How much does an atmospheric and space scientist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $47.63 an hour or $8,256 a month.
- Hourly
- $47.63
- Average (mean)
- $106,100
- Jobs
- 10,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $53,060 | $25.51 | |
| 25th | $73,350 | $35.26 | |
| Median | $99,070 | $47.63 | |
| 75th | $130,000 | $62.48 | |
| 90th | $161,900 | $77.83 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Maryland | $128,800 |
| California | $124,900 |
| Hawaii | $121,000 |
| New Jersey | $120,200 |
| Idaho | $119,400 |
| New York | $117,500 |
| Florida | $116,000 |
| Arizona | $115,000 |
| Missouri | $114,200 |
| Illinois | $112,300 |
| Oregon | $112,300 |
| New Mexico | $110,100 |
| Kansas | $109,300 |
| Nevada | $109,300 |
| Montana | $108,900 |
| Massachusetts | $108,100 |
| Minnesota | $106,300 |
| Colorado | $104,700 |
| District of Columbia | $103,900 |
| Maine | $103,700 |
| Indiana | $103,700 |
| Kentucky | $103,200 |
| Michigan | $103,200 |
| Wyoming | $99,940 |
| Louisiana | $97,470 |
| Georgia | $96,820 |
| Utah | $96,520 |
| Tennessee | $96,190 |
| Washington | $94,400 |
| Alaska | $94,380 |
| North Carolina | $91,560 |
| North Dakota | $91,560 |
| Wisconsin | $85,870 |
| Connecticut | $85,110 |
| Texas | $84,990 |
| Virginia | $83,880 |
| South Carolina | $82,240 |
| Alabama | $81,080 |
| West Virginia | $80,690 |
| South Dakota | $78,900 |
| Ohio | $78,580 |
| Iowa | $76,850 |
| Oklahoma | $76,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,890 |
| Arkansas | $71,940 |
| Nebraska | $60,540 |
| New Hampshire | $42,820 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Francisco, CA | $151,000 |
| Albany, NY | $134,100 |
| Chicago, IL | $133,500 |
| Baltimore, MD | $128,800 |
| New York, NY | $128,800 |
| Detroit, MI | $127,100 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $125,600 |
| Boise City, ID | $122,900 |
| Honolulu, HI | $122,900 |
| Miami, FL | $122,700 |
| Tampa, FL | $122,300 |
| Boulder, CO | $121,900 |
| San Diego, CA | $120,400 |
| Kansas City, MO | $117,800 |
| Washington, DC | $117,600 |
In other countries
Atmospheric and Space Scientist belongs to the international group "Meteorologists".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Astronomer$128,800
- Physicist$172,300
- Chemist$91,240
- Materials Scientist$117,800
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist$82,220
- Geoscientist$101,900
- Hydrologist$96,600
- Physical Scientist$122,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does an atmospheric and space scientist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $47.63 ($99,070 a year).
How much does an atmospheric and space scientist make a month?
About $8,256 a month before tax, based on a median of $99,070 a year.
How much does an atmospheric and space scientist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $53,060 or less a year ($25.51 an hour); the top 10% make $161,900 or more.
Which state pays atmospheric and space scientists the most?
Maryland, with a median of $128,800 a year, followed by California ($124,900) and Hawaii ($121,000).
Which city pays atmospheric and space scientists the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median of $151,000 a year.
How many atmospheric and space scientists are there in the United States?
About 10,000 people work as atmospheric and space scientists.
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.