Sergey Ryazansky, a well-known cosmonaut, shared that during his mission, his income was approximately $400 per day, which totals $72,000 for a standard six-month flight.
Cosmonaut Sergey Ryazansky. Photo from the internet
These payments relate to the time spent in space and represent bonuses for special working conditions, which are added to the base salary.
The base salary for cosmonauts in Russia is about 130–140 thousand rubles per month after their first flight, not including bonuses and additional payments.
Therefore, a significant portion of the cosmonauts' income is generated during their long space expeditions.
Unlike their Russian counterparts, NASA astronauts work under a different scheme. They are U.S. government employees and continue to receive their regular salary during space flights, without receiving special bonuses for space service. Depending on their experience and position, their annual income ranges from $100,000 to $160,000.
NASA astronauts also receive only symbolic daily allowances of about $5 per day.
Over six months, this additional income amounts to approximately $1,000.
Thus, unlike in the U.S., where astronauts' salaries remain virtually unchanged during flights, Russian cosmonauts significantly increase their earnings through daily allowances and special bonuses for working in space.
