NASA is recruiting people to live and work on the Moon for this generous salary
If you have ever dreamed of swapping your day job for a trip to the Moon then now could actually be your chance to turn it into a reality.
This is because NASA has announced that it is currently recruiting new staff to live and work on the lunar rock, and successful applicants will be compensated with a generous salary.
The space agency has officially opened applications for its next astronaut class as it has its sights set on establishing a permament Moon base.
Talking about the Artemis program, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman previously said: “By Artemis IV, when our astronauts land on the surface of the Moon, they’re already going to have some of the infrastructure and rovers there waiting for them.”
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People will now have the opportunity to earn an annual pay check of $164,395, with NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson adding: “The window is open. The mission is waiting. And the only thing missing from the greatest adventure humanity has ever embarked upon is you.”
This comes as the US agency is pushing forward with its ambitions to build a base on the lunar surface, with the hopes of establishing a human presence there.
NASA’s Artemis program aims to bring humans back to the lunar surface, and the next generation of astronauts could play a crucial role in building a Moon Base, with selected candidates potentially getting the opportunity to live and work on the lunar surface.
It is hoped that the program will pave the way for more ambitious deep-space exploration, eventually including missions to Mars.
Who can apply to NASA to live on the Moon?
NASA has set out some requirements for its job openings, meaning that not everyone will be eligible to apply so if you’re hoping to bag yourself a job with the agency then you’ll first need to be a US citizen and hold a master’s degree in a STEM subject, such as engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science or mathematics.
You will also need to have at least three years of relevant professional experience after completing the qualifying degree, although there are alternative routes into the program, too, including certain medical qualifications, doctoral studies and military test pilot experience.
Pilots must meet the professional experience requirement which includes:
- 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
Candidates will need to pass NASA’s long-duration astronaut physical, as well as demonstrate strong leadership, teamwork and communication skills.
If you’re hoping to apply, then you will need to get your application in before 11.59pm EST on December 3, 2026, and it is looking like there will be some tough competition. According to the Guardian, NASA hired 10 new astronauts out of over 8,000 applicants.
Although, it will be a long road to the Moon for those who accept a job offer as successful candidates will first need to complete approximately two years of astronaut training at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where they will learn everything from spacewalking to operating spacecraft and robotic equipment.
