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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

19-2021 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.


National estimates for Atmospheric and Space Scientists
Industry profile for Atmospheric and Space Scientists
Geographic profile for Atmospheric and Space Scientists

National estimates for Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
8,520 3.5 % $ 46.58 $ 96,880 1.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 23.36 $ 31.30 $ 45.47 $ 57.58 $ 72.48
Annual Wage (2) $ 48,600 $ 65,110 $ 94,570 $ 119,770 $ 150,760


Industry profile for Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Atmospheric and Space Scientists are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Atmospheric and Space Scientists, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 2,850 0.14 $ 51.61 $ 107,340
Radio and Television Broadcasting 1,570 0.82 $ 40.83 $ 84,930
Scientific Research and Development Services 1,340 0.17 $ 54.57 $ 113,510
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 820 0.11 $ 33.72 $ 70,130
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 780 0.03 $ 48.27 $ 100,400

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Radio and Television Broadcasting 1,570 0.82 $ 40.83 $ 84,930
Cable and Other Subscription Programming 110 0.23 $ 42.28 $ 87,940
Scientific Research and Development Services 1,340 0.17 $ 54.57 $ 113,510
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 2,850 0.14 $ 51.61 $ 107,340
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 820 0.11 $ 33.72 $ 70,130

Top paying industries for Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 60 0.02 $ 61.72 $ 128,370
Scientific Research and Development Services 1,340 0.17 $ 54.57 $ 113,510
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 2,850 0.14 $ 51.61 $ 107,340
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 780 0.03 $ 48.27 $ 100,400
Management of Companies and Enterprises 110 (7) $ 44.96 $ 93,510


Geographic profile for Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Atmospheric and Space Scientists are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Atmospheric and Space Scientists, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of atmospheric and space scientists by state, May 2021


States with the highest employment level in Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Colorado 1,060 0.40 6.65 $ 51.35 $ 106,810
Maryland 930 0.36 6.03 $ 50.92 $ 105,920
Texas 680 0.06 0.91 $ 42.66 $ 88,740
California 620 0.04 0.62 $ 57.71 $ 120,040
New York 390 0.04 0.74 $ 47.41 $ 98,620


Map of location quotient of atmospheric and space scientists by state, May 2021


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska 300 1.01 16.67 $ 37.26 $ 77,500
Colorado 1,060 0.40 6.65 $ 51.35 $ 106,810
Maryland 930 0.36 6.03 $ 50.92 $ 105,920
Montana 100 0.22 3.59 $ 43.74 $ 90,970
Wyoming 50 0.18 3.04 $ 44.47 $ 92,490


Map of annual mean wages of atmospheric and space scientists by state, May 2021


Top paying states for Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Virginia 160 0.04 0.70 $ 59.91 $ 124,610
Massachusetts 30 0.01 0.16 $ 59.58 $ 123,920
California 620 0.04 0.62 $ 57.71 $ 120,040
Oklahoma 140 0.09 1.52 $ 53.09 $ 110,420
New Jersey (8) (8) (8) $ 51.80 $ 107,740



Map of employment of atmospheric and space scientists by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 590 0.20 3.34 $ 53.61 $ 111,510
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 420 0.33 5.47 $ 51.67 $ 107,480
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 330 0.06 0.94 (8) (8)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 310 0.04 0.58 $ 52.74 $ 109,700
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 290 0.11 1.87 $ 39.02 $ 81,160
Fort Collins, CO 210 1.32 21.87 $ 48.85 $ 101,600
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 150 0.05 0.87 $ 41.50 $ 86,310
Anchorage, AK 150 0.91 14.97 $ 36.47 $ 75,850
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 140 0.06 0.94 $ 51.82 $ 107,790
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 130 0.04 0.59 $ 50.10 $ 104,210


Map of location quotient of atmospheric and space scientists by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Fort Collins, CO 210 1.32 21.87 $ 48.85 $ 101,600
Anchorage, AK 150 0.91 14.97 $ 36.47 $ 75,850
Las Cruces, NM 30 0.48 7.95 $ 43.49 $ 90,450
Huntsville, AL 110 0.46 7.54 $ 42.63 $ 88,670
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 420 0.33 5.47 $ 51.67 $ 107,480
Topeka, KS 30 0.29 4.81 $ 34.35 $ 71,440
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL 50 0.23 3.88 $ 45.49 $ 94,610
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 590 0.20 3.34 $ 53.61 $ 111,510
Green Bay, WI 30 0.19 3.06 $ 48.10 $ 100,040
Oklahoma City, OK 110 0.19 3.06 $ 54.15 $ 112,630


Map of annual mean wages of atmospheric and space scientists by area, May 2021


Top paying metropolitan areas for Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA (8) (8) (8) $ 57.15 $ 118,860
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 40 0.01 0.23 $ 56.94 $ 118,420
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 60 0.05 0.83 $ 55.22 $ 114,860
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC 40 0.05 0.84 $ 54.74 $ 113,870
Boulder, CO (8) (8) (8) $ 54.53 $ 113,410
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN 50 0.05 0.77 $ 54.46 $ 113,280
Oklahoma City, OK 110 0.19 3.06 $ 54.15 $ 112,630
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 590 0.20 3.34 $ 53.61 $ 111,510
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 310 0.04 0.58 $ 52.74 $ 109,700
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 140 0.06 0.94 $ 51.82 $ 107,790

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 90 0.95 15.62 $ 38.05 $ 79,150
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 40 0.10 1.62 $ 42.02 $ 87,400
South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area 30 0.21 3.41 $ 44.44 $ 92,440

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 90 0.95 15.62 $ 38.05 $ 79,150
South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area 30 0.21 3.41 $ 44.44 $ 92,440
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 40 0.10 1.62 $ 42.02 $ 87,400

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area 30 0.21 3.41 $ 44.44 $ 92,440
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 40 0.10 1.62 $ 42.02 $ 87,400
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 90 0.95 15.62 $ 38.05 $ 79,150


About May 2021 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022