Russia raises astronauts' salaries by 50%

The average monthly salary of spacemen in Russia will be 500,000 rubles ($ 6,560), said Maxim Ovchinnikov, Deputy Director-General for Economic and Financial Affairs of the Russian State Space Company.

Report informs, citing TASS, that according to him, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a significant increase in the salaries of astronauts: "This mainly applies to candidates for astronauts and cosmonauts. The candidates' monthly salary will increase by 70% to an average of 300,000 rubles ($ 3,280), and the astronauts - by 50% to an average of 500,000 rubles ($ 6,560)."

According to the deputy director, the US astronauts earn $ 8,000-9,000 on average a month, while the EU cosmonauts earn up to $ 8,000.