Two Boeing Starliner astronauts have safely landed back on Earth after a nine-month stay at the International Space Station, raising questions about the financial incentives for space travel. The astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, reportedly earned just over $150,000 annually without overtime or hazard pay.
In contrast, NASA’s annual salary for its astronauts is significantly lower, at $152,258 per year, according to 2024 pay rates. Astronauts receive regular salaries, but their daily stipend while in space is only around $5, totaling $1,430 for a 286-day stay.
Despite the relatively low financial reward, NASA astronauts are motivated by a passion for space exploration. The job offers them the chance to travel to space and conduct important research, making the financial incentive less significant.
“Astronauts like myself don’t think about when we’re coming home,” said Ken Bowersox, former NASA astronaut and space operations mission chief. “We focus on how well our mission is going and if we’re lucky, we might get to stay longer.”
Astronauts have settled into their job as part of the human spaceflight program, which is focused on conducting important research and improving NASA’s knowledge base. Their dedication to the job means they view the nine-month space stay as a minor setback rather than an existential crisis.
The Boeing Starliner incident highlights the unique challenges faced by astronauts, but it does not seem to have deterred them from their passion for space travel.
Source: https://fortune.com/2025/03/19/boeing-starliner-astronauts-six-figure-salary-overtime-compensation-job-risks