Atmospheric and Space Scientists Salary

The median atmospheric and space scientists salary in the United States is $99,070 per year ($47.63/hour). Salaries range from $53,060 at the entry level to $161,890+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 10,000 atmospheric and space scientists jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 0.7% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asAtmospheric ScientistMeteorologist
Median Salary
$99,070
per year
Hourly Rate
$47.63
per hour
Employment
10,000
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$53,060
25th percentile
$73,350
Median
$99,070
75th percentile
$129,960
90th percentile
$161,890

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+0.7%
Slower than average

Annual Openings

700
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Bachelor's degree

Atmospheric and Space Scientists Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for atmospheric and space scientistss.

Atmospheric and space scientists β€” meteorologists, climatologists, air-quality scientists, and space-weather scientists β€” study weather, climate, and near-Earth space physics. Careers span the National Weather Service, private-sector forecasting (AccuWeather, TWC, IBM), broadcast meteorology, air-quality consulting, universities, NASA, NOAA, and the reinsurance and energy industries. Entry $58-85k; established $85-115k; NWS senior forecaster or private-sector Sr Scientist $115-165k; principal scientist / director $165-265k+. Bachelor's meets AMS requirements for entry; MS or PhD strongly preferred for research and senior roles.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Numerical weather prediction (NWP)
Understanding GFS, ECMWF, HRRR, and NAM model output; ensemble interpretation and bias awareness. NWP interpretation is the modern meteorologist's core skill.
Synoptic and mesoscale analysis
Reading surface and upper-air charts, identifying synoptic features, and diagnosing mesoscale forcing. Still the diagnostic foundation under all forecasting.
Radar and satellite interpretation
WSR-88D dual-pol products, geostationary and polar satellite imagery. Critical for severe weather and marine forecasting.
Programming and data analysis (Python, R, MATLAB)
Data pipelines, model output post-processing, and increasingly ML for downscaling and nowcasting. Modern atmospheric science requires code fluency.
Communication and forecast messaging
Warnings, briefings, media appearances, and public education. Broadcast meteorologists live and die on this; NWS forecasters increasingly do too.
Climate science and impact assessment
CMIP6 model output, downscaling, extreme-event attribution. Growing demand for scientists who can translate climate models into decision-useful risk output.
Air quality and dispersion modeling
AERMOD, CALPUFF, and related regulatory dispersion models. Required for air-quality consulting and permitting work.

How to Become a Atmospheric and Space Scientists

  1. 1
    Earn a BS in meteorology, atmospheric science, or a related field
    AMS-approved curriculum required for NWS eligibility. Top programs: Oklahoma, Penn State, University of Miami RSMAS, Colorado State, University of Washington, MIT/Harvard.
  2. 2
    Complete AMS or NWA certification for broadcast track
    AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) or NWA Seal is standard for local TV. Requires exam and coursework beyond degree.
  3. 3
    Consider MS or PhD for research and senior operational roles
    MS for private-sector research and senior forecasting; PhD for academic and NASA/NOAA research. Funded programs common.
  4. 4
    Start in an operational, private-sector, or research role
    $58-95k for entry meteorologist at NWS, private-sector forecast desks, air quality consulting, or research labs. Broadcast entry positions typically $28-55k in small markets.
  5. 5
    Advance to Sr Scientist, forecasting supervisor, or research lead
    $115-265k+ at senior levels. Reinsurance catastrophe modeling and energy weather trading are premium industry exits ($150-325k+).

Career Progression

Meteorologist I / Research Associate / Junior Broadcast Meteorologist
0-3 yrs$58-85k (or $28-55k broadcast entry)
  • β€’Operational shift forecasting or research support
  • β€’Learn NWP output, radar, satellite, and briefing tools
  • β€’Broadcast: prepare on-air segments in small markets
  • β€’Complete certifications (CBM, NWA Seal)
Next: Established Meteorologist / Sr Broadcast at 3-5 years.
Meteorologist II / Established Scientist
3-8 yrs$85-125k
  • β€’Full operational or research responsibility
  • β€’Lead specific forecast programs (aviation, marine, tropical, air quality)
  • β€’Publish or brief internal stakeholders
  • β€’Manage minor incidents solo (warning coordination, breaking-weather live shots)
Next: Sr Meteorologist or Lead Forecaster at 6-12 years.
Sr Meteorologist / Lead Forecaster / Sr Scientist
7-15 yrs$115-175k
  • β€’Lead shift or research program
  • β€’Own forecasting standards and training
  • β€’Represent office to public, emergency managers, or industry clients
  • β€’Mentor junior staff
Next: Meteorologist-in-Charge or Principal Scientist at 12-20 years.
Meteorologist-in-Charge / Principal / Director
14+ yrs$155-265k+
  • β€’Manage NWS forecast office or private-sector operations center
  • β€’Own budget, hiring, and strategic direction
  • β€’Represent org to regional stakeholders and executives
  • β€’Contribute to national policy and research directions
Next: Regional director, agency executive, or Chief Meteorologist.

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through your forecast for a significant weather event.technical
Structure: (1) synoptic setup β€” pattern, key features, forcing mechanisms. (2) model comparison β€” GFS vs ECMWF vs HRRR agreement and bias. (3) ensemble information β€” spread and skill. (4) mesoscale factors β€” terrain, moisture, instability. (5) the specific forecast decision I made and why. Concrete rather than generic β€” 'I saw 2500 J/kg SBCAPE with 60 kt effective bulk shear, so I forecast supercells with tornado potential.'
Q2. How do you handle a busted forecast?situational
Immediate: verify what happened, communicate with the audience or client honestly, and don't over-explain. Post-event: structured post-mortem β€” was the setup ambiguous, did I anchor on a single model, was there a model bias I should have known? Log lessons for personal reference. Every meteorologist busts forecasts; the professionals learn from them.
Q3. Describe a warning decision under pressure.behavioral
STAR. Situation: severe thunderstorm approaching a large outdoor event with rotation visible on radar but weak surface response. Task: warn or wait. Action: consulted with lead forecaster, issued tornado warning based on radar signature and past-event analogs, coordinated with emergency management. Result: EF-1 tornado tracked within warning polygon; no injuries because of proactive warning. Wrong direction: waiting for surface reports before warning would have missed the event.
Q4. Why atmospheric science?culture
Weather affects everyone every day, and the science is unusually visible β€” a good forecast saves lives and money. I like the mix of physics, computing, and communication. Climate change makes the work more consequential every year.
Q5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?closer
Sr forecaster at an NWS Weather Forecast Office with lead responsibility on severe weather, or a Sr Scientist role at a reinsurance or energy company. Long term I'd like leadership scope β€” MIC track or Chief Meteorologist.

Resume Template β€” Meteorologist II / Established (3-8 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Meteorologist II / Established (3-8 yrs)
  • β–ΈOperational forecaster at NWS Weather Forecast Office [WFO] with lead responsibility on aviation and marine desks.
  • β–ΈIssued 32 tornado warnings and 145 severe thunderstorm warnings FY24 with 78% probability of detection.
  • β–ΈDelivered 12 severe-weather briefings to state emergency management during 2024 season.
  • β–ΈBS Meteorology + AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist. Python (metpy, xarray) proficient.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—Weak NWP interpretation β€” over-relying on single-model deterministic output without ensemble awareness.
  • βœ—Poor radar or satellite fluency β€” dual-pol products should be second nature for severe-weather forecasters.
  • βœ—No coding ability β€” modern operations increasingly need Python and R fluency.
  • βœ—Freezes in warning decisions β€” a career-limiting behavior at NWS and private-sector operations.
  • βœ—Poor communication or on-air presence for broadcast β€” the entire job.
  • βœ—Dismissive of climate change β€” a professional credibility issue in 2024-2025.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“CBM (AMS) or NWA Seal β€” required for broadcast advancement; premium at major markets.
  • βœ“MS or PhD β€” 15-25% premium for research and senior operational positions.
  • βœ“Reinsurance catastrophe modeling and energy weather trading β€” 50-100% premium over federal operational positions.
  • βœ“Metro TV markets (top-25 DMA) β€” 2-4x pay of small-market broadcast.
  • βœ“Federal step negotiation on entry β€” degrees and prior experience justify higher steps.
  • βœ“Sign-on bonuses uncommon federally; standard in private-sector and reinsurance ($20-50k).

Atmospheric and Space Scientists Resume Review β€” $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired atmospheric and space scientistss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

  • βœ“ Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
  • βœ“ Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
  • βœ“ Missing skills / keywords flagged
  • βœ“ Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
  • βœ“ 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it

Atmospheric and Space Scientists Career Kit β€” $19

  • βœ“ All 13 interview questions with expert answers
  • βœ“ 6 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
  • βœ“ Interview format intel for 6 top employers
  • βœ“ 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
  • βœ“ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
  • βœ“ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
  • βœ“ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
  • βœ“ Detailed salary negotiation script
  • βœ“ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
  • βœ“ Downloadable PDF for offline access
  • βœ“ Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
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Atmospheric and Space Scientists Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$43K
$129Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

Maryland
$129K
+30%
California
$125K
+26%
Hawaii
$121K
+22%
New Jersey
$120K
+21%
Idaho
$119K
+21%
New York
$118K
+19%
Florida
$116K
+17%
Arizona
$115K
+16%
Missouri
$114K
+15%
Illinois
$112K
+13%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
Maryland$128,800+30.0%
California$124,920+26.1%
Hawaii$121,010+22.1%
New Jersey$120,180+21.3%
Idaho$119,430+20.6%
New York$117,540+18.6%
Florida$115,960+17.0%
Arizona$115,020+16.1%
Missouri$114,230+15.3%
Illinois$112,280+13.3%
1–10 of 47

Atmospheric and Space Scientists Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$151,000+52.4%
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY$134,060+35.3%
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$133,490+34.7%
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$128,800+30.0%
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$128,790+30.0%
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI$127,070+28.3%
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$125,590+26.8%
Boise City, ID$122,930+24.1%
Urban Honolulu, HI$122,880+24.0%
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$122,700+23.9%
1–10 of 55
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A atmospheric and space scientists earning $99,070/year would need 602 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 646 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
πŸ“ˆ See how atmospheric and space scientists salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary trend (2011–2024) β†’