Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$53,060
- 25th Percentile — Junior$73,350
- 50th Percentile — Median$99,070
- 75th Percentile — Senior$129,960
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$161,890
The top 10% of Atmospheric and Space Scientists earn $161,890 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $53,060, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $154,830 | +45.9% |
| Illinois | $147,860 | +39.3% |
| District of Columbia | $143,270 | +35.0% |
| California | $127,330 | +20.0% |
| Maryland | $127,180 | +19.9% |
| Indiana | $125,410 | +18.2% |
| New Jersey | $124,250 | +17.1% |
| Rhode Island (est.) | $122,026 | +15.0% |
| Hawaii | $121,740 | +14.7% |
| Nevada | $121,680 | +14.7% |
| Massachusetts | $119,440 | +12.6% |
| Connecticut | $116,270 | +9.6% |
| Colorado | $115,630 | +9.0% |
| Florida | $114,740 | +8.1% |
| Vermont (est.) | $114,599 | +8.0% |
| Idaho | $113,340 | +6.8% |
| Washington | $113,120 | +6.6% |
| Arizona | $112,930 | +6.4% |
| New Mexico | $112,920 | +6.4% |
| Virginia | $111,970 | +5.5% |
| Minnesota | $111,820 | +5.4% |
| Delaware (est.) | $111,416 | +5.0% |
| Oregon | $111,370 | +5.0% |
| Missouri | $108,510 | +2.3% |
| Kansas | $107,280 | +1.1% |
| Michigan | $106,510 | +0.4% |
| Kentucky | $106,230 | +0.1% |
| Tennessee | $104,300 | -1.7% |
| Maine | $103,910 | -2.1% |
| Montana | $102,700 | -3.2% |
| Louisiana | $102,230 | -3.7% |
| Georgia | $101,890 | -4.0% |
| Wyoming | $100,040 | -5.7% |
| Arkansas | $97,040 | -8.5% |
| Ohio | $96,920 | -8.7% |
| North Dakota | $94,450 | -11.0% |
| Wisconsin | $94,270 | -11.2% |
| Alabama | $93,820 | -11.6% |
| Alaska | $93,570 | -11.8% |
| South Carolina | $93,390 | -12.0% |
| North Carolina | $93,080 | -12.3% |
| Utah | $92,780 | -12.6% |
| Iowa | $89,160 | -16.0% |
| South Dakota | $89,140 | -16.0% |
| Pennsylvania | $88,930 | -16.2% |
| Texas | $86,470 | -18.5% |
| Oklahoma | $86,130 | -18.8% |
| Mississippi (est.) | $84,888 | -20.0% |
| West Virginia | $83,960 | -20.9% |
| Nebraska | $83,250 | -21.5% |
| New Hampshire | $52,790 | -50.2% |
What Factors Affect Atmospheric and Space Scientists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Atmospheric and Space Scientists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: New York pays an average of $154,830, while New Hampshire pays $52,790 — a gap of $102,040 per year.
The middle half of Atmospheric and Space Scientists earn between $73,350 and $129,960 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $53,060, while the top 10% earn more than $161,890.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
- Chemists $100,450/yr United States 5.3% vs this role
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- Conservation Scientists $77,130/yr United States 27.3% vs this role
- Economists $142,130/yr United States +33.9% vs this role
- Sociologists $114,920/yr United States +8.3% vs this role
- Registered Nurses $101,420/yr United States 4.4% vs this role
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Atmospheric and Space Scientists?
The average salary for Atmospheric and Space Scientists in the United States is $106,110 per year, with a median of $99,070.
What is the starting salary for Atmospheric and Space Scientists?
Entry-level Atmospheric and Space Scientists typically earn between $53,060 and $73,350 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Atmospheric and Space Scientists the most?
New York pays Atmospheric and Space Scientists the most at $154,830 per year on average, followed by Illinois ($147,860) and District of Columbia ($143,270).
How much do Atmospheric and Space Scientists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $106,110, Atmospheric and Space Scientists earn approximately $51.01 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Atmospheric and Space Scientists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 10,000 Atmospheric and Space Scientists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $106,110 and a median of $99,070 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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