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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020

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)
10,210 4.8 % $ 48.34 $ 100,550 1.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for Atmospheric and Space Scientists:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 25.17 $ 34.89 $ 47.95 $ 59.58 $ 73.63
Annual Wage (2) $ 52,350 $ 72,570 $ 99,740 $ 123,930 $ 153,150


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 $ 51.32 $ 106,740
Scientific Research and Development Services 2,120 0.28 $ 53.93 $ 112,180
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 1,460 0.20 $ 39.11 $ 81,360
Radio and Television Broadcasting 1,160 0.57 $ 47.24 $ 98,250
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 870 0.03 $ 47.99 $ 99,820

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 1,160 0.57 $ 47.24 $ 98,250
Scientific Research and Development Services 2,120 0.28 $ 53.93 $ 112,180
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 1,460 0.20 $ 39.11 $ 81,360
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 2,850 0.14 $ 51.32 $ 106,740
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 660 0.04 $ 46.22 $ 96,140

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 2,120 0.28 $ 53.93 $ 112,180
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 30 0.01 $ 53.88 $ 112,080
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 2,850 0.14 $ 51.32 $ 106,740
Management of Companies and Enterprises 250 0.01 $ 48.10 $ 100,060
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 870 0.03 $ 47.99 $ 99,820


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.





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)
California 1,000 0.06 0.83 $ 59.48 $ 123,710
Maryland 730 0.29 3.96 $ 50.97 $ 106,020
Texas 680 0.06 0.76 $ 49.31 $ 102,560
Florida 530 0.06 0.85 $ 47.59 $ 98,990
New Jersey 390 0.10 1.41 $ 47.40 $ 98,590




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 180 0.61 8.29 $ 42.95 $ 89,330
Wyoming 80 0.30 4.15 $ 42.02 $ 87,400
Maryland 730 0.29 3.96 $ 50.97 $ 106,020
Kansas 370 0.28 3.82 $ 38.82 $ 80,740
South Dakota 90 0.22 3.04 $ 40.83 $ 84,930




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 30 0.05 0.63 $ 63.63 $ 132,340
California 1,000 0.06 0.83 $ 59.48 $ 123,710
Virginia 230 0.06 0.86 $ 55.03 $ 114,470
Hawaii 70 0.12 1.69 $ 52.73 $ 109,680
Georgia 70 0.02 0.21 $ 52.34 $ 108,860





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 580 0.19 2.63 $ 53.87 $ 112,050
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 560 0.06 0.87 $ 50.49 $ 105,020
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 410 0.07 0.96 $ 61.59 $ 128,100
Kansas City, MO-KS 370 0.36 4.84 $ 44.48 $ 92,510
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 280 0.22 2.99 (8) (8)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 250 0.13 1.82 $ 42.30 $ 87,990
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 210 0.06 0.81 $ 52.39 $ 108,970
Salt Lake City, UT 170 0.24 3.22 $ 42.65 $ 88,710
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 160 0.06 0.82 $ 46.55 $ 96,830
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 150 0.05 0.69 $ 54.36 $ 113,070




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)
Anchorage, AK 120 0.73 9.94 $ 41.90 $ 87,150
Rapid City, SD 30 0.50 6.83 $ 45.84 $ 95,340
Wichita, KS 110 0.37 5.00 $ 31.58 $ 65,680
Kansas City, MO-KS 370 0.36 4.84 $ 44.48 $ 92,510
Sioux Falls, SD 40 0.28 3.75 $ 34.83 $ 72,440
Corpus Christi, TX 40 0.24 3.31 $ 41.11 $ 85,500
Salt Lake City, UT 170 0.24 3.22 $ 42.65 $ 88,710
Lubbock, TX 30 0.22 3.06 $ 39.49 $ 82,130
Reno, NV 50 0.22 3.01 $ 50.58 $ 105,210
Oklahoma City, OK 130 0.22 3.00 $ 51.13 $ 106,360




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)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 410 0.07 0.96 $ 61.59 $ 128,100
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 50 0.02 0.26 $ 59.17 $ 123,080
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC 40 0.06 0.83 $ 58.27 $ 121,200
Richmond, VA 30 0.05 0.74 $ 56.23 $ 116,950
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA (8) (8) (8) $ 55.88 $ 116,230
Urban Honolulu, HI 60 0.13 1.81 $ 55.01 $ 114,430
Boulder, CO (8) (8) (8) $ 54.68 $ 113,740
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 150 0.05 0.69 $ 54.36 $ 113,070
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 580 0.19 2.63 $ 53.87 $ 112,050
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (8) (8) (8) $ 53.21 $ 110,680

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 30 0.09 1.23 $ 42.81 $ 89,050
South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area 30 0.22 3.01 $ 45.61 $ 94,860

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)
South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area 30 0.22 3.01 $ 45.61 $ 94,860
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 30 0.09 1.23 $ 42.81 $ 89,050

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 0.22 3.01 $ 45.61 $ 94,860
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 30 0.09 1.23 $ 42.81 $ 89,050
Alaska nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 41.53 $ 86,380


About May 2020 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.

(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 2020 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2021