NASA job applications: $164,395 salary for astronaut posts as selected candidates can live on Moon and Mars; check direct link, eligibility and deadline

Space agency NASA is officially hiring astronauts to potentially live and work on a moon base, with the new class to begin training as early as 2028. The candidates selected to be astronauts would not only test spacecraft but would also live and work on the moon in a future moon base, said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman in a statement released on Saturday. NASA has listed an annual salary of $164,395 for the new astronaut candidate position in 2026.

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NASA astronaut applications process, requirement

In an official press statement, NASA said applications are now open for the agency’s next class of astronauts, who will join NASA as America returns to the Moon, builds the Moon Base, and lays the groundwork for the first crewed missions to Mars.


The next generation of astronauts will train to operate on the lunar surface, live and work beyond Earth, and take on missions that will push the boundaries of human exploration farther than ever before. US citizens interested in joining the astronaut corps have until 11:59 p.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 3, to submit their completed application materials at: https://go.nasa.gov/3WyvlQi

“This is an extraordinary time to join NASA’s astronaut corps,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “The people we select could walk on the Moon, live and work at the Moon Base, and help pioneer the systems and operations that will ultimately carry crews to Mars. Those missions will demand technical excellence, sound judgment, teamwork, and courage. NASA’s astronaut corps has always called on remarkable Americans willing to take on extraordinary challenges in service to the nation. If you are ready to join that tradition, come help write the next chapter of humanity’s greatest adventure.”

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Astronaut application requirements

The basic requirements to apply include United States citizenship and a master’s degree in a STEM field, including engineering, biological science, physical science, or computer science from an accredited institution. The requirement for the master’s degree can also be met by:

Completion of at least two years of work toward a doctoral program in an appropriate technical field of engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics.

Completion of a Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Physician Assistant, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner, or a related medical degree.

Completion of, or current enrollment in, a nationally recognized Test Pilot School program, provided the program is completed by July 2027. If Test Pilot School is the only advanced technical degree, then completion of a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field, including engineering, biological science, physical science, or computer science is required.

Candidates must also have at least three years of related professional experience after completing their qualifying degree.

For pilots, the professional experience requirement may be met through the following flight experience:

• High-performance jet aircraft: 750 hours of pilot-in-command time.
• Other fixed-wing aircraft: 1,500 total flight hours, including 750 hours as pilot in command.
• Rotary-wing aircraft: 1,000 total flight hours, including 300 hours as pilot in command.

For medical doctors, residency training may count toward the professional experience requirement and must be completed by July 2027.

Astronaut candidates must pass NASA’s long-duration astronaut flight physical and demonstrate strong leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.

When will the final selection process begin?

NASA said it expects to make its final selection in late 2027 to begin training as the next class of astronaut candidates.

“The window is open. The mission is waiting. And the only thing missing from the greatest adventure humanity has ever embarked upon is you,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson.

The agency last opened applications in 2024. From more than 8,000 applications, 10 astronaut candidates were selected in 2025 and are currently completing nearly two years of training.

“For those who apply, becoming a NASA astronaut is more than a career opportunity,” said Scott Tingle, chief astronaut and chair of the Astronaut Selection Board at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “It is a chance to join a legacy of explorers who have pushed the boundaries of discovery and play a role in the missions that will shape humanity’s future in space. The next generation of astronaut candidates could help write history while inspiring future scientists, engineers, and explorers.”

As part of a Golden Age of innovation and exploration, NASA will send astronauts on increasingly difficult missions near the lunar South Pole to explore more of the Moon than ever before. In addition to providing economic benefits and advancing scientific discovery through its Artemis missions, NASA will establish an enduring human presence on the lunar surface and build on the agency’s foundation for the first crewed mission to Mars.