Life & Physical Science
Atmospheric & Space Scientists
SOC 19-2021
Study weather and climate and build the forecasts people rely on.
The job
Median pay
$99k
$73k to $130k typical range
Outlook, 2025 to 2035
Growing
+2.6% projected
Openings a year
800
BLS projection
Typical education
Bachelor's
Our model
AI displacement risk
High
How much of this job AI may do instead of the person
Works with AI
4/100
AI alongside the person rather than instead of them
AI exposure
79th pct
More exposed than 79% of occupations · modeled estimate · 92nd pct in Microsoft's data
Future-proof
51/100
Key skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Pay and jobs by state
BLS OEWS May 2025, 51 states. Sorted by jobs; per 1,000 is jobs per thousand workers in the state; vs national compares that rate with the country's. A tilde marks a figure estimated from the parent occupation group where BLS publishes none.
| State | Jobs | Per 1,000 | vs national | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 1,150 | 0.4 | 6.2× | $105k |
| Maryland | 750 | 0.3 | 4.2× | $129k |
| Texas | 720 | 0.1 | 0.8× | $85k |
| Massachusetts | 530 | 0.1 | 2.3× | $108k~ |
| California | 510 | 0.0 | 0.4× | $125k |
| Oklahoma | 420 | 0.2 | 3.8× | $76k |
| New York | 370 | 0.0 | 0.6× | $118k |
| Virginia | 350 | 0.1 | 1.3× | $84k |
| Alabama | 340 | 0.2 | 2.5× | $81k |
| Wisconsin | 280 | 0.1 | 1.5× | $86k |
All 51 states
| State | Jobs | Per 1,000 | vs national | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 270 | 0.0 | 0.4× | $116k |
| Tennessee | 230 | 0.1 | 1.1× | $96k |
| Washington | 190 | 0.1 | 0.8× | $94k |
| Georgia | 170 | 0.0 | 0.5× | $97k |
| North Carolina | 170 | 0.0 | 0.5× | $92k |
| Utah | 170 | 0.1 | 1.5× | $97k |
| Missouri | 160 | 0.1 | 0.8× | $114k |
| Nebraska | 160 | 0.2 | 2.4× | $61k |
| Ohio | 160 | 0.0 | 0.5× | $79k |
| Pennsylvania | 160 | 0.0 | 0.4× | $76k |
| Michigan | 150 | 0.0 | 0.5× | $103k |
| South Carolina | 150 | 0.1 | 1.0× | $82k |
| New Hampshire | 130 | 0.2 | 3.0× | $43k |
| South Dakota | 130 | 0.3 | 4.4× | $79k |
| Nevada | 120 | 0.1 | 1.2× | $109k |
| Illinois | 110 | 0.0 | 0.3× | $112k |
| Iowa | 100 | 0.1 | 1.0× | $77k |
| Kentucky | 100 | 0.0 | 0.8× | $103k |
| Oregon | 100 | 0.1 | 0.8× | $112k |
| Arizona | 80 | 0.0 | 0.4× | $115k |
| Indiana | 80 | 0.0 | 0.4× | $104k |
| Kansas | 80 | 0.1 | 0.9× | $109k |
| Washington DC | 70 | 0.1 | 1.6× | $104k |
| Hawaii | 70 | 0.1 | 1.7× | $121k |
| Louisiana | 70 | 0.0 | 0.6× | $97k |
| Montana | 70 | 0.1 | 2.1× | $109k |
| New Jersey | 60 | 0.0 | 0.2× | $120k |
| New Mexico | 60 | 0.1 | 1.1× | $110k |
| Mississippi | 56 | 0.0 | 0.8× | $78k~ |
| Arkansas | 53 | 0.0 | 0.6× | $72k~ |
| Connecticut | 50 | 0.0 | 0.5× | $85k |
| Idaho | 50 | 0.1 | 0.9× | $119k |
| Maine | 50 | 0.1 | 1.2× | $104k |
| Minnesota | 50 | 0.0 | 0.3× | $106k |
| Alaska | 47 | 0.1 | 2.2× | $94k~ |
| Delaware | 42 | 0.1 | 1.4× | $101k~ |
| North Dakota | 40 | 0.1 | 1.4× | $92k |
| West Virginia | 40 | 0.1 | 0.9× | $81k |
| Wyoming | 40 | 0.1 | 2.2× | $100k |
| Rhode Island | 29 | 0.1 | 0.9× | $107k~ |
| Vermont | 22 | 0.1 | 1.1× | $90k~ |
Top metro areas
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV700 jobs · $118k median
- Boulder, CO620 jobs · $122k median
- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD270 jobs · $129k median
- Oklahoma City, OK270 jobs · $76k median
- Anchorage, AK260 jobs · $102k median
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ260 jobs · $129k median
- Fort Collins-Loveland, CO250 jobs · $111k median
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX240 jobs · $89k median
Explore the rankings
Explore Atmospheric & Space Scientists interactively →Pay and outlook from BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills and work activities from O*NET 30.3. AI exposure and future-proof scores are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.