Have you ever thought about it? Find out the 'insane' figure of how much a NASA astronaut is paid

NASA astronauts can count on a maximum of a GS-15 federal officer grade, which is equivalent in the Army to the rank of colonel or captain in the Navy.

"The annual salary is about $155,000," says former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly.

He explains that after joining NASA, soldiers remain in military service, which is why they receive the same salary as those in the military.

In fact, a soldier-astronaut receives a slightly higher salary than his civilian counterparts, since a portion of their income is tax-free.

In addition, astronauts are paid insurance and vacations, and they also receive seniority benefits.

An American astronaut spends a total of 522 days and 10 hours in space, flying four times.

Prior to NASA, Kelly served in naval aviation in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean, Red Sea and Persian Gulf. He later became a pilot. He is now 55 years old and is a Navy Captain First Class.

He resigned from NASA on April 1, 2016.