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Astronomy and Space Science federal salary series 1330

Full-time federal employees in the Astronomy and Space Science series earned a median of $183,128 in annualized adjusted basic pay in September 2026, 67% above the all-federal median of $109,641. The middle half earned between $158,306 and $197,200.

Median pay
$183,128
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$158,306–$197,200
25th–75th percentile
Employees
435
in this series, all schedules
Change in median
0%
vs. September 2025
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Astronomy and Space Science
All federal (full-time)

What shapes astronomy and space science pay

The most common grade with published pay is GS-15 (139 employees, median $197,200). The largest employer of this series with published pay is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (311 employees). Among states with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay, the median is highest in Massachusetts ($198,895) and lowest in Texas ($154,724), a gap that partly reflects locality pay differences. Federal pay depends mostly on grade and step, plus a locality adjustment for where the job is located; see the GS pay scale explainer.

OPM withheld pay for 17% of employees in this series. The figures here describe only employees with published pay; withholding is concentrated in certain agencies (see data coverage).

Astronomy and Space Science pay by grade

Grades with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay. GS grades are listed first; other pay plans follow.

Astronomy and Space Science pay by grade
Pay plan–grade Employees Median pay Middle 50%
GS-13 87 $138,024 $133,206–$147,300
GS-14 120 $167,902 $160,504–$172,962
GS-15 139 $197,200 $197,200–$197,200

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Astronomy and Space Science pay by agency

Astronomy and Space Science pay by agency
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 311 $178,204 $158,306–$197,200
Smithsonian Institution 38 $197,200 $172,133–$209,295

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Astronomy and Space Science pay by state

The 4 states with the most employees in this series and published pay.

Astronomy and Space Science pay by state
State Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Maryland 189 $186,207 $163,104–$197,200
Texas 55 $154,724 $139,116–$176,484
Massachusetts 35 $198,895 $197,200–$209,728
California 34 $197,200 $172,962–$197,200

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Change since September 2025

The median moved ±0.0% from $183,206 in September 2025 to $183,128 in September 2026. Headcount went from 478 to 435 (−9.0%). A change in the median reflects both pay adjustments and who joined or left the workforce, so it is not the same as a pay raise.

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