Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Atmospheric and space scientists work in a specialized field that combines science, mathematics, and technology. Nationally, the occupation employs about 9,000 people, so it is a relatively small but focused profession. The national median annual salary of $97,450 reflects strong earning potential for those who qualify. Projected employment growth of 0.7% and about 1,000 annual openings suggest a modest but ongoing flow of opportunities, which may come from both new positions and turnover in existing roles. The work draws on a broad skill set that includes mathematics, science, computers and information technology, and strong critical and analytical thinking. Communication-oriented skills such as speaking, listening, writing, and reading also matter, alongside creativity, adaptability, leadership, and problem solving. For students or professionals who enjoy combining quantitative analysis with communication and decision making, this career offers a structured path with clear expectations, including a typical education level of a bachelor’s degree. Related options include geoscientists, geographers, physicists, astronomers, and postsecondary teaching in atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences.
Atmospheric and space scientists earn a national median annual salary of $97,450, placing the field in a solid professional income range. Within this occupation, earnings vary by location. Several states exceed the national median, including California at $124,920, New York at $117,540, and Colorado at $104,670. Among metro areas, salaries can be even higher: the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont area reports a median of $151,000, and the New York–Newark–Jersey City metro shows $128,790. Other metros like Washington–Arlington–Alexandria and Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim also post six-figure medians. These differences indicate that local markets can significantly influence earning potential, with some areas offering substantially higher pay than the national median. When comparing offers, it can be useful to weigh the higher salaries in certain states and metro areas against personal preferences for location and lifestyle.
Nationally, atmospheric and space scientists account for about 9,000 jobs, reflecting a relatively small, specialized labor market. Projected employment growth of 0.7% indicates that the total number of positions is expected to increase slightly over the projection period. At the same time, there are about 1,000 annual openings, which suggests that a sizable portion of opportunities will come from turnover and replacement needs, not just new job creation. This pattern can matter for career planning: competition for specific roles may depend on how many people leave or move within the field each year. The combination of modest growth and steady openings can support a consistent, if limited, stream of job opportunities. Individuals considering this career may also want to pay attention to geographic differences, since some states and metro areas show higher opportunity scores than others, which can influence where openings are more concentrated.
Career opportunities for atmospheric and space scientists vary by state and metro area, with some locations standing out based on a combination of salary, employment, growth, and opportunity score. Among states, California and New York have the highest opportunity scores, at 67.38 and 65.78 respectively, along with median salaries above $117,000. Colorado shows the highest state-level employment among the top states at 1,150 jobs, with a median salary of $104,670 and an opportunity score of 56.97. Washington and Virginia also offer notable opportunities, though with lower median salaries than California and New York. At the metro level, the New York–Newark–Jersey City area leads with an opportunity score of 77.27 and a median salary of $128,790. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont has the highest listed metro salary at $151,000, though with smaller employment of 30. Washington–Arlington–Alexandria combines relatively high employment (700) with a strong median salary of $117,600. These patterns show meaningful differences in both salary levels and job concentration by region.
For atmospheric and space scientists, the typical education requirement is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education supports the broad mix of scientific, quantitative, and communication skills associated with the occupation. Key skills include mathematics and science, which underpin much of the analytical work in the field. Computers and information technology are also important, indicating that comfort with digital tools and data is valuable. Critical and analytical thinking, along with problem solving and decision making, play a central role in evaluating information and reaching sound conclusions. Communication-focused skills such as speaking, listening, writing, and reading are part of the core profile, suggesting that conveying findings and understanding complex information are important aspects of the role. Creativity and innovation, adaptability, and leadership round out the skill set, pointing to a career where professionals may need to adjust to new situations, contribute ideas, and guide projects or teams within their areas of expertise.
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