Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Wide pay band SOC 19-2021

Atmospheric and Space Scientists

The published band from $53,060 to $161,890 is the distinctive signal for this role, not a twin of Astronomers.

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Atmospheric and Space Scientists: Astronomers ($129K) , Geographers ($102K) , Biochemists and Biophysicists ($127K) , Sociologists ($106K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Atmospheric and Space Scientists publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 19-2021 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Develop or use mathematical or computer models for weather forecasting
  2. 2. Interpret data, reports, maps, photographs, or charts to predict long- or short-range weather conditions, using computer models and knowl…
  3. 3. Conduct meteorological research into the processes or determinants of atmospheric phenomena, weather, or climate
  4. 4. Formulate predictions by interpreting environmental data, such as meteorological, atmospheric, oceanic, paleoclimate, climate, or related…
  5. 5. Broadcast weather conditions, forecasts, or severe weather warnings to the public via television, radio, or the Internet or provide this…
  6. 6. Prepare forecasts or briefings to meet the needs of industry, business, government, or other groups
  7. 7. Direct forecasting services at weather stations or at radio or television broadcasting facilities
  8. 8. Gather data from sources such as surface or upper air stations, satellites, weather bureaus, or radar for use in meteorological reports o…
  9. 9. Develop computer programs to collect meteorological data or to present meteorological information
  10. 10. Prepare weather reports or maps for analysis, distribution, or use in weather broadcasts, using computer graphics
  11. 11. Develop and deliver training on weather topics
  12. 12. Prepare scientific atmospheric or climate reports, articles, or texts

Atmospheric and Space Scientists: O*NET ranks Reading Comprehension first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 19-2021 - lead skill Reading Comprehension at 4.1 ; lead knowledge Mathematics. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Reading Comprehension 4.1
  2. 2. Active Listening 4.0
  3. 3. Speaking 4.0
  4. 4. Science 4.0
  5. 5. Critical Thinking 4.0
  6. 6. Active Learning 4.0
  7. 7. Writing 3.9
  8. 8. Complex Problem Solving 3.9

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Mathematics 4.4
  2. 2. Physics 4.4
  3. 3. Geography 4.4
  4. 4. Computers and Electronics 4.2
  5. 5. English Language 3.8
  6. 6. Communications and Media 3.2
Published pay band (10th to 90th)
$53,060 to $161,890
median $99,070 · ~3.1× spread
$99K
National median
↑ +1%
Growth 2024-2034
700
Annual openings
10,000
Estimated US jobs
Astronomers
Highest-pay peer · $129K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education Bachelor's degree

Top Paying States for Atmospheric and Space Scientists

1. Missouri $114,230
2. Illinois $112,280
3. Maryland $128,800
4. Arizona $115,020
5. New York $117,540
6. Hawaii $121,010
7. New Jersey $120,180
8. Florida $115,960
9. Idaho $119,430
10. California $124,920

Other Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations titles

  1. 1. Astronomers $128,820
  2. 2. Biochemists and Biophysicists $127,410
  3. 3. Sociologists $106,030
  4. 4. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $103,410
  5. 5. Nuclear Technicians $110,240
  6. 6. Geographers $102,040

The OEWS band for Atmospheric and Space Scientists runs from $53,060 (10th) to $161,890 (90th), about 3.1× wide, with median $99,070. That spread, not the midpoint alone, is the distinctive published fact.

Employment Projections expect +1% change between 2024 and 2034 (slower than average vs baseline 3.1%). About 700 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Missouri at $114,230. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Astronomers at $128,820. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay-rank #17 in Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

Atmospheric and Space Scientists sits at pay-rank #17 of 48 detailed Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations, the middle third of the major-group median table. ROW_NUMBER on median; title breaks ties.

Other mid-table titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Atmospheric and Space Scientists is unusually wide, so the state map and peer comparison carry more signal than the median alone.

Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 19-2021

Missouri · top state for Atmospheric and Space Scientists

$114K published median

Illinois · #2 state pay

$112K · behind Missouri

Astronomers

Highest-pay peer vs Atmospheric and Space Scientists · $129K

Geographers

Lower-pay peer beside Atmospheric and Space Scientists · $102K

Compare Atmospheric and Space Scientists

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Atmospheric and Space Scientists with another occupation →

Pay-band next reads

Entry-Level vs Experienced Pay

What percentile bands reveal

Using Salary Data for Negotiation

Leverage BLS percentiles

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Atmospheric and Space Scientists mid-table among Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations? ▼
Yes: pay-rank #17 of 48 detailed Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations, the middle third. Mid-table neighbors: Biological Scientists, All Other ($99K), Hydrologists ($97K), School Psychologists ($96K), Life Scientists, All Other ($94K). ROW_NUMBER on median; title breaks ties.
What do atmospheric and space scientists do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Atmospheric and Space Scientists. Leading ones include: 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 knowl…; 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…. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for atmospheric and space scientists? ▼
For SOC 19-2021, O*NET importance scores lead with Reading Comprehension (4.1), Active Listening (4.0), Speaking (4.0), Science (4.0). Knowledge areas emphasize Mathematics, Physics, Geography. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
How wide is the published pay band for Atmospheric and Space Scientists? ▼
OEWS places the 10th percentile at $53,060 and the 90th at $161,890 for Atmospheric and Space Scientists (3.1× spread). The national median is $99,070. OEWS does not isolate experience, employer, or geography as the cause of that spread.
What employment change does BLS publish for Atmospheric and Space Scientists? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Atmospheric and Space Scientists is +1%. Projected annual openings: about 700. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: slower than average.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Atmospheric and Space Scientists? ▼
BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Atmospheric and Space Scientists. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Atmospheric and Space Scientists? ▼
Missouri ($114,230), Illinois ($112,280), Maryland ($128,800) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Atmospheric and Space Scientists card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 19-2021. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Atmospheric and Space Scientists. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics