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Astronomy and Space Scientist - Federal Salaries of 2022
Pay Rates for "Astronomy and Space Scientist"
How much does an Astronomy and Space Scientist in the federal government get paid? $156,096.91* *Based on the 2022 average.Astronomy and Space Scientist was the 255th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2022, with 394 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.
In 2022, the Goddard Space Flight Center hired the most employees titled Astronomy And Space Science, with an average salary of $156,843.
Government Astronomy And Space Science jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Astronomy And Space Science job is GS-6, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is GS-15. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions fall under this job category. Due to the growing focus of them STEM fields, individuals in this job category tend to advance more quickly than employees in the other job categories. Jobs in this category are being added quickly and many organizations have trouble finding qualified individuals. Individuals in this job category typically recieve pormotions of 2 grade increases at a time until they reach GS-12.
Agencies that have hired an Astronomy and Space Scientist
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Goddard Space Flight Center | 222 | $156,843.21 |
| Ames Research Center | 47 | $161,124.06 |
| Smithsonian Institution (Exchange Sep Boards of Trust) | 41 | $163,725.00 |
| George C. Marshall Space Flight Center | 32 | $133,529.50 |
| Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center | 32 | $149,787.81 |
| National Science Foundation | 12 | $191,936.58 |
| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | 4 | $141,857.00 |
| Geological Survey | 4 | $115,153.00 |
Astronomy and Space Scientist Pay Distribution
The average pay for an Astronomy and Space Scientist is $156,096.91. The highest paid Astronomy and Space Scientist made $203,567 in 2022.
Common Astronomy and Space Scientist Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Astronomy And Space Science Employees |
|---|---|
| GS - General Schedule | 344 |
| SL - Senior Level Positions | 24 |
| AD - Administratively Determined Rates, Not Elsewhere Specified | 13 |
| ST - Scientific And Professional | 11 |
| ZP - Scientific And Engineering Professional | 1 |
| ES - Senior Executive Service | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $36,070.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-6, Step 1 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $152,771.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-15, Step 10 |
| Category: | Professional and Scientific |
| Occupation Family: | 1300 PHYSICAL SCIENCES GROUP |
Other Jobs at the GS-6 Paygrade
GS-6 is the starting paygrade for Astronomy and Space Science jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the GS-6 paygrade.
| Occupation | Occupation Category | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archivist | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
| Food Technology | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
| Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Inventory Management | Administrative and Management | GS-4 | GS-15 |
| Distribution Facilities and Storage Management | Administrative and Management | GS-4 | GS-15 |
Average Astronomy And Space Science Pay Trend from 2004 to 2022
In 2004, the average pay for an Astronomy and Space Scientist was $113,960. Since then, the average pay has increased to $156,097 in 2022.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 1330.