Career Explorer Science
Changing shape
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.
Among the careers AI is changing fastest: more resilient than 11% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is very high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it very high), and US jobs are projected to change by +2.6% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on creative vision.
AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.
- Median pay (2025)
- $99,070
- Job growth to 2035
- +2.6%
- Openings a year
- 800
- People doing it (2025)
- 10,700
- Usual route in
- Bachelor's degree
Where people already use AI for this work
- Provide information or assistance to the public
- Research issues related to earth sciences
- Present research or technical information
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Collect environmental or biological samples
- Analyze data to improve operations
- Investigate the environmental impact of industrial or development activities
What the work looks like
- Develop or use mathematical or computer models for weather forecasting.
- Interpret data, reports, maps, photographs, or charts to predict long- or short-range weather conditions, using computer models and knowledge of climate theory, physics, and mathematics.
- Conduct meteorological research into the processes or determinants of atmospheric phenomena, weather, or climate.
- Formulate predictions by interpreting environmental data, such as meteorological, atmospheric, oceanic, paleoclimate, climate, or related information.
- Broadcast weather conditions, forecasts, or severe weather warnings to the public via television, radio, or the Internet or provide this information to the news media.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Environmental scientists and specialists, including healthGrows with AI, Index 34, +6.1%
- Database architectsGrows with AI, Index 13, +9.4%
- Data scientistsGrows with AI, Index 22, +34.6%
- StatisticiansGrows with AI, Index 20, +11.0%
Also known as: Forecaster, General Forecaster, Meteorologist, Research Meteorologist, Broadcast Meteorologist, Hydrometeorological Technician (Hydrometeorological Tech), Ocean Monitoring and Data Assimilation Scientist, Service Hydrologist.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.