SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 19-2021.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $53,060 | $4,422 | $1,020 | $25.51 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $73,350 | $6,112 | $1,411 | $35.26 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $99,070 | $8,256 | $1,905 | $47.63 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $129,960 | $10,830 | $2,499 | $62.48 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $161,890 | $13,491 | $3,113 | $77.83 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Atmospheric and Space Scientists is $99,070, which is 94% higher. Among the 48 occupations of the field Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks number 17 by median pay. With 10,000 jobs, it makes up about 0.6 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay by state
The highest median pay was in Maryland ($128,800), California ($124,920) and Hawaii ($121,010). The lowest was in New Hampshire ($42,820), Nebraska ($60,540) and Puerto Rico ($63,910). The most jobs were in Colorado (1,150), Maryland (750) and Texas (720). The occupation is most concentrated in Colorado, where its share of all jobs is 6.2 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 750 | $128,800 | $127,180 | $61.92 |
| California | 510 | $124,920 | $127,330 | $60.06 |
| Hawaii | 70 | $121,010 | $121,740 | $58.18 |
| New Jersey | 60 | $120,180 | $124,250 | $57.78 |
| Idaho | 50 | $119,430 | $113,340 | $57.42 |
| New York | 370 | $117,540 | $154,830 | $56.51 |
| Florida | 270 | $115,960 | $114,740 | $55.75 |
| Arizona | 80 | $115,020 | $112,930 | $55.30 |
| Missouri | 160 | $114,230 | $108,510 | $54.92 |
| Illinois | 110 | $112,280 | $147,860 | $53.98 |
| Oregon | 100 | $112,260 | $111,370 | $53.97 |
| New Mexico | 60 | $110,070 | $112,920 | $52.92 |
| Kansas | 80 | $109,300 | $107,280 | $52.55 |
| Nevada | 120 | $109,300 | $121,680 | $52.55 |
| Montana | 70 | $108,890 | $102,700 | $52.35 |
| Massachusetts | not published | $108,050 | $119,440 | $51.95 |
| Minnesota | 50 | $106,270 | $111,820 | $51.09 |
| Colorado | 1,150 | $104,670 | $115,630 | $50.32 |
| District of Columbia | 70 | $103,860 | $143,270 | $49.93 |
| Maine | 50 | $103,710 | $103,910 | $49.86 |
| Indiana | 80 | $103,680 | $125,410 | $49.85 |
| Kentucky | 100 | $103,240 | $106,230 | $49.63 |
| Michigan | 150 | $103,210 | $106,510 | $49.62 |
| Wyoming | 40 | $99,940 | $100,040 | $48.05 |
| Louisiana | 70 | $97,470 | $102,230 | $46.86 |
| Georgia | 170 | $96,820 | $101,890 | $46.55 |
| Utah | 170 | $96,520 | $92,780 | $46.41 |
| Tennessee | 230 | $96,190 | $104,300 | $46.25 |
| Washington | 190 | $94,400 | $113,120 | $45.39 |
| Alaska | not published | $94,380 | $93,570 | $45.38 |
| North Carolina | 170 | $91,560 | $93,080 | $44.02 |
| North Dakota | 40 | $91,560 | $94,450 | $44.02 |
| Wisconsin | 280 | $85,870 | $94,270 | $41.29 |
| Connecticut | 50 | $85,110 | $116,270 | $40.92 |
| Texas | 720 | $84,990 | $86,470 | $40.86 |
| Virginia | 350 | $83,880 | $111,970 | $40.33 |
| South Carolina | 150 | $82,240 | $93,390 | $39.54 |
| Alabama | 340 | $81,080 | $93,820 | $38.98 |
| West Virginia | 40 | $80,690 | $83,960 | $38.80 |
| South Dakota | 130 | $78,900 | $89,140 | $37.93 |
| Ohio | 160 | $78,580 | $96,920 | $37.78 |
| Iowa | 100 | $76,850 | $89,160 | $36.95 |
| Oklahoma | 420 | $76,480 | $86,130 | $36.77 |
| Pennsylvania | 160 | $75,890 | $88,930 | $36.48 |
| Arkansas | not published | $71,940 | $97,040 | $34.59 |
| Puerto Rico | 40 | $63,910 | $78,560 | $30.72 |
| Nebraska | 160 | $60,540 | $83,250 | $29.11 |
| New Hampshire | 130 | $42,820 | $52,790 | $20.59 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$101,920 a year
- Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$101,110 a year
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$100,580 a year
- Biological Scientists, All Other$98,920 a year
- Hydrologists$96,600 a year
- School Psychologists$95,990 a year
Common questions
How much do Atmospheric and Space Scientists earn in the United States?
The median pay was $99,070 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $53,060 and the highest-paid 10% more than $161,890.
How many people work as Atmospheric and Space Scientists?
About 10,000 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.