Atmospheric & Space Scientists vs Astronomers
Median pay is about $30k higher for Astronomers. The usual entry education is bachelor's for Atmospheric & Space Scientists and doctoral for Astronomers.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Atmospheric & Space Scientists | Astronomers |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $99,070 | $128,820, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $73,350 | $99,920, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $129,960 | $166,000, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +2.6% Growing | +7.8% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 800 | 100 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Bachelor's | Doctoral |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.8 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | High | Very high |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 79th pct | 88th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Atmospheric & Space Scientists
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Only Astronomers
- Writing
- Mathematics
Both lean on reading comprehension, active listening, science, critical thinking.
More comparisons
Compare Atmospheric & Space Scientists with
Compare Astronomers with
Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.