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Role hub · Atmospheric and Space Scientists

Meteorologist: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.

The work, the skills that matter, the tools in demand and the pay range, from U.S. government data, plus every TryHired page for the role.

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Updated Oct 24, 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · O*NET 31.0
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Median percentile pay

Half of meteorologists earn more than this and half earn less.

Annual
$99,070
Hourly
$47.63
Source
BLS May 2025
Quick answer

Meteorologists 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. The median pay is $99,070 a year ($47.63 an hour) (BLS, May 2025). The most commonly reported education requirement is a bachelor's degree (60% of workers surveyed by O*NET).

Median pay
$99,070
BLS May 2025
Employed in the U.S.
10,000
BLS May 2025
Preparation
Job Zone 4 of 5
considerable preparation
Most common education
Bachelor's Degree
60% of workers

Data Government data groups this job as Atmospheric and Space Scientists (O*NET-SOC 19-2021.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

Explore the role

Every page for Meteorologists

SalaryMeteorologist salary

Pay by percentile, state and metro, with a negotiation script.

Open →How to becomeMeteorologist how to become

Education, training and the skills to build first.

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The work

What meteorologists do day to day

Data Core tasks rated most important by workers in the role (O*NET).

  1. Develop or use mathematical or computer models for weather forecasting.
  2. 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.
  3. Conduct meteorological research into the processes or determinants of atmospheric phenomena, weather, or climate.
  4. Formulate predictions by interpreting environmental data, such as meteorological, atmospheric, oceanic, paleoclimate, climate, or related information.
  5. 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.
  6. Prepare forecasts or briefings to meet the needs of industry, business, government, or other groups.
  7. Gather data from sources such as surface or upper air stations, satellites, weather bureaus, or radar for use in meteorological reports or forecasts.
  8. Develop computer programs to collect meteorological data or to present meteorological information.
Skills that matter

Ranked by importance to the job

Data O*NET importance ratings. The first three are core.

Reading ComprehensioncoreActive ListeningcoreSpeakingcoreScienceCritical ThinkingActive LearningComplex Problem SolvingWritingJudgment and Decision Making

Knowledge areas: Mathematics, Physics, Geography, Computers and Electronics, English Language, Communications and Media.

Tools and technology

Software meteorologists use

Data Examples reported for the role; employer demand flags from O*NET.

  • Adobe PhotoshopGraphics or photo imaging softwareHot technology
  • FacebookWeb page creation and editing softwareHot technology
  • IBM SPSS StatisticsAnalytical or scientific softwareHot technology
  • SASAnalytical or scientific softwareHot technology
  • The MathWorks MATLABAnalytical or scientific softwareHot technology
  • AccuWeather GalileoGraphics or photo imaging software
  • Advanced Visual Systems AVS/ExpressGraphics or photo imaging software
  • Air quality modeling softwareAnalytical or scientific software
  • Aninoquisi MesoTRACAnalytical or scientific software
  • Apple Final Cut ProVideo creation and editing software
  • Baron Services FasTracAnalytical or scientific software
  • Baron Volumetric Imaging and Processing of Integrated Radar VIPIRAnalytical or scientific software

Also called: Broadcast Meteorologist, Forecaster, General Forecaster, Hydrometeorological Technician (Hydrometeorological Tech), Ocean Monitoring and Data Assimilation Scientist.

Method

How this page is built

Tasks, skills, tools, education and related roles come from O*NET 31.0. Pay and employment come from the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimates. The skill-match score is our calculation: Skill match is the correlation between the two occupations' skill profiles: for each of 35 O*NET skills (10 essential, 25 transferable) we multiply importance by level, subtract the average across all occupations, and correlate the two profiles. 100 means identical shape; 0 or below means unrelated. Only occupations that O*NET itself lists as related are compared.

What this page can't tell you
  • How a specific employer defines the job.
  • Pay for self-employed workers (OEWS covers employees).
  • Your own chances: data describes the occupation, not you.
Sources
  1. O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).