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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023

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)
9,310 4.3 % $ 48.81 $ 101,530 1.2 %

Percentile wage estimates for Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 23.54 $ 32.73 $ 44.65 $ 59.98 $ 75.60
Annual Wage (2) $ 48,960 $ 68,080 $ 92,860 $ 124,760 $ 157,250


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, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) 2,770 0.13 $ 54.89 $ 114,160
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 1,700 0.20 $ 31.96 $ 66,480
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 1,180 0.04 $ 46.26 $ 96,220
Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations 1,160 0.95 $ 47.67 $ 99,140
Scientific Research and Development Services 1,000 0.11 $ 58.32 $ 121,310

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 Stations 1,160 0.95 $ 47.67 $ 99,140
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers 470 0.20 $ 44.41 $ 92,370
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 1,700 0.20 $ 31.96 $ 66,480
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) 2,770 0.13 $ 54.89 $ 114,160
Scientific Research and Development Services 1,000 0.11 $ 58.32 $ 121,310

Top paying industries for Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Scientific Research and Development Services 1,000 0.11 $ 58.32 $ 121,310
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 50 (7) $ 56.40 $ 117,300
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) 2,770 0.13 $ 54.89 $ 114,160
Telecommunications 40 0.01 $ 54.76 $ 113,900
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) 190 (7) $ 52.30 $ 108,780


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 2023


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 1,010 0.36 5.84 $ 52.23 $ 108,640
Maryland 740 0.28 4.52 $ 55.93 $ 116,340
California 710 0.04 0.64 $ 57.01 $ 118,580
Florida 590 0.06 1.00 $ 43.52 $ 90,510
Texas 560 0.04 0.68 $ 41.07 $ 85,420


Map of location quotient of atmospheric and space scientists by state, May 2023


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 160 0.51 8.36 $ 47.46 $ 98,710
Colorado 1,010 0.36 5.84 $ 52.23 $ 108,640
Maryland 740 0.28 4.52 $ 55.93 $ 116,340
South Dakota 100 0.23 3.72 $ 41.00 $ 85,280
Kansas 250 0.18 2.87 $ 33.75 $ 70,210


Map of annual mean wages of atmospheric and space scientists by state, May 2023


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)
District of Columbia 50 0.08 1.26 $ 63.29 $ 131,640
Oregon 100 0.05 0.87 $ 57.46 $ 119,510
New Jersey 100 0.02 0.38 $ 57.18 $ 118,930
California 710 0.04 0.64 $ 57.01 $ 118,580
Maryland 740 0.28 4.52 $ 55.93 $ 116,340



Map of employment of atmospheric and space scientists by area, May 2023


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 540 0.17 2.83 $ 61.14 $ 127,170
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 310 0.03 0.54 (8) (8)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 310 0.05 0.82 $ 53.61 $ 111,500
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 280 0.22 3.55 $ 49.70 $ 103,380
Fort Collins, CO 230 1.32 21.46 $ 50.84 $ 105,750
Oklahoma City, OK 210 0.31 5.12 $ 45.48 $ 94,610
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 170 0.06 1.00 $ 43.42 $ 90,320
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 170 0.06 0.97 $ 45.55 $ 94,750
Kansas City, MO-KS 150 0.14 2.30 $ 45.50 $ 94,640
Huntsville, AL 140 0.58 9.43 $ 40.55 $ 84,340


Map of location quotient of atmospheric and space scientists by area, May 2023


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 230 1.32 21.46 $ 50.84 $ 105,750
Anchorage, AK 110 0.63 10.21 $ 46.61 $ 96,940
Huntsville, AL 140 0.58 9.43 $ 40.55 $ 84,340
Rapid City, SD 30 0.47 7.65 $ 42.26 $ 87,900
Salinas, CA 80 0.45 7.28 $ 66.25 $ 137,790
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL 80 0.34 5.57 $ 46.06 $ 95,810
Oklahoma City, OK 210 0.31 5.12 $ 45.48 $ 94,610
Wichita, KS 90 0.30 4.90 $ 30.15 $ 62,700
Madison, WI 110 0.27 4.36 $ 50.07 $ 104,140
Sioux Falls, SD 40 0.25 4.13 $ 38.88 $ 80,860


Map of annual mean wages of atmospheric and space scientists by area, May 2023


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 110 0.05 0.74 $ 67.28 $ 139,950
Salinas, CA 80 0.45 7.28 $ 66.25 $ 137,790
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 540 0.17 2.83 $ 61.14 $ 127,170
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 60 0.05 0.80 $ 60.98 $ 126,830
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN 40 0.04 0.62 $ 59.40 $ 123,560
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 70 0.16 2.64 $ 57.66 $ 119,930
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 30 0.03 0.51 $ 56.29 $ 117,080
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 50 0.03 0.56 $ 55.08 $ 114,560
Urban Honolulu, HI 70 0.15 2.42 $ 54.19 $ 112,710
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 310 0.05 0.82 $ 53.61 $ 111,500

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)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 40 0.11 1.72 $ 42.40 $ 88,200

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)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 40 0.11 1.72 $ 42.40 $ 88,200

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)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 40 0.11 1.72 $ 42.40 $ 88,200


About May 2023 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 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024