What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Atmospheric and Space Scientists in the U.S. earn more than $99,070 a year — the middle 80% land between $53,060 and $161,890. About 10,000 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Atmospheric and Space Scientists”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$99,070typical pay / year
10,000people in this work
$161,890+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Analysing6
Interpret meteorological data
+Interpret the latest radiosonde and satellite sounder readings for the northeast Pacific, identify anomalous…
Interpret meteorological data
+Interpret the latest radiosonde and satellite sounder readings for the northeast Pacific, identify anomalous temperature and humidity layers, estimate their impact on cloud formation over Vancouver Island in the next 48 hours, and summarise methods and confidence in two short paragraphs.
The tools that do the workIBM SPSS StatisticsESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Report current weather conditions
+Write a concise report of current weather at the studio: surface temperature, wind speed and direction, sky…
Report current weather conditions
+Write a concise report of current weather at the studio: surface temperature, wind speed and direction, sky cover, and significant hazards for the next six hours, include the observation time, station name, and one-sentence recommendation for an outdoor shoot this afternoon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Compile atmospheric data for research
+Gather the past ten days of radiosonde, surface station, and satellite-derived ozone and humidity data for…
Compile atmospheric data for research
+Gather the past ten days of radiosonde, surface station, and satellite-derived ozone and humidity data for the Cascadia region, merge into a single table organised by UTC timestamp and variable, flag missing values, and export a clean CSV ready for analysis.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsWikipedia
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Investigate atmospheric phenomena
+Examine the radar, lidar, and satellite imagery from the last 72 hours over the strait of Juan de Fuca,…
Investigate atmospheric phenomena
+Examine the radar, lidar, and satellite imagery from the last 72 hours over the strait of Juan de Fuca, identify any gravity waves or noctilucent cloud signatures, note probable generation mechanisms, and draft three bullet-point hypotheses to test with follow-up measurements.
The tools that do the workLinuxjob descriptionsO*NET
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Compile data and prepare reports
+Produce a two-page report summarising the latest atmospheric sounding composites, surface observations and…
Compile data and prepare reports
+Produce a two-page report summarising the latest atmospheric sounding composites, surface observations and forecast model output for the channel islands project, include a one-paragraph methods appendix listing data sources and a table of key metrics: CAPE, CIN, precipitable water.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCOjob descriptions
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Develop new data collection instruments
+Design and describe a prototype airborne humidity sensor for low-cost sounding launches: list required…
Develop new data collection instruments
+Design and describe a prototype airborne humidity sensor for low-cost sounding launches: list required sensors, sampling rate, expected accuracy, power and weight budget, and an outline test plan including three field tests over coastal waters.
The tools that do the workC++ESCOjob descriptions
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The daily work17
Estimate or predict the effects of global warming over time for specific geographic regions.
+Estimate how global warming will change temperature, precipitation, and sea-level rise for the US Northeast,…
Estimate or predict the effects of global warming over time for specific geographic regions.
+Estimate how global warming will change temperature, precipitation, and sea-level rise for the US Northeast, the Amazon basin, and coastal Bangladesh from 2030 to 2100 using historical station data, CMIP6 scenario RCP8.5 and RCP4.5 ensembles, and publish a one-page scriptable summary with uncertainty ranges and key impacts for cities and agriculture by July 10.
The tools that do the workIBM SPSS StatisticsMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Analyze satellite imagery
+Analyze the latest satellite passes over Hurricane-prone Atlantic zones and the West Pacific, flag developing…
Analyze satellite imagery
+Analyze the latest satellite passes over Hurricane-prone Atlantic zones and the West Pacific, flag developing convective clusters, produce a geolocated list of bounding boxes with cloud-top temperature trends and likely storm genesis within 48 hours, and attach the imagery frames that show the evolution.
The tools that do the workLinuxjob descriptions
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Write Python scripts for data processing
+Write Python scripts that ingest GOES and Sentinel CSV telemetry, clean timestamps and missing readings,…
Write Python scripts for data processing
+Write Python scripts that ingest GOES and Sentinel CSV telemetry, clean timestamps and missing readings, compute daily means and anomalies for surface temperature and humidity, output NetCDF monthly aggregates with metadata and a reproducible README, then run a unit test on a sample month.
The tools that do the workC++job descriptions
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Generate weather graphics for users
+Create a set of audience-ready weather graphics: animated temperature anomaly maps, a three-panel forecast…
Generate weather graphics for users
+Create a set of audience-ready weather graphics: animated temperature anomaly maps, a three-panel forecast for Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia with colorblind-safe palettes, and one vertical for social that highlights the next seven days' extremes, export ready for upload.
The tools that do the workAdobe PhotoshopMicrosoft PowerPointjob descriptions
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Calibrate remote sensing equipment
+Calibrate the remote infrared radiometer before tomorrow's overpass: run dark-current and warm-target tests,…
Calibrate remote sensing equipment
+Calibrate the remote infrared radiometer before tomorrow's overpass: run dark-current and warm-target tests, apply the lab-derived gain curve, log offsets and uncertainty for each detector channel, and schedule a validation flight over the calibration site for next Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Collaborate with environmental data analysts
+Coordinate with the environmental data team to merge their air quality and land-cover datasets with my…
Collaborate with environmental data analysts
+Coordinate with the environmental data team to merge their air quality and land-cover datasets with my temperature anomalies: list needed variable names and units, agree a shared NetCDF schema, set a delivery date of Monday so I can run the joint analysis by Wednesday, and confirm who will QA the merged file.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Collect air samples from monitoring stations
+Collect air samples from the three coastal monitoring stations at dawn, log sampler IDs and start times,…
Collect air samples from monitoring stations
+Collect air samples from the three coastal monitoring stations at dawn, log sampler IDs and start times, confirm chain-of-custody labels, refrigerate bottles within two hours, and upload sample metadata and photos to the lab intake before 10:00 AM.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Prepare forecasts or briefings to meet the needs of industry, business, government, or other groups.
+Draft a tailored three-day industry briefing for coastal shipping companies and the state emergency office,…
Prepare forecasts or briefings to meet the needs of industry, business, government, or other groups.
+Draft a tailored three-day industry briefing for coastal shipping companies and the state emergency office, summarising expected aerosol concentrations, visibility impacts, and recommended operational mitigations, and circulate the PDF to stakeholders by 16:00 tomorrow.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Perform managerial duties, such as creating work schedules, creating or implementing staff training, matching staff expertise to situations, or analyzing performance of offices.
+Create next month's staff rota matching launch and lab skills to weekday balloon flights and weekend sample…
Perform managerial duties, such as creating work schedules, creating or implementing staff training, matching staff expertise to situations, or analyzing performance of offices.
+Create next month's staff rota matching launch and lab skills to weekday balloon flights and weekend sample rounds, schedule one mandatory instrumentation training session for all technicians, and flag any coverage gaps for recruitment by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Measure wind, temperature, and humidity in the upper atmosphere, using weather balloons.
+Prepare two radiosonde flights this week to measure upper-air wind, temperature and humidity profiles, brief…
Measure wind, temperature, and humidity in the upper atmosphere, using weather balloons.
+Prepare two radiosonde flights this week to measure upper-air wind, temperature and humidity profiles, brief the launch crew on payload assembly and flight rules, and upload the processed sounding files and QC notes to the archive within 24 hours of recovery.
The tools that do the workLinuxO*NET
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Teach college-level courses on topics such as atmospheric and space science, meteorology, or global climate change.
+Design and run a validation study comparing lidar wind retrievals to mast and balloon observations over the…
Teach college-level courses on topics such as atmospheric and space science, meteorology, or global climate change.
+Design and run a validation study comparing lidar wind retrievals to mast and balloon observations over the test site this month, calculate bias and RMSE for four wind sectors, and prepare a methods note and results spreadsheet for the project lead.
The tools that do the workIBM SPSS StatisticsMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Conduct wind assessment, integration, or validation studies.
+Prepare the next semester's lecture sequence on atmospheric and space science, produce three problem sets…
Conduct wind assessment, integration, or validation studies.
+Prepare the next semester's lecture sequence on atmospheric and space science, produce three problem sets with worked solutions, schedule guest seminars, and upload the syllabus, slides, and readings to the course page before term registration opens.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft PowerPointO*NET
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Present findings to government agencies
+Prepare a concise briefing packet of our atmospheric loss findings and present them to the Ministry of…
Present findings to government agencies
+Prepare a concise briefing packet of our atmospheric loss findings and present them to the Ministry of Environment and the Space Agency next Tuesday at 10:00, include executive summary, key figures, methodology, uncertainties, and two recommended policy actions.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
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Investigate atmospheric loss due to solar wind
+Run a focused study quantifying atmospheric ions lost to the solar wind over the past decade, compile…
Investigate atmospheric loss due to solar wind
+Run a focused study quantifying atmospheric ions lost to the solar wind over the past decade, compile satellite and model-derived fluxes, produce plots of temporal trends and a short video explainer for peer review by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft PowerPointWikipedia
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Develop theories on atmospheric retention and loss
+Draft three competing theories explaining why small planets retain or lose atmospheres, state the physical…
Develop theories on atmospheric retention and loss
+Draft three competing theories explaining why small planets retain or lose atmospheres, state the physical mechanisms, expected observational signatures, and propose one testable model for each to seek funding by end of month.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordWikipedia
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Evaluate the influence of magnetospheres on atmospheres
+Assess how magnetosphere strength alters atmospheric escape rates across Earth, Mars and a sub-Neptune by…
Evaluate the influence of magnetospheres on atmospheres
+Assess how magnetosphere strength alters atmospheric escape rates across Earth, Mars and a sub-Neptune by comparing magnetic field maps with measured ion outflow, produce a ranked summary and visuals for the lab meeting on Thursday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft PowerPointWikipedia
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Study climate processes
+Compile a focused review of planetary climate processes linking radiative balance, circulation and…
Study climate processes
+Compile a focused review of planetary climate processes linking radiative balance, circulation and surface-atmosphere coupling, include three case studies, uncertainty estimates and reading list for the upcoming course module.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCO
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses