounded as you are. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have just returned to Earth after an impressive 286 days aboard the International Space Station, but the real kicker isn’t their homecoming; it’s the revelation of their salaries—or lack thereof. Instead of basking in the glow of additional overtime pay for their extended mission, these intergalactic travelers are informed that their earnings are strictly capped at the regular federal salary scale.
NASA clarified that astronauts are federal employees on official travel orders, receiving a standard 40-hour workweek salary without any additional compensation for the extra months spent in orbit. Their pay falls within the General Schedule (GS) 12-13 levels, which, according to the 2024 pay scales, ranges from approximately $100,287 to $155,034 annually. With an average salary around $152,258, one might think this would cover their cosmic adventure, but alas, they won’t be cashing in on any overtime checks.
Instead, they receive a modest daily incidentals allowance while in space, which, as former astronaut Cady Coleman pointed out, could be as low as $4 per day. So, if we apply her figures to Wilmore and Williams’ duration in space, they might receive a paltry $1,144 in incidentals—hardly a fortune for a cosmic odyssey. It’s a stark reminder that even in space, the bureaucratic grind persists, leading one to wonder if they could have at least received some kind of space bonus for their efforts.
As the Crew-9 mission comes to a close, a new group of astronauts has taken their place aboard the ISS, further emphasizing the relentless cycle of space exploration. While Wilmore and Williams adjust back to life on Earth, one can’t help but ponder where the real rewards lie in such a profession. Is it the thrill of exploration, the chance to float among the stars, or merely the knowledge that their next paycheck will remain firmly tethered to Earth?
In the grand scheme of things, it seems that while astronauts reach for the stars, their salaries remain firmly rooted in the realities of federal employment.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Washingtonian, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, FederalPay.org
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