Sunita Williams was ‘stranded’ in space for 9 months: Will she get paid overtime?

It was a long-awaited return for Nasa astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who finally made it back to Earth after an unexpected nine-month stay in space.

Originally set for a short-term mission, Williams and Wilmore launched in June 2024, but a series of technical delays in their Boeing spacecraft kept them in orbit far longer than planned. They finally splashed down safely off the coast of Florida on March 18, accompanied by Nasa astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who had also been on extended missions.

Considering the extreme conditions of space, the physical toll, and the unpredictable nature of their return, one can’t help but wonder, how much do astronauts earn? and does the space agency compensate astronauts like Williams, for extra time spent beyond their scheduled missions? The answer might surprise you.

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Does Nasa pay overtime for extended space missions?

Believe it or not, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore won’t receive a single dollar in overtime pay despite their unexpectedly long stay in space.

Unlike commercial jobs, Nasa astronauts are federal employees, meaning their salaries follow the General Schedule (GS) pay scale—which doesn’t offer extra wages for extended missions. Instead, they earn a fixed annual salary based on experience, no matter how long they remain in space.

“Astronauts are paid like any federal employee on a business trip. They get their regular salary, no overtime, and Nasa takes care of transportation, lodging, and food,” former astronaut Cady Coleman told Washingtonian magazine in an interview.

Although overtime isn’t an option, astronauts do receive a small daily allowance for incidentals. However, the amount is far from lucrative. Coleman recalled getting just $4 per day (Rs 347) during her time in space, a sum that barely compares to traditional overtime pay.

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Based on her 159-day mission in 2010-11, where she earned $636 (Rs 53,000) in incidental pay, Williams and Wilmore are estimated to receive around $1,148 (Rs 96,000) each for their 287-day stay aboard the ISS. This is Nasa’s way of covering minor expenses, but it’s a fraction of what overtime compensation would be in most other professions.

That said, this calculation may not be exact. Coleman’s $4-per-day figure was from over a decade ago, and Nasa may have adjusted this allowance over the years due to inflation or policy changes. If the rate has increased, Williams and Wilmore could receive a slightly higher sum, but it would still be nowhere close to what a nine-month overtime paycheck might look like.

Also read: Why Sunita Williams will grow shorter after return to Earth

How much is Sunita Williams’ salary?

As a veteran astronaut, Sunita Williams holds a GS-15 pay grade, the highest level for federal employees. This places her estimated annual salary between $125,000 and $162,000 (Rs 1.08 crore to Rs 1.41 crore).

The General Schedule (GS) system determines the pay of most federal civilian employees, covering nearly 1.5 million workers worldwide in roles ranging from professional and technical to administrative and clerical. The system consists of 15 grades, from GS-1 (lowest) to GS-15 (highest), with salaries increasing based on experience and responsibility.

Since Williams spent 287 days in space, her prorated earnings for that period would be between $98,000 and $127,000 (Rs 81 lakh to Rs 1.05 crore).

Former astronaut Clayton Anderson, who spent 152 days aboard the ISS in 2007, once remarked that while being an astronaut was his dream job, it still came with government-level pay. “I would have done WAY better with mileage!” he joked.

Also read: Sunita Williams is back on Earth. What will her next few days look like?

According to FederalPay.org, NASA astronauts are typically classified between GS-12 and GS-13 pay grades. “This grade is given to high-level scientists with advanced degrees and training,” the website states. “Astronauts have PhDs and a lot of specialised training, so they qualify for one of these two grades.”

With input from agencies