With the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting growth better than the national average, meteorology is an attractive career option for future professionals searching for an interesting and exciting career. Although many people associate the profession with the weathermen that they see on television, only about 7% of working meteorologists are employed in broadcast television, although those that do earn a meteorologist salary above the industry median. In fact, the most common employer of meteorologists in the United States is the federal government, giving the industry a measure of stability and impacting the positive job growth outlook.
Meteorologists, also known as weathermen or atmospheric scientists, are involved in weather prediction using a variety of equipment, and with the assistance of other scientists and technicians. A career in meteorology offers an opportunity to provide an important service to the community and the government. It may be a good choice for those interested in science and those with an interest in utilizing the latest weather prediction technology from satellites and computers.
Job Description and Outlook
There is a lot of variability in the salary that meteorologists earn though the salary is only one of the measures that should be taken into account when selecting a career. Other variables like job growth, opportunity for advancement, diversity in the nature of daily work, and interest in the subject are perhaps just as important. A career in meteorology ticks a lot of boxes for many people as it combines a career with both a technological and a social component with a very reasonable salary and potential to earn more, considering the education requirements.
Many think they have an idea of the work that a meteorologist does, which will naturally be influenced by the highly visible weathermen that we see on television. Meteorologists temperature and other atmospheric properties in order to make predictions about the weather. They work with the aid of satellite data and computers and often work in teams. Meteorologists that work in the broadcast television sphere may work in the research that prepares forecast information and weather maps for other meteorologists that appear on television.
Although broadcast television is only one of several areas in which the meteorologist may be employed, it is a popular choice for aspiring meteorologists, and many enter the industry hoping to one day gain entry into this field. There is some variability even within the broadcast television sphere, actually, with the meteorologist salary for weathermen on TV being influenced by factors like location, size of the market, and the number of years of experience. It should not be surprising that meteorologists with national exposure and 20 or more years of experience can expect to earn a higher meteorologist salary.
TV stations are broken up into markets, which is important for the potential meteorologist to know as the market will influence pay and the type of tasks that meteorologists perform. Not all meteorologists appear on camera, and even those that do may have other tasks, especially in smaller markets. There are more than 200 markets in the United States, ranging from large cities like New York City or Chicago to smaller markets in the Midwest and South.
The meteorologist salary based on the market will be discussed later, but meteorologists in the largest 25 markets make, on average, more than twice what meteorologists make in smaller markets, according to data.
Certain abilities are important to attain a successful career in the industry. Meteorologists duties will naturally vary based on their place of employment, but they often have to present weather data to people who are not familiar with the atmospheric sciences, so the ability to communicate is important. Meteorologists also need to be able to accurately interpret information as well as present information as accurately as possible. Because much of the weather prediction technology involves colors, meteorologists need to be able to perceive the full spectrum of colors.
Again, meteorologists duties will vary based on the area of employment, and may even vary within the place of employment, in the case of broadcast television, although duties can generally be broken down into the following areas:
- Collect data and identify data sources for the purposes of weather production
- Merge data for the purpose of weather prediction
- Analyze and interpret weather data received from various sources
- Produce reports based on received weather data
- Create color graphics and other visualizations to communicate weather information
- Communicate information to the public or to other individuals with a background outside in meteorology
The meteorologist may work with other meteorologists, writers, producers, or other people in the broadcast television sphere, or with others from a wide variety of backgrounds. Meteorologists working for the government might collect data and make weather predictions for the purposes of agricultural. Not all data is new data received by satellite, as meteorologists may also be expected to analyze historical data for weather prediction purposes, or for other reasons.
In terms of the day-to-day life of the meteorologist, because of the unpredictable nature of the weather, meteorologists may work odd hours and may have to work late nights and weekends. Hours outside of a 9 to 5 schedule may be required depending on the nature of the meteorologist’s position. Meteorologists may often be expected to work outside of the office and may rotate shifts with other meteorologists. Meteorologists that choose to work as consultants may have a more typical full-time schedule, depending on the nature of their work.
Education Requirements
There are several exciting aspects of a career in meteorology, including the ability to be involved in an industry that is constantly advancing with new satellite technology. Another upside to a meteorology career, besides the attractive meteorology salary, is the very reasonable education requirement. Most meteorologists have a bachelor’s degree in atmospheric science, meteorology, or related subjects.
With the possession of a bachelor’s degree, the meteorologist has an open door to a career in broadcast television or working for the government, depending on where their interest lies. Many students of atmospheric science do consider working for television stations though most eventually pursue government work.
Common subjects of study in a bachelor’s degree programs in this field include:
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Atmospheric dynamics
- Instrumentation
- Physical meteorology
- Weather systems
Because broadcast television is the goal of many individuals pursuing a career in this industry, communication skills may be an important component of educational preparation for some meteorologists. A component of communication in this setting is good mastery of the English language and public speaking skills. This will allow the meteorologist to communicate effectively with the audience while also being able to attract and maintain the audience’s attention.
Certification and licensing are not standard components of this industry. There are voluntary certifications available, but most meteorologists are able to achieve success in the industry with the basic educational training that comes along with a bachelor’s degree in atmospheric science or a related field. The meteorologist salary is not impacted by licensing or certification and is more related to factors like location and years of experience, which will be discussed later. Meteorologists interested in teaching may consider furthering their education with a higher level of degree, like a master’s or doctorate.
There is some overlap between atmospheric science and other science fields. A related field to meteorology is geoscience. The geoscientist studies the physical aspects of the Earth in much the same way that a meteorologist studies weather. Mathematicians and physicists also overlap with meteorologists in the areas that they study and in their education and training.
Meteorologist Salary
The average meteorologist salary varies by years of experience, with a meteorologist with less than five years’ experience expecting to earn about $50,000 a year. Some meteorologists make less, with professionals working for small stations making about $36,000, while those working for larger stations making much more. The meteorologist salary is quite variable, with the normal range being between $32,734 and $100,562. Again, meteorologists may potentially make much more, with weathermen in the top 25 markets making more than $125,000 per year and weathermen with national exposure making even more than that.
Salary is impacted by the number of years of experience and employer, along with other variables. It may surprise some to learn that federal government jobs pay well in this industry, averaging about $88,000. Federal jobs include working for the National Weather Service or the Department of Agriculture. Some meteorologists may also work for the military, and a typical military job may pay in the $50,000 to $60,000 range. Again, salary varies by location, even outside of the realm of broadcast television. Cities like Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Denver pay above the national average.
Conclusion
With the option of working in various arenas, including broadcast television, the meteorologist can look forward to an exciting career that is constantly being updated with new technology. Job growth in the industry is expected to be above the national average, so the industry is expected to grow, and there is room for new professionals looking to make their mark working for the government or as weathermen on television. The basic requirement for work in the industry is a bachelor’s degree, and considering this requirement, the compensation for workers in the field is quite reasonable.