How much does an ESA astronaut earn?

Short answer

An ESA astronaut holds a staff contract with the space agency and is paid like the rest of its workforce: salary depends on the post's pay grade, plus allowances on top. ESA salaries are exempt from national income tax in member states; the agency does not publish individual figures for its astronauts.

Published: September 26, 2026 · Updated: September 30, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Visit by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz to DLR and ESA in Cologne-40803Raimond Spekking (CC BY SA), vía commons

Just another post within ESA

ESA astronauts receive a staff contract with the agency, initially for four years, based at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne. Their pay follows the same system as the agency's technical and scientific staff: salary depends on the pay grade of the post they hold.

As in other international organisations, pay is made up of several elements: base salary, expatriation allowances, family and children's education benefits, a dedicated social security scheme, and a pension of up to 70% of final salary after 35 years of service. On top of this come relocation expense reimbursement and an installation allowance. ESA salaries are exempt from national income tax in member states. That is why comparing them directly to a German gross salary makes no sense at all.

Being on the reserve does not yet mean an ESA contract

One peculiarity of the most recent selection round: alongside astronauts hired as staff, ESA maintains a reserve. These candidates remain employed in their original jobs; only when offered a mission does ESA hire them as staff for its duration. And for those with a permanent post, the following also applies: most of the career consists of training, supporting ongoing missions from the ground, and outreach work. Flights are rare, so pay is no reason to apply, and yet more than 23,000 people applied for the 2021/22 selection.