What is an Atmospheric and Space Scientist?
Career Description 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.
A Day in the Life of an Atmospheric & Space Scientist
- Perform managerial duties, such as creating work schedules, creating or implementing staff training, matching staff expertise to situations, or analyzing performance of offices.
- Conduct numerical simulations of climate conditions to understand and predict global or regional weather patterns.
- Broadcast weather conditions, forecasts, or severe weather warnings to the public via television, radio, or the Internet or provide this information to the news media.
- Conduct meteorological research into the processes or determinants of atmospheric phenomena, weather, or climate.
- Prepare scientific atmospheric or climate reports, articles, or texts.
- Prepare weather reports or maps for analysis, distribution, or use in weather broadcasts, using computer graphics.
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What Every Atmospheric & Space Scientist Should Know
These are the skills Atmospheric and Space Scientists say are the most useful in their careers:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Other Atmospheric & Space Scientist Job Titles
- Air Analyst
- Meteorologist
- Climatologist
- Hurricane Tracker
- Meteorological Engineer
Job Demand for Atmospheric and Space Scientists
In the United States, there were 10,400 jobs for Atmospheric and Space Scientist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,300 new jobs for Atmospheric and Space Scientist by 2026. The BLS estimates 900 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Atmospheric & Space Scientist are Colorado, Utah, and New Hampshire. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Missouri, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Atmospheric and Space Scientists Make A Lot Of Money?
The typical yearly salary for Atmospheric and Space Scientists is somewhere between $50,040 and $142,500.

Atmospheric and Space Scientists who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or New Mexico, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Atmospheric and Space Scientists in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $104,130 |
Alaska | $85,980 |
Arizona | $93,870 |
California | $102,020 |
Colorado | $96,890 |
Connecticut | $58,980 |
District of Columbia | $138,020 |
Florida | $95,110 |
Georgia | $99,890 |
Hawaii | $103,960 |
Idaho | $97,900 |
Illinois | $71,400 |
Indiana | $97,520 |
Iowa | $89,230 |
Kansas | $85,740 |
Kentucky | $106,450 |
Louisiana | $84,150 |
Maryland | $110,150 |
Michigan | $89,840 |
Minnesota | $102,520 |
Mississippi | $73,270 |
Missouri | $95,500 |
Montana | $85,770 |
Nebraska | $89,990 |
Nevada | $93,770 |
New Hampshire | $80,880 |
New Jersey | $95,560 |
New Mexico | $111,090 |
New York | $89,840 |
North Carolina | $77,830 |
North Dakota | $74,050 |
Ohio | $91,370 |
Oklahoma | $81,970 |
Oregon | $90,390 |
Pennsylvania | $104,380 |
South Carolina | $96,170 |
South Dakota | $82,600 |
Tennessee | $95,740 |
Texas | $93,810 |
Utah | $87,130 |
Virginia | $108,330 |
Washington | $92,700 |
Wisconsin | $93,100 |
Wyoming | $87,910 |
What Tools do Atmospheric and Space Scientists Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Atmospheric and Space Scientists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Python
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Structured query language SQL
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- SAS
- Linux
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- UNIX
- R
- Practical extraction and reporting language Perl
- Apple Final Cut Pro
How do I Become an Atmospheric & Space Scientist?
What kind of Atmospheric and Space Scientist requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where do Atmospheric and Space Scientists Work?

Atmospheric and Space Scientists work in the following industries:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming an Atmospheric and Space Scientist might also be interested in the following careers:
Career changers with experience as an Atmospheric and Space Scientist sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Liam Gumley via NASA, public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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