A university education in a scientific subject or you are an engineer is required. In addition to that, you must have at least three years of work experience or 1,000 flight hours from a jet aircraft.
And then you must be a US citizen.
The eye of the needle is extremely small to become one of NASA’s chosen astronauts. The application process is also tough – even if you meet all the requirements.
0.07% gets through the eye of the needle
In 2017, 18,300 qualified individuals applied for a spot in the US astronaut program. Only twelve were admitted.
These twelve people can look forward to intensive training programs and trips in gigantic vehicles to the world’s most expensive laboratory, the International Space Station, ISS.
Hopefully it is the experiences themselves that have made them apply – the salary for a Nasa employee is not that exciting in relation to what they invest in.
Salary as a senior physician
NASA is a government agency and therefore the astronauts are public employees and salaries are determined by the US government. In 2018, the starting salary for an astronaut is between $63,600 and $98,317 per year.
This corresponds to a monthly salary of between approximately SEK 45,600 and SEK 71,500. It can increase to SEK 85,600 a month, which is the highest an American astronaut can earn.
That is, a monthly salary that corresponds to what a specialist doctor in Sweden receives.
Get 2 magazines for SEK 139 + gift: Sonitum BT speaker
Did you know that you spend an average of 20 hours a week waiting – why not spend them on something meaningful? 🧠
With a digital subscription to Illustrated Science , you become wiser every day about everything from memory and sleep to T. rex and the latest research in diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s – on mobile, computer or in our app.
And right now you get access to Illustrated Science and the VOD service Curiosity Stream for SEK 139
When the offer expires, you continue with an ongoing subscription for 89.50 per issue.
As a subscriber you get:
- Unlimited digital access to illvet.se and the entire large archive of Illustrated Science.
- Read articles in our new app.
- Daily news from the world of science.
Salary and Outlook for Astronauts
Astronaut – Your future profession?