Occupation salary profile

Atmospheric and Space Scientists

SOC 19-2021 BLS OEWS May 2025 H-1B LCAs, last 12 months

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.

National median · BLS
$99,070
▲ +1.66% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
$99,200
▲ +13.8% YoY · 153 LCAs
Average salary · BLS
$106,110
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
10,000
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.

Pay range for Atmospheric and Space Scientists

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation; H-1B covers 153 certified Labor Condition Applications filed by sponsoring employers in the last 12 months.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS) H-1B sponsored
10th — entry pay$53,060$65,106
25th$73,350$75,000
Median (50th)$99,070$99,200
75th$129,960$115,000
90th — top pay$161,890$129,434
H-1B sponsors pay a median of $99,200 for Atmospheric and Space Scientists — 0.1% above the BLS national median of $99,070.

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Atmospheric and Space Scientists

BLS projects employment of atmospheric and space scientists to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 800 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
10,700 → 10,900
+300 jobs
Projected change
+2.6%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
800
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
No related experience required
Self-employed
1.2% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 4)
Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a bachelor's degree →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

H-1B sponsored pay

Pay by H-1B wage level

Employers assign every H-1B filing a Department of Labor prevailing-wage level, from Level I (entry) to Level IV (fully competent). Pay rises steeply with level.

H-1B median $99,200
Change vs prior year +13.8%
After inflation (CPI-U) +10.35%
Wage level LCAs Share P25 Median P75
Level I 63 41.2% $65,266 $73,500 $89,388
Level II 25 16.3% $100,000 $112,270 $121,600
Level III 36 23.5% $105,900 $113,337 $130,000
H-1B job titles

Salaries by job title in Atmospheric and Space Scientists

The 3 most-filed job titles inside SOC 19-2021, from 153 H-1B filings. Seniority words and level numbers are grouped (“Senior Data Engineer II” counts as Data Engineer). Tap a title for its full range, wage levels and the exact titles employers used.

Job title LCAs Share P25 Median P75 YoY
Research Scientist 17 11.11% $80,000 $104,722 $115,000 +21.78%
Earth Scientist 12 7.84% $114,286 $121,862 $123,412 —
Scientist generic 10 6.54% $99,206 $105,735 $117,428 —

Titles are cleaned from the employer's own LCA text (codes and typos removed, nothing invented). Rows need 10+ filings in this SOC.

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Atmospheric and Space Scientists

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Reading Comprehension4.1
  • Active Learning4.0
  • Active Listening4.0
  • Critical Thinking4.0
  • Science4.0
  • Speaking4.0
  • Complex Problem Solving3.9
  • Writing3.9
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.8
  • Mathematics3.4
Top knowledge areas
  • Mathematics4.4
  • Physics4.4
  • Geography4.4
  • Computers and Electronics4.2
  • English Language3.8
  • Communications and Media3.2
  • Chemistry3.0
  • Customer and Personal Service3.0
Software and technology used
Microsoft Office softwareAdobe PhotoshopC++FacebookIBM SPSS StatisticsLinuxMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordPerlPythonRSASStructured query language SQLThe MathWorks MATLAB

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What atmospheric and space scientists do

  • Develop or use mathematical or computer models for weather forecasting.
  • Interpret data, reports, maps, photographs, or charts to predict long- or short-range weather conditions, using computer models and knowledge of climate theory, physics, and mathematics.
  • Conduct meteorological research into the processes or determinants of atmospheric phenomena, weather, or climate.
  • Formulate predictions by interpreting environmental data, such as meteorological, atmospheric, oceanic, paleoclimate, climate, or related information.
  • 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.
  • Prepare forecasts or briefings to meet the needs of industry, business, government, or other groups.
  • Gather data from sources such as surface or upper air stations, satellites, weather bureaus, or radar for use in meteorological reports or forecasts.
  • Develop computer programs to collect meteorological data or to present meteorological information.
Also called
ForecasterGeneral ForecasterMeteorologistResearch MeteorologistBroadcast MeteorologistHydrometeorological Technician (Hydrometeorological Tech)Ocean Monitoring and Data Assimilation ScientistService HydrologistWarning Coordination MeteorologistWeather Forecaster
More job titles for this occupation (28)
AerologistAir AnalystAstrochemistAtmospheric ChemistAtmospheric ScientistClimate Change Risk AssessorClimatologistComputer MeteorologistHurricane TrackerHydrometeorologistMarine MeteorologistMeteorological EngineerMeteorological Technician (Meteorological Tech)Morning MeteorologistOceanographic MeteorologistOperational MeteorologistPhysical MeteorologistRadiosonde SpecialistSpace Operations OfficerSpace ScientistStorm ChaserSynoptic MeteorologistTornado ChaserTrackerWeather AnalystWeather AnchorWeatherization SpecialistWeatherman

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.