Space men and wages?

Question

how much do space man earn. i ask cos the have to be the elite of the elite, i have also heard that a distant relative of mine has a chance of being one..

Answer 1

Congratulations to your relative, my hopes he won't pass the opportunity up. Any who, most astronauts are military personnel and get paid standard military rates. Their salary is due to their ranking. Salaries for civilian Astronaut Candidates are based upon the Federal Government's General Schedule pay scale for grades GS-11 through GS-13. The grade is determined in accordance with each individuals academic achievements and experience. Currently a GS-11 starts at 56,445 per year and a GS-13 can earn up to 104,581 per year.

Military Astronaut Candidates are detailed to the Johnson Space Center and remain in an active duty status for pay, benefits, leave, and other similar military matters: from the NASA website.

It might not be a great pay, but if you really have the heart for it, such salary does not matter.

Answer 2

Astronauts are government employees, and as such are paid according to ordinary civil service schedules.  You get no more as an astronaut than you would working many other civil service jobs.

It used to be that astronauts sought and were granted additional income from outside sources, because of their celebrity.  This was in part to compensate for their inability to obtain life insurance or many other customary benefits.  But for now, becoming an astronaut is not a way to get rich.

Answer 3

Nothing.  They get their regular military or work pay.

Nothing extra.

Answer 4

The above answers are correct.  But you can still get rich once you leave NASA.  Just forget all your principles and self respect.  Simply claim the US Government is covering up flying saucers.  Make up some cockamamie story. You will make the news and will be in demand as a speaker at UFO enthusiast meetings.