How much do Atmospheric and Space Scientists make?
Atmospheric and Space Scientists earn a median annual salary of $99,070 in the United States, which works out to roughly $47.63 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $53,060 at the entry level and $161,890 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $73,350 and $129,960 a year.
That is $37,680 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary range by percentile
Half of all Atmospheric and Space Scientists earn between $73,350 and $129,960 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,060 | $25.51 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $73,350 | $35.26 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $99,070 | $47.63 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $129,960 | $62.48 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,890 | $77.83 |
Highest-paying states for Atmospheric and Space Scientists
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Maryland leads the country for Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay at $128,800 a year, followed by California ($124,920) and Hawaii ($121,010). At the other end, New Hampshire posts the lowest median at $42,820 — a gap of $85,980 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $128,800 | $61.92 | +30% |
| 2 | California | $124,920 | $60.06 | +26% |
| 3 | Hawaii | $121,010 | $58.18 | +22% |
| 4 | New Jersey | $120,180 | $57.78 | +21% |
| 5 | Idaho | $119,430 | $57.42 | +21% |
Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 47 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 10,000 people work as Atmospheric and Space Scientists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $106,110 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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Related salaries
Other science roles with similar pay.