Atmospheric and space scientists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $53,060 | $25.51 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $99,070 | $47.63 |
| Mean (average) | $106,110 | $51.01 |
| 90th percentile | $161,890 | $77.83 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Atmospheric and space scientists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 48 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $81,080 | $47,330 | $151,300 | 340 | 2.49 |
| Alaska | $94,380 | $61,150 | $135,030 | ||
| Arizona | $115,020 | $63,920 | $156,500 | 80 | 0.36 |
| Arkansas | $71,940 | $65,610 | $216,310 | ||
| California | $124,920 | $82,900 | $175,900 | 510 | 0.43 |
| Colorado | $104,670 | $76,110 | $165,500 | 1,150 | 6.22 |
| Connecticut | $85,110 | $69,370 | $234,100 | 50 | 0.41 |
| District of Columbia | $103,860 | $95,870 | $207,380 | 70 | 1.64 |
| Florida | $115,960 | $52,980 | $172,410 | 270 | 0.43 |
| Georgia | $96,820 | $47,260 | $150,300 | 170 | 0.54 |
| Hawaii | $121,010 | $82,930 | $160,330 | 70 | 1.69 |
| Idaho | $119,430 | $61,110 | $153,570 | 50 | 0.96 |
| Illinois | $112,280 | $51,710 | $211,910 | 110 | 0.27 |
| Indiana | $103,680 | $67,430 | $155,000 | 80 | 0.37 |
| Iowa | $76,850 | $50,300 | $139,170 | 100 | 1.03 |
| Kansas | $109,300 | $49,940 | $139,210 | 80 | 0.89 |
| Kentucky | $103,240 | $54,540 | $166,960 | 100 | 0.77 |
| Louisiana | $97,470 | $49,940 | $136,990 | 70 | 0.6 |
| Maine | $103,710 | $51,170 | $153,910 | 50 | 1.15 |
| Maryland | $128,800 | $83,230 | $168,460 | 750 | 4.21 |
| Massachusetts | $108,050 | $71,290 | $166,140 | ||
| Michigan | $103,210 | $49,580 | $151,110 | 150 | 0.54 |
| Minnesota | $106,270 | $61,620 | $149,340 | 50 | 0.29 |
| Missouri | $114,230 | $60,740 | $147,640 | 160 | 0.83 |
| Montana | $108,890 | $61,110 | $136,990 | 70 | 2.12 |
| Nebraska | $60,540 | $57,140 | $136,970 | 160 | 2.44 |
| Nevada | $109,300 | $64,990 | $191,150 | 120 | 1.19 |
| New Hampshire | $42,820 | $40,350 | $65,100 | 130 | 3 |
| New Jersey | $120,180 | $64,210 | $190,780 | 60 | 0.2 |
| New Mexico | $110,070 | $61,760 | $161,890 | 60 | 1.03 |
| New York | $117,540 | $58,670 | $300,530 | 370 | 0.59 |
| North Carolina | $91,560 | $49,940 | $136,990 | 170 | 0.53 |
| North Dakota | $91,560 | $48,570 | $136,990 | 40 | 1.51 |
| Ohio | $78,580 | $62,990 | $142,690 | 160 | 0.46 |
| Oklahoma | $76,480 | $44,660 | $136,990 | 420 | 3.78 |
| Oregon | $112,260 | $65,830 | $149,060 | 100 | 0.82 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,890 | $49,750 | $156,750 | 160 | 0.41 |
| Puerto Rico | $63,910 | $61,860 | $119,430 | 40 | 0.58 |
| South Carolina | $82,240 | $60,200 | $136,990 | 150 | 0.99 |
| South Dakota | $78,900 | $63,350 | $129,960 | 130 | 4.46 |
| Tennessee | $96,190 | $77,580 | $137,880 | 230 | 1.11 |
| Texas | $84,990 | $46,370 | $131,750 | 720 | 0.8 |
| Utah | $96,520 | $53,060 | $126,440 | 170 | 1.5 |
| Virginia | $83,880 | $68,770 | $179,050 | 350 | 1.31 |
| Washington | $94,400 | $76,440 | $160,750 | 190 | 0.82 |
| West Virginia | $80,690 | $41,650 | $136,990 | 40 | 0.95 |
| Wisconsin | $85,870 | $61,110 | $135,670 | 280 | 1.49 |
| Wyoming | $99,940 | $63,500 | $132,180 | 40 | 2.22 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for atmospheric and space scientists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for atmospheric and space scientists
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Climate Science CIP 30.3501
- Mathematics and Atmospheric/Oceanic Science CIP 30.5001
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General CIP 40.0401
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Climatology CIP 40.0402
- Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics CIP 40.0403
- Meteorology CIP 40.0404
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Other CIP 40.0499
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Develop or use mathematical or computer models for weather forecasting.
- Interpret data, reports, maps, photographs, or charts to predict long- or short-range weather conditions, using computer models and knowledge of climate theory, physics, and mathematics.
- Conduct meteorological research into the processes or determinants of atmospheric phenomena, weather, or climate.
- Formulate predictions by interpreting environmental data, such as meteorological, atmospheric, oceanic, paleoclimate, climate, or related information.
- Broadcast weather conditions, forecasts, or severe weather warnings to the public via television, radio, or the Internet or provide this information to the news media.
- Prepare forecasts or briefings to meet the needs of industry, business, government, or other groups.
- Gather data from sources such as surface or upper air stations, satellites, weather bureaus, or radar for use in meteorological reports or forecasts.
- Develop computer programs to collect meteorological data or to present meteorological information.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- C++ (hot technology)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Linux (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Perl (hot technology)
- Python (hot technology)
- R (hot technology)
- SAS (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Systems Analysis, Coordination, Instructing.
Common job titles: Broadcast Meteorologist, Forecaster, General Forecaster, Hydrometeorological Technician (Hydrometeorological Tech), Meteorologist, Ocean Monitoring and Data Assimilation Scientist, Research Meteorologist, Service Hydrologist, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Weather Forecaster.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make?
The national median annual wage for atmospheric and space scientists was $99,070 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $53,060 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $161,890. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do atmospheric and space scientists need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is atmospheric and space scientists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of atmospheric and space scientists to change +2.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay atmospheric and space scientists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Maryland ($128,800), California ($124,920), Hawaii ($121,010). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.