Best degree programs for Atmospheric and Space Scientists, ranked by enrollment
5 college programs and 98 schools train Atmospheric and Space Scientists. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $99,070 median wage, 10,000 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
5 college programs at 98 schools train atmospheric and space scientists, graduating 1,407 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General. The job pays a median of $99,070 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About atmospheric and space scientists
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.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
5 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 40.0401 | 953 | 67.7% | 70 | $41,430 | $25,500 |
| 2 | Meteorologymain feeder CIP 40.0404 | 276 | 19.6% | 27 | $41,430 | $25,500 |
| 3 | Climate Sciencemain feeder CIP 30.3501 | 127 | 9.0% | 7 | — | — |
| 4 | Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Othermain feeder CIP 40.0499 | 44 | 3.1% | 8 | $41,430 | $25,500 |
| 5 | Atmospheric Chemistry and Climatologymain feeder CIP 40.0402 | 7 | 0.5% | 2 | $41,430 | $25,500 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
What atmospheric and space scientists earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $117,540 | 370 | 0.59× | 7 | 165 |
| Pennsylvaniamoderate | $75,890 | 160 | 0.41× | 4 | 144 |
| Oklahomalimited | $76,480 | 420 | 3.78× | 1 | 79 |
| Florida | $115,960 | 270 | 0.43× | 5 | 77 |
| Coloradomoderate | $104,670 | 1,150 | 6.22× | 4 | 76 |
| Texas | $84,990 | 720 | 0.80× | 5 | 67 |
| California | $124,920 | 510 | 0.43× | 6 | 62 |
| Illinoismoderate | $112,280 | 110 | 0.27× | 4 | 58 |
| Washingtonlimited | $94,400 | 190 | 0.82× | 2 | 56 |
| Wisconsinlimited | $85,870 | 280 | 1.49× | 2 | 53 |
| Missourilimited | $114,230 | 160 | 0.83× | 2 | 51 |
| Virginialimited | $83,880 | 350 | 1.31× | 2 | 51 |
| Michiganmoderate | $103,210 | 150 | 0.54× | 3 | 43 |
| North Carolina | $91,560 | 170 | 0.53× | 5 | 41 |
| Indianamoderate | $103,680 | 80 | 0.37× | 4 | 38 |
| Arizona | $115,020 | 80 | 0.36× | 6 | 36 |
| New Jerseylimited | $120,180 | 60 | 0.20× | 2 | 34 |
| Marylandlimited | $128,800 | 750 | 4.21× | 1 | 27 |
| Utahmoderate | $96,520 | 170 | 1.50× | 3 | 23 |
| Iowalimited | $76,850 | 100 | 1.03× | 1 | 18 |
| Georgialimited | $96,820 | 170 | 0.54× | 2 | 17 |
| New Hampshirelimited | $42,820 | 130 | 3.00× | 1 | 16 |
| Alabamalimited | $81,080 | 340 | 2.49× | 2 | 15 |
| Ohiomoderate | $78,580 | 160 | 0.46× | 3 | 15 |
| North Dakotalimited | $91,560 | 40 | 1.51× | 1 | 14 |
| Minnesotalimited | $106,270 | 50 | 0.29× | 1 | 13 |
| Nevadalimited | $109,300 | 120 | 1.19× | 1 | 12 |
| Massachusettslimited | $108,050 | — | — | 2 | 11 |
| Hawaiilimited | $121,010 | 70 | 1.69× | 1 | 10 |
| Nebraskalimited | $60,540 | 160 | 2.44× | 1 | 10 |
| Kansaslimited | $109,300 | 80 | 0.89× | 1 | 9 |
| Oregonlimited | $112,260 | 100 | 0.82× | 1 | 9 |
| Wyominglimited | $99,940 | 40 | 2.22× | 1 | 8 |
| Connecticutlimited | $85,110 | 50 | 0.41× | 1 | 7 |
| Kentuckylimited | $103,240 | 100 | 0.77× | 1 | 7 |
| Louisianalimited | $97,470 | 70 | 0.60× | 1 | 6 |
| South Dakotalimited | $78,900 | 130 | 4.46× | 1 | 5 |
| South Carolinalimited | $82,240 | 150 | 0.99× | 1 | 4 |
| District of Columbialimited | $103,860 | 70 | 1.64× | 1 | 3 |
| Alaskalimited | $94,380 | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| West Virginialimited | $80,690 | 40 | 0.95× | 1 | 1 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- 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.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Active Listening4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Learning4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Science4.0
- Writing3.9
- Mathematics3.4
Knowledge areas
- Mathematics4.4
- Physics4.4
- Geography4.4
- Computers and Electronics4.2
- English Language3.8
- Communications and Media3.2
Abilities
- Oral Expression4.3
- Written Comprehension4.1
- Inductive Reasoning4.1
- Oral Comprehension4.1
- Deductive Reasoning4.0
- Problem Sensitivity3.9
Core activities
- Working with Computers4.8
- Analyzing Data or Information4.8
- Getting Information4.6
- Processing Information4.3
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.3
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others4.2
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Atmospheric
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 7 majors mapped to Atmospheric and Space Scientists5 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 30.3501Climate Science
- 30.5001Mathematics and Atmospheric/Oceanic Science(no graduates reported)
- 40.0401Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General
- 40.0402Atmospheric Chemistry and Climatology
- 40.0403Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics(no graduates reported)
- 40.0404Meteorology
- 40.0499Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Other
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become an Atmospheric?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General, which awarded 953 degrees in 2024-25, 67.7% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming an Atmospheric?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 5 programs to this occupation. The largest are Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Climate Science. Together they graduate about 1,407 people a year.
How much do atmospheric and space scientists earn?+
The median is $99,070 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $53,060 at the 10th percentile to $161,890 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for atmospheric and space scientists growing?+
BLS projects a +0.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, little or no change, with roughly 700 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
98 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 5 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do atmospheric and space scientists work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Forecaster, Meteorologist, General Forecaster, Research Meteorologist among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 19-2021.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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