Atmospheric and Space Scientists
Atmospheric and Space Scientists (SOC 19-2021) earn a median $99,070 a year ($47.63 an hour) in the United States, with 10,000 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Maryland.
What atmospheric and space scientists do
Atmospheric and space scientists study weather, climate, and the atmosphere. They gather readings from surface and air stations, satellites, and radar, then turn them into reports and forecasts for public and other uses. Typical tasks include developing or running mathematical and computer models for weather forecasting, interpreting data, maps, photographs, and charts to predict short- and long-range conditions, and conducting research into the processes behind atmospheric phenomena. Some broadcast weather conditions, forecasts, and severe weather warnings to the public through the media, and some write computer programs to collect or present meteorological data. This work differs from broadcast announcers who present weather without producing the forecast, from hydrologists, who study water on and under the ground, and from environmental scientists, who focus on pollution and hazards.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Atmospheric Scientist, Atmospheric Chemist, Aerologist, Air Analyst, Astrochemist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $25.51 | $35.26 | $47.63 | $62.48 | $77.83 | $51.01 | 10,000 |
| Annual | $53,060 | $73,350 | $99,070 | $129,960 | $161,890 | $106,110 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where atmospheric and space scientists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $40.01 | $49.01 | $61.92 | $75.36 | $80.99 | $61.14 | 750 | 0.27 | 4.21 |
| Annual | $83,230 | $101,940 | $128,800 | $156,750 | $168,460 | $127,180 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $39.86 | $50.92 | $60.06 | $69.67 | $84.57 | $61.21 | 510 | 0.03 | 0.43 |
| Annual | $82,900 | $105,910 | $124,920 | $144,910 | $175,900 | $127,330 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $39.87 | $47.28 | $58.18 | $67.00 | $77.08 | $58.53 | 70 | 0.11 | 1.69 |
| Annual | $82,930 | $98,340 | $121,010 | $139,360 | $160,330 | $121,740 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $30.87 | $39.17 | $57.78 | $82.30 | $91.72 | $59.74 | 60 | 0.01 | 0.20 |
| Annual | $64,210 | $81,470 | $120,180 | $171,190 | $190,780 | $124,250 | ||||
| Idaho | Hourly | $29.38 | $42.60 | $57.42 | $65.86 | $73.83 | $54.49 | 50 | 0.06 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $61,110 | $88,610 | $119,430 | $136,990 | $153,570 | $113,340 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $36.59 | $41.08 | $50.32 | $67.49 | $79.57 | $55.59 | 1,150 | 0.40 | 6.22 |
| Annual | $76,110 | $85,440 | $104,670 | $140,380 | $165,500 | $115,630 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $40.01 | $49.01 | $61.92 | $75.36 | $80.99 | $61.14 | 750 | 0.27 | 4.21 |
| Annual | $83,230 | $101,940 | $128,800 | $156,750 | $168,460 | $127,180 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $22.29 | $32.18 | $40.86 | $45.90 | $63.34 | $41.57 | 720 | 0.05 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $46,370 | $66,930 | $84,990 | $95,480 | $131,750 | $86,470 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $39.86 | $50.92 | $60.06 | $69.67 | $84.57 | $61.21 | 510 | 0.03 | 0.43 |
| Annual | $82,900 | $105,910 | $124,920 | $144,910 | $175,900 | $127,330 | ||||
| Oklahoma | Hourly | $21.47 | $23.52 | $36.77 | $55.52 | $65.86 | $41.41 | 420 | 0.24 | 3.78 |
| Annual | $44,660 | $48,930 | $76,480 | $115,490 | $136,990 | $86,130 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $43.77 | $66.15 | $72.60 | $82.02 | $114.60 | $78.86 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.22 |
| Annual | $91,040 | $137,600 | $151,000 | $170,610 | $238,380 | $164,020 | ||||
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | Hourly | $32.41 | $42.42 | $64.45 | $80.12 | $88.25 | $62.91 | 70 | 0.17 | 2.56 |
| Annual | $67,420 | $88,240 | $134,060 | $166,640 | $183,550 | $130,860 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $43.79 | $50.76 | $64.18 | $78.08 | $259.77 | $87.93 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.19 |
| Annual | $91,070 | $105,590 | $133,490 | $162,410 | $540,320 | $182,890 | ||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $38.12 | $49.01 | $61.92 | $68.59 | $77.71 | $60.04 | 270 | 0.20 | 3.07 |
| Annual | $79,280 | $101,940 | $128,800 | $142,660 | $161,630 | $124,880 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $28.21 | $35.26 | $61.92 | $91.51 | $191.65 | $82.70 | 260 | 0.03 | 0.43 |
| Annual | $58,670 | $73,350 | $128,790 | $190,330 | $398,630 | $172,010 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $38.80 | $42.02 | $56.54 | $75.36 | $87.82 | $61.27 | 700 | 0.22 | 3.45 |
| Annual | $80,710 | $87,400 | $117,600 | $156,750 | $182,670 | $127,450 | ||||
| Boulder, CO | Hourly | $39.02 | $41.59 | $58.59 | $77.44 | $88.48 | $59.46 | 620 | 3.24 | 50.38 |
| Annual | $81,170 | $86,500 | $121,870 | $161,060 | $184,040 | $123,680 | ||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $38.12 | $49.01 | $61.92 | $68.59 | $77.71 | $60.04 | 270 | 0.20 | 3.07 |
| Annual | $79,280 | $101,940 | $128,800 | $142,660 | $161,630 | $124,880 | ||||
| Oklahoma City, OK | Hourly | $23.36 | $23.57 | $36.77 | $55.39 | $68.89 | $42.96 | 270 | 0.40 | 6.29 |
| Annual | $48,580 | $49,020 | $76,480 | $115,210 | $143,300 | $89,360 | ||||
| Anchorage, AK | Hourly | $29.91 | $31.86 | $48.87 | $50.49 | $64.11 | $45.96 | 260 | 1.45 | 22.57 |
| Annual | $62,210 | $66,280 | $101,640 | $105,020 | $133,350 | $95,600 | ||||
Top industries employing atmospheric and space scientists
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) employ 25.9% of atmospheric and space scientists nationally (2,590 jobs) at a median $122,700 a year ($58.99 an hour), followed by Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (18.8%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (13.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 2,590 | 25.9% | $122,700 | $58.99 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services NAICS 541900 | 1,880 | 18.8% | $78,610 | $37.79 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 1,370 | 13.7% | $103,970 | $49.99 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services NAICS 541700 | 1,110 | 11.1% | $127,960 | $61.52 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations NAICS 516100 | 1,060 | 10.6% | $77,990 | $37.50 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (10,000). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $94,570 for atmospheric and space scientists in May 2021 and $99,070 in May 2025, with employment of 8,520 and 10,000.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $94,570 | $45.47 | 8,520 |
| May 2022 | $83,780 | $40.28 | 9,900 |
| May 2023 | $92,860 | $44.65 | 9,310 |
| May 2024 | $97,450 | $46.85 | 8,780 |
| May 2025 | $99,070 | $47.63 | 10,000 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
47 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland profile | $61.92 | $128,800 | $83,230 | $168,460 | 750 | 0.27 | 4.21 |
| 2 | California profile | $60.06 | $124,920 | $82,900 | $175,900 | 510 | 0.03 | 0.43 |
| 3 | Hawaii profile | $58.18 | $121,010 | $82,930 | $160,330 | 70 | 0.11 | 1.69 |
| 4 | New Jersey profile | $57.78 | $120,180 | $64,210 | $190,780 | 60 | 0.01 | 0.20 |
| 5 | Idaho profile | $57.42 | $119,430 | $61,110 | $153,570 | 50 | 0.06 | 0.96 |
| 6 | New York profile | $56.51 | $117,540 | $58,670 | $300,530 | 370 | 0.04 | 0.59 |
| 7 | Florida profile | $55.75 | $115,960 | $52,980 | $172,410 | 270 | 0.03 | 0.43 |
| 8 | Arizona profile | $55.30 | $115,020 | $63,920 | $156,500 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.36 |
| 9 | Missouri profile | $54.92 | $114,230 | $60,740 | $147,640 | 160 | 0.05 | 0.83 |
| 10 | Illinois profile | $53.98 | $112,280 | $51,710 | $211,910 | 110 | 0.02 | 0.27 |
| 11 | Oregon profile | $53.97 | $112,260 | $65,830 | $149,060 | 100 | 0.05 | 0.82 |
| 12 | New Mexico profile | $52.92 | $110,070 | $61,760 | $161,890 | 60 | 0.07 | 1.03 |
| 13 | Kansas profile | $52.55 | $109,300 | $49,940 | $139,210 | 80 | 0.06 | 0.89 |
| 14 | Nevada profile | $52.55 | $109,300 | $64,990 | $191,150 | 120 | 0.08 | 1.19 |
| 15 | Montana profile | $52.35 | $108,890 | $61,110 | $136,990 | 70 | 0.14 | 2.12 |
| 16 | Massachusetts profile | $51.95 | $108,050 | $71,290 | $166,140 | ** | ** | ** |
| 17 | Minnesota profile | $51.09 | $106,270 | $61,620 | $149,340 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.29 |
| 18 | Colorado profile | $50.32 | $104,670 | $76,110 | $165,500 | 1,150 | 0.40 | 6.22 |
| 19 | District of Columbia profile | $49.93 | $103,860 | $95,870 | $207,380 | 70 | 0.11 | 1.64 |
| 20 | Maine profile | $49.86 | $103,710 | $51,170 | $153,910 | 50 | 0.07 | 1.15 |
| 21 | Indiana profile | $49.85 | $103,680 | $67,430 | $155,000 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.37 |
| 22 | Kentucky profile | $49.63 | $103,240 | $54,540 | $166,960 | 100 | 0.05 | 0.77 |
| 23 | Michigan profile | $49.62 | $103,210 | $49,580 | $151,110 | 150 | 0.04 | 0.54 |
| 24 | Wyoming profile | $48.05 | $99,940 | $63,500 | $132,180 | 40 | 0.14 | 2.22 |
| 25 | Louisiana profile | $46.86 | $97,470 | $49,940 | $136,990 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.60 |
| 26 | Georgia profile | $46.55 | $96,820 | $47,260 | $150,300 | 170 | 0.04 | 0.54 |
| 27 | Utah profile | $46.41 | $96,520 | $53,060 | $126,440 | 170 | 0.10 | 1.50 |
| 28 | Tennessee profile | $46.25 | $96,190 | $77,580 | $137,880 | 230 | 0.07 | 1.11 |
| 29 | Washington profile | $45.39 | $94,400 | $76,440 | $160,750 | 190 | 0.05 | 0.82 |
| 30 | Alaska profile | $45.38 | $94,380 | $61,150 | $135,030 | ** | ** | ** |
| 31 | North Carolina profile | $44.02 | $91,560 | $49,940 | $136,990 | 170 | 0.03 | 0.53 |
| 32 | North Dakota profile | $44.02 | $91,560 | $48,570 | $136,990 | 40 | 0.10 | 1.51 |
| 33 | Wisconsin profile | $41.29 | $85,870 | $61,110 | $135,670 | 280 | 0.10 | 1.49 |
| 34 | Connecticut profile | $40.92 | $85,110 | $69,370 | $234,100 | 50 | 0.03 | 0.41 |
| 35 | Texas profile | $40.86 | $84,990 | $46,370 | $131,750 | 720 | 0.05 | 0.80 |
| 36 | Virginia profile | $40.33 | $83,880 | $68,770 | $179,050 | 350 | 0.09 | 1.31 |
| 37 | South Carolina profile | $39.54 | $82,240 | $60,200 | $136,990 | 150 | 0.06 | 0.99 |
| 38 | Alabama profile | $38.98 | $81,080 | $47,330 | $151,300 | 340 | 0.16 | 2.49 |
| 39 | West Virginia profile | $38.80 | $80,690 | $41,650 | $136,990 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.95 |
| 40 | South Dakota profile | $37.93 | $78,900 | $63,350 | $129,960 | 130 | 0.29 | 4.46 |
| 41 | Ohio profile | $37.78 | $78,580 | $62,990 | $142,690 | 160 | 0.03 | 0.46 |
| 42 | Iowa profile | $36.95 | $76,850 | $50,300 | $139,170 | 100 | 0.07 | 1.03 |
| 43 | Oklahoma profile | $36.77 | $76,480 | $44,660 | $136,990 | 420 | 0.24 | 3.78 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania profile | $36.48 | $75,890 | $49,750 | $156,750 | 160 | 0.03 | 0.41 |
| 45 | Arkansas profile | $34.59 | $71,940 | $65,610 | $216,310 | ** | ** | ** |
| 46 | Nebraska profile | $29.11 | $60,540 | $57,140 | $136,970 | 160 | 0.16 | 2.44 |
| 47 | New Hampshire profile | $20.59 | $42,820 | $40,350 | $65,100 | 130 | 0.19 | 3.00 |
Part of Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 19-2021 Atmospheric and Space Scientists.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 19-2021, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 19-2021.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.