Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary in the U.S.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists in the U.S. earn a median of $99,070 a year ($47.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,000 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,890 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $106,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for atmospheric and space scientists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,060 | $25.51 |
| 25th percentile | $73,350 | $35.26 |
| Median | $99,070 | $47.63 |
| 75th percentile | $129,960 | $62.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,890 | $77.83 |
| Average (mean) | $106,110 | $51.01 |
Half of atmospheric and space scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,255.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,127.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,810.38 |
| Weekly | $1,905.19 |
| Hourly | $47.63 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $128,800 | 750 |
| California | $124,920 | 510 |
| Hawaii | $121,010 | 70 |
| New Jersey | $120,180 | 60 |
| Idaho | $119,430 | 50 |
| New York | $117,540 | 370 |
| Florida | $115,960 | 270 |
| Arizona | $115,020 | 80 |
| Missouri | $114,230 | 160 |
| Illinois | $112,280 | 110 |
| Oregon | $112,260 | 100 |
| New Mexico | $110,070 | 60 |
| Kansas | $109,300 | 80 |
| Nevada | $109,300 | 120 |
| Montana | $108,890 | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $108,050 | n/a |
| Minnesota | $106,270 | 50 |
| Colorado | $104,670 | 1,150 |
| District of Columbia | $103,860 | 70 |
| Maine | $103,710 | 50 |
| Indiana | $103,680 | 80 |
| Kentucky | $103,240 | 100 |
| Michigan | $103,210 | 150 |
| Wyoming | $99,940 | 40 |
| Louisiana | $97,470 | 70 |
| Georgia | $96,820 | 170 |
| Utah | $96,520 | 170 |
| Tennessee | $96,190 | 230 |
| Washington | $94,400 | 190 |
| Alaska | $94,380 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $91,560 | 170 |
| North Dakota | $91,560 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $85,870 | 280 |
| Connecticut | $85,110 | 50 |
| Texas | $84,990 | 720 |
| Virginia | $83,880 | 350 |
| South Carolina | $82,240 | 150 |
| Alabama | $81,080 | 340 |
| West Virginia | $80,690 | 40 |
| South Dakota | $78,900 | 130 |
| Ohio | $78,580 | 160 |
| Iowa | $76,850 | 100 |
| Oklahoma | $76,480 | 420 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,890 | 160 |
| Arkansas | $71,940 | n/a |
| Puerto Rico | $63,910 | 40 |
| Nebraska | $60,540 | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $42,820 | 130 |
Best-paying metro areas for atmospheric and space scientists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $151,000 | 30 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $134,060 | 70 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $133,490 | 50 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $128,800 | 270 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $128,790 | 260 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $127,070 | 40 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $125,590 | 30 |
| Boise City, ID | $122,930 | 30 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $122,880 | 70 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $122,700 | 110 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $122,280 | 30 |
| Boulder, CO | $121,870 | 620 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $120,370 | 50 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $117,810 | 100 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $117,600 | 700 |
Metro areas with the most atmospheric and space scientists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 700 | $117,600 |
| Boulder, CO | 620 | $121,870 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 270 | $128,800 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 270 | $76,480 |
| Anchorage, AK | 260 | $101,640 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 260 | $128,790 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 250 | $110,960 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 240 | $88,570 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 220 | $111,790 |
| Huntsville, AL | 180 | $81,080 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 140 | $92,790 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 130 | $103,080 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 130 | $78,950 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 130 | $100,650 |
| Madison, WI | 120 | $107,970 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
| Chemist | $91,240 | $43.87 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $101,920 | $49.00 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $122,570 | $58.93 |
| Physicist | $172,250 | $82.81 |
| Materials Scientist | $117,790 | $56.63 |
| Hydrologist | $96,600 | $46.44 |
| Astronomer | $128,820 | $61.94 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $100,580 | $48.36 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 | $27.65 |
| School Psychologist | $95,990 | $46.15 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a atmospheric and space scientists make in the U.S.?
The median salary for atmospheric and space scientists in the U.S. is $99,070 a year, or $47.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid atmospheric and space scientists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of atmospheric and space scientists in the U.S. earn at least $161,890 a year. The top 25% earn $129,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for atmospheric and space scientists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,060 a year, and a quarter of atmospheric and space scientists earn $73,350 or less.
How many atmospheric and space scientists work in the U.S.?
About 10,000 atmospheric and space scientists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.