How much does an atmospheric make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $49.60 an hour or $8,598 a month.
- Hourly
- $49.60
- Average (mean)
- $116,000
- Jobs
- 9,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,700 | $28.70 | |
| 25th | $77,260 | $37.14 | |
| Median | $103,200 | $49.60 | |
| 75th | $135,500 | $65.15 | |
| 90th | $203,200 | $97.69 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| California | $133,200 |
| New Jersey | $131,900 |
| New Hampshire | $130,200 |
| Oregon | $128,100 |
| Connecticut | $123,800 |
| Virginia | $119,900 |
| Arizona | $110,600 |
| Massachusetts | $108,900 |
| Maryland | $107,700 |
| Wisconsin | $107,400 |
| New Mexico | $107,000 |
| Nevada | $105,900 |
| Pennsylvania | $105,700 |
| Texas | $105,100 |
| Michigan | $104,800 |
| Oklahoma | $104,300 |
| Washington | $103,100 |
| North Carolina | $103,000 |
| Minnesota | $102,900 |
| Missouri | $102,200 |
| Kansas | $101,800 |
| Wyoming | $100,200 |
| Indiana | $99,970 |
| North Dakota | $98,000 |
| Iowa | $97,660 |
| Utah | $97,240 |
| Kentucky | $95,830 |
| Maine | $95,320 |
| Ohio | $94,890 |
| Georgia | $94,790 |
| New York | $87,350 |
| Illinois | $87,150 |
| Tennessee | $85,020 |
| Florida | $81,980 |
| Alabama | $81,940 |
| West Virginia | $81,850 |
| Colorado | $79,190 |
| Mississippi | $77,670 |
| South Carolina | $76,500 |
| South Dakota | $63,160 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Los Angeles, CA | $175,100 |
| New Haven, CT | $163,900 |
| Riverside, CA | $163,100 |
| College Station, TX | $160,600 |
| San Francisco, CA | $134,700 |
| Amherst Town, MA | $133,700 |
| Seattle, WA | $132,100 |
| Trenton, NJ | $131,900 |
| Austin, TX | $129,100 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $128,700 |
| Portland, OR | $128,100 |
| Sacramento, CA | $127,500 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $125,300 |
| Boston, MA | $124,400 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $123,500 |
In other countries
Atmospheric belongs to the international group "University and higher education teachers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Business Teacher$99,080
- Computer Science Teacher$96,980
- Mathematical Science Teacher$79,940
- Architecture Teacher$96,870
- Engineering Teacher$109,300
- Agricultural Sciences Teacher$98,700
- Biological Science Teacher$84,620
- Forestry and Conservation Science Teacher$101,400
- Chemistry Teacher$93,250
- Environmental Science Teacher$94,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does an atmospheric make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $49.60 ($103,200 a year).
How much does an atmospheric make a month?
About $8,598 a month before tax, based on a median of $103,200 a year.
How much does an atmospheric make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $59,700 or less a year ($28.70 an hour); the top 10% make $203,200 or more.
Which state pays atmospherics the most?
California, with a median of $133,200 a year, followed by New Jersey ($131,900) and New Hampshire ($130,200).
Which city pays atmospherics the most?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, with a median of $175,100 a year.
How many atmospherics are there in the United States?
About 9,900 people work as atmospherics.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.