Atmospheric and Space Scientists: salary, outlook & degrees
Investigate atmospheric phenomena and interpret meteorological data, gathered by surface and air stations, satellites, and radar to prepare reports and forecasts for public and other uses. Includes weather analysts and forecasters whose functions require the detailed knowledge of meteorology.
Middle half $73,350–$129,960. 10,000 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
93% hold a bachelor's or higher. Those with one: $71,068.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 800 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Considerable preparation (usually a bachelor's).
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Degrees that lead to this career
What workers ages 25-34 in this job studied, among those with a bachelor's or higher. This is what people actually did, not a requirement.
| Field of bachelor's degree | Share | Degree pages |
|---|---|---|
| Atmospheric Sciences And Meteorology | 52% | — |
| Geology And Earth Science | 6% | — |
| Microbiology | 3% | Microbiological Sciences and Immunology |
| Physics | 3% | Physics |
| Geosciences | 2% | Geology / Earth Science |
| Geography | 2% | Geography |
| Political Science And Government | 2% | Political Science |
| Mathematics | 2% | Mathematics |
| Biology | 2% | Biology |
| Communications | 2% | Communications · Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other |
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, employed, bachelor's or higher; top 10 fields); EducationGuide calculation.
Education workers say the job requires
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers (“required level of education”); small samples, so treat shares as approximate.
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $128,800 |
| California | $124,920 |
| Hawaii | $121,010 |
| New Jersey | $120,180 |
| Idaho | $119,430 |
| New York | $117,540 |
| Florida | $115,960 |
| Arizona | $115,020 |
| Missouri | $114,230 |
| Illinois | $112,280 |
| Oregon | $112,260 |
| New Mexico | $110,070 |
| Kansas | $109,300 |
| Nevada | $109,300 |
| Montana | $108,890 |
| Massachusetts | $108,050 |
| Minnesota | $106,270 |
| Colorado | $104,670 |
| District of Columbia | $103,860 |
| Maine | $103,710 |
| Indiana | $103,680 |
| Kentucky | $103,240 |
| Michigan | $103,210 |
| Wyoming | $99,940 |
| Louisiana | $97,470 |
| Georgia | $96,820 |
| Utah | $96,520 |
| Tennessee | $96,190 |
| Washington | $94,400 |
| Alaska | $94,380 |
| North Carolina | $91,560 |
| North Dakota | $91,560 |
| Wisconsin | $85,870 |
| Connecticut | $85,110 |
| Texas | $84,990 |
| Virginia | $83,880 |
| South Carolina | $82,240 |
| Alabama | $81,080 |
| West Virginia | $80,690 |
| South Dakota | $78,900 |
| Ohio | $78,580 |
| Iowa | $76,850 |
| Oklahoma | $76,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,890 |
| Arkansas | $71,940 |
| PR | $63,910 |
| Nebraska | $60,540 |
| New Hampshire | $42,820 |
Florida metro areas
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach$122,700
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater$122,280
Virginia metro areas
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$117,600
- Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk$98,920
- Richmond$112,510
California metro areas
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$111,790
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$120,370
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$151,000
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Science
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge used
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Geography
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
Work styles
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Achievement Orientation
- Tolerance for Ambiguity
People in this job tend to have Investigative (analytical), Realistic (hands-on), Conventional (organizing) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists: questions
How much do atmospheric and Space Scientists make?
Atmospheric and Space Scientists earn a U.S. median $99,070 a year; the middle half earn $73,350 to $129,960 (BLS, May 2025). Workers ages 25-34 in this job earn a median $71,068 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is atmospheric and Space Scientists a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 800 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be an atmospheric and Space Scientist?
BLS lists the typical entry education as bachelor's degree. In O*NET's survey, 100% of workers say a bachelor's or higher is required. Among workers ages 25-34 with a bachelor's, the most common field of degree is atmospheric Sciences And Meteorology (52%).
How much do atmospheric and Space Scientists make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $115,960 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $99,070 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 19-2021. Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all careers
Cite this: “Atmospheric and Space Scientists: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/atmospheric-and-space-scientists.