The Astronaut career in The Sims 4 is one of the most appealing career choices for players who want to earn a substantial amount of Simoleons early in the game. This career is divided into two specialization branches: Space Ranger and Interstellar Smuggler.
In this guide, we’ll cover the Astronaut career in detail, including work schedules, salaries, and promotion requirements for each available career path.
Overview

To begin an Astronaut career, players should focus on developing their Logic and Fitness skills.
Before choosing a specialization branch, you must progress through the first seven promotion levels. Once you reach that stage, you can choose one of the following career branches:
- Space Ranger: Responsible for tracking down space criminals and bringing them to justice.
- Interstellar Smuggler: Responsible for smuggling and transporting various types of goods across the galaxy.
Both career branches emphasize the development of Logic, Fitness, and Rocket Science skills. These three skills are essential for meeting promotion requirements and advancing to higher career levels.
Traits and Moods That Help Astronaut

Since Fitness is one of the primary skills required for this career, we recommend choosing the Active trait. You can improve Fitness by visiting the gym, working out at home using exercise equipment, or jogging regularly each day.
In addition, both Astronaut career branches require Logic and Rocket Science skills. Choosing the Genius trait can help Sims learn and improve these skills more quickly, making promotions easier to achieve.
Ideal Mood
- Energized: Helps Sims improve their Fitness skill more quickly.
- Focused: Speeds up learning activities related to space, such as improving Logic and Rocket Science skills.
There are several ways to gain these mood:
- Energized can be obtained by taking a Brisk Shower.
- Focused can be obtained by using the Ponder Moves interaction on a chess table.
Every Level in the Astronaut Career: Salary, Work Hours, Promotion Requirements, Daily Tasks, and Rewards
In the table below, you can view a complete breakdown of every promotion level in The Sims 4 Astronaut career.
The information includes work schedules, daily and hourly pay, daily tasks, and the requirements needed to earn a promotion to the next level.
Astronaut

At the beginning of the career, your daily task is quite simple: play chess. If you do not already own a chess table, you can purchase one by following these steps:
- Enter Build Mode.
- Open the Activities and Skills category.
- Select and purchase a Chess Table.
- Place the chess table in your Sim’s home.
Once the chess table is available, use it to complete the daily task by playing chess.
After reaching Career Level 4, the daily task changes from playing chess to Workout. To complete it, you can:
- Visit a gym and use the available exercise equipment.
- Purchase fitness equipment through Build Mode and use it at home.
Two moods are particularly useful for advancing in the Astronaut career: Focused and Energized.
To ensure the mood remains active while your Sim is at work, perform one of these activities approximately 20 minutes before your Sim leaves for work. Having the appropriate mood will improve work performance and help your Sim earn promotions more quickly.
| Level | Title | Schedule | Rates | Ideal Mood | Daily Task | Promotion Requirements | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intern | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thurs, Fri (8am-5pm) | §26/Hour §234/Day | Focused | Play Chess | – | Enthuse About Space |
| 2 | Module Cleaner | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thurs, Fri (12pm-9pm) | §34/Hour §306/Day | Focused | Play Chess | Level 2 Logic | §581 Bonus, Astro Solar System Light |
| 3 | Technician | Tue, Wed, Thurs, Fri (1pm-9pm) | §54/Hour §432/Day | Focused | Play Chess | Level 3 Logic Level 2 Fitness | §756 Bonus, Astro Model Rocket, Point Out Constellations |
| 4 | Command Center Lead | Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri (2pm-10pm) | §71/Hour §568/Day | Energized | Work Out | Level 4 Logic Level 3 Fitness | §869 Bonus, Star Seeker Original Blueprints |
| 5 | Low-Orbit Specialist | Mon, Wed, Fri (8am-5pm) | §96/Hour §864/Day | Energized | Work Out | Level 5 Logic Level 4 Fitness | §1,130 Bonus, Portable Galaxy Lightshow |
| 6 | Space Cadet | Mon, Wed, Fri (6am-4pm) | §104/Hour §1,040/Day | Energized | Work Out | Level 5 Logic Level 6 Fitness | §1,299 Bonus, Mission Control |
| 7 | Astronaut | Mon, Wed, Fri (8am-6pm) | §119/Hour §1,190/Day | Energized | Work Out | Level 6 Logic Level 7 Fitness | §1,689 Bonus, Salyut Aeronaut Chair, Space Suits CAS Parts |
Interstellar Smuggler

Interstellar Smuggler is one of the specialization branches of the Astronaut career. In this branch, your daily task becomes Space Mission, which requires your Sim to own a rocket.
To purchase and build a rocket, follow these steps:
- Enter Build Mode.
- Open Objects by Function.
- Select Activities and Skills.
- Find and buy the Steampunk Flyamajig.
- Place the rocket on your Sim’s lot.
- Click the placed rocket.
- Select Build to begin construction.
Building the rocket costs 1,000 Simoleons.
Once the rocket is complete, finish the daily Space Mission task by following these steps:
- Click the completed rocket.
- Select Explore Space.
To speed up career progression, try to send your Sim to work while Energized. The easiest way to achieve this is:
- Click the shower in your Sim’s home.
- Select Brisk Shower.
- Do this about 20 minutes before work starts.
The Energized mood will boost your Sim’s work performance and help them advance more quickly.
| Level | Title | Schedule | Rates | Ideal Mood | Daily Task | Promotion Requirements | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Moon Mercenary | Mon, Wed, Sat, Sun (4pm-12am) | §201/Hour §1,608/Day | Energized | Space Mission | Level 2 Rocket Science Level 8 Fitness | §1,790 Bonus, The Monolith, Alien Juice (Drink Recipe) |
| 9 | Alien Goods Trader | Mon, Thurs, Sat, Sun (4pm-11pm) | §299/Hour §2,093/Day | Energized | Space Mission | Level 4 Rocket Science Level 10 Fitness | §3,865 Bonus, Zero-G Training Bag |
| 10 | Interstellar Smuggler | Mon, Thurs, Sat, Sun (2pm-11pm) | §413/Hour §3,717/Day | Energized | N/A | N/A | §5,025 Bonus, Retro Rocket Ship, Smuggler Outfit CAS Parts |
Space Ranger

Like the Interstellar Smuggler branch, the Space Ranger branch also includes a daily task that requires your Sim to use a rocket.
If the rocket has already been built, complete the daily task by:
- Clicking the completed rocket.
- Selecting Explore Space.
The promotion requirements in this branch are also relatively straightforward. You simply need to focus on raising:
- Rocket Science to Level 4
- Fitness to Level 10
To maximize career performance and speed up promotions, make sure your Sim is in an ideal mood before going to work. With the appropriate mood active, your Sim’s work performance will improve, allowing promotions to come more quickly.
| Level | Title | Schedule | Rates | Ideal Mood | Daily Task | Promotion Requirements | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Planet Patrol | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thurs (10am-6pm) | §1,432 | Energized | Space Mission | Level 2 Rocket Science Level 8 Fitness | §1,790 Bonus, Build Your Own Rocket Kit, Space Energy (Drink Recipe) |
| 9 | Sheriff of the Stars | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thurs (10am-5pm) | §2,079 | Energized | Space Mission | Level 4 Rocket Science Level 10 Fitness | §3,149 Bonus, Astro-Bunny Beyond Infinity |
| 10 | Space Ranger | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu (10am-5pm) | §2,954 | Energized | N/A | N/A | §4,567 Bonus, Apollo Rocketship, Ranger Outfit CAS Parts |
Conclusion
Choosing the Astronaut career in The Sims 4 is an excellent option, especially for players who want to experience space exploration while earning a significant income. After reaching Career Level 7, you must choose between the two specialization branches: Interstellar Smuggler or Space Ranger.
If your primary goal is to earn as many Simoleons as possible, Interstellar Smuggler is generally the more profitable option. Meanwhile, Space Ranger offers shorter working hours, making it ideal for players who want more free time for activities outside of work.
Additionally, each Astronaut career branch unlocks unique rewards and items as your Sim advances through the ranks.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your playstyle. Do you prefer focusing on career advancement and building wealth, or would you rather spend more time socializing, dating, pursuing hobbies, and developing relationships with family members and other Sims?
