What is the salary range for Atmospheric and Space Scientists?

Atmospheric and Space Scientists salaries in the US range from $49,990 at the 10th percentile to $160,710 at the 90th percentile per year.

How many Atmospheric and Space Scientists are there in the United States?

An estimated 8,780 people work as Atmospheric and Space Scientists across the United States as of 2024.

Average Salary for Atmospheric and Space Scientists

SOC 19-2021 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 2024 data

The median annual wage for Atmospheric and Space Scientists in the United States is $97,450 ($46.85/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $49,990 at the 10th percentile to $160,710 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 8,780 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 10.8% since 2014.

Median Annual

$97,450

Mean Annual

$103,980

10th Pct

$49,990

75th Pct

$128,940

Employment

8,780

Salary Distribution

$50k

10th

$69k

25th

$97k

Median

$129k

75th

$161k

90th

Highest Paying Metro Areas

Metro Area	Median Annual	Mean Annual
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$141,370	$150,160
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$132,850	$121,360
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$128,940	$131,840
Urban Honolulu, HI	$122,180	$121,030
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$121,600	$134,540
Boise City, ID	$120,640	$114,420
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$119,270	$181,620
St. Louis, MO-IL	$115,750	$110,520
Albuquerque, NM	$114,230	$109,140
Reno, NV	$113,320	$124,410
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$113,030	$115,650
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$112,780	$118,010
Kansas City, MO-KS	$112,030	$107,350
Omaha, NE-IA	$111,200	$105,000
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$108,950	$121,070

Salary by State

State	Median Annual	Mean Annual	Employment
Hawaii	$122,180	$120,620	60
California	$117,770	$121,620	580
Idaho	$117,190	$111,770	50
Missouri	$116,480	$113,740	140
Oregon	$115,890	$124,830	100
New Mexico	$114,230	$109,840	60
Virginia	$111,920	$124,270	150
Nebraska	$110,140	$103,260	80
Tennessee	$109,800	$109,970	120
Montana	$107,240	$103,370	60
Colorado	$106,310	$111,120	950
Maryland	$104,560	$118,890	710
Louisiana	$104,330	$105,980	80
New Jersey	$104,020	$118,520	70
North Carolina	$103,920	$108,690	140
Nevada	$103,540	$115,560	120
Wisconsin	$102,130	$105,040	180
Indiana	$101,650	$132,370	80
Alaska	$101,500	$104,660	180
Maine	$101,500	$104,360	50
District of Columbia	$98,390	$139,730	80
Michigan	$95,890	$101,700	140
South Carolina	$95,640	$98,460	90
Florida	$95,640	$99,160	440
North Dakota	$92,750	$90,360	40
Georgia	$90,670	$97,060	170
Washington	$88,800	$104,290	280
Texas	$88,570	$92,860	440
Pennsylvania	$85,700	$91,970	130
Alabama	$84,720	$87,450	230
South Dakota	$83,710	$92,300	80
Arkansas	$81,900	$99,730	40
Oklahoma	$79,200	$91,200	280
Arizona	$77,000	$95,590	100
Ohio	$76,290	$91,560	190
Kansas	$75,510	$82,970	140
Wyoming	$74,120	$88,120	90
Mississippi	$74,060	$77,670	160
Iowa	$72,530	$81,210	130
West Virginia	$70,000	$70,020	60
New York	$69,870	$131,440	500
Kentucky	$67,360	$77,110	120
New Hampshire	$64,090	$67,400	70
Puerto Rico	$63,130	$74,630	50
Utah	$59,640	$71,250	—

Salary by Industry

National median wage for Atmospheric and Space Scientists broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.

Industry	Median Annual	Employment
Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation)	$120,640	2,720
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)	$120,640	2,720
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation)	$119,040	2,970
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation)	$119,040	2,970
Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation)	$113,030	4,200
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$106,300	—
Scientific Research and Development Services	$106,300	920
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)	$105,740	160
Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)	$105,740	160
Telecommunications	$102,920	40
Management of Companies and Enterprises	$94,920	140
Management of Companies and Enterprises	$94,920	140
Management of Companies and Enterprises	$94,920	140
Educational Services	$91,410	1,220
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$91,410	1,220
Testing Laboratories and Services	$90,380	40
State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)	$89,300	1,310
Educational Services	$89,120	1,240
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)	$85,190	90
Administrative and Support Services	$84,310	—
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	$84,310	—
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers	$79,890	370
Cross-industry, Private Ownership only	$77,890	4,580
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$77,690	2,730
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$77,690	2,730
Information	$77,240	1,570
Broadcasting and Content Providers	$74,750	1,430
Television Broadcasting Stations	$72,330	1,050
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$72,280	1,210
Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations	$71,990	1,060
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$59,640	250
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$59,050	190

National Wage Trend

View data table

Year	Median Annual	Mean Annual	Employment
2024	$97,450	$103,980	8,780
2023	$92,860	$101,530	9,310
2022	$83,780	$93,610	9,900
2021	$94,570	$96,880	8,520
2020	$99,740	$100,550	10,210
2019	$95,380	$97,160	9,290
2018	$94,110	$95,580	9,310
2017	$92,070	$93,710	8,940
2016	$92,460	$94,840	9,800
2015	$89,820	$90,210	10,370
2014	$87,980	$88,090	10,850