Atmospheric and Space Scientists
SOC Code: 19-2021 Job Zone 4: Considerable Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Atmospheric and Space Scientists. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $75,026 | $128,066 | $181,085 | $234,125 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $76,128 | $122,366 | $168,605 | $214,843 |
| Rockford, IL | $58,635 | $110,469 | $162,302 | $214,136 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $73,174 | $117,915 | $162,677 | $207,418 |
| Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $72,925 | $117,333 | $161,762 | $206,170 |
| Kankakee, IL | $67,933 | $112,715 | $157,477 | $202,259 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $59,197 | $105,269 | $151,320 | $197,392 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $58,968 | $103,813 | $148,658 | $193,502 |
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $59,925 | $100,776 | $141,627 | $182,478 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $61,110 | $99,694 | $138,299 | $176,883 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| University Corporation for Atmospheric Research | 51 | $97,584 |
| Battelle Memorial Institute | 39 | $102,399 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | 19 | $84,198 |
| University of Oklahoma | 17 | $70,531 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO | 15 | $96,800 |
| Brookhaven National Laboratory | 15 | $110,360 |
| Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC | 14 | $119,076 |
| THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | 13 | $66,731 |
| Columbia University | 12 | $76,584 |
| University of Maryland College Park | 11 | $102,960 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 26 | $75,499 |
| 2021 | 25 | $87,372 |
| 2022 | 35 | $81,237 |
| 2023 | 60 | $98,651 |
| 2024 | 117 | $89,585 |
| 2025 | 157 | $96,098 |
| 2026 | 44 | $101,401 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 | |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | |
| Speaking | 4.0 | |
| Active Learning | 4.0 | |
| Science | 4.0 | |
| Writing | 3.9 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 | |
| Mathematics | 3.4 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | 4.4 |
| Physics | 4.4 |
| Geography | 4.4 |
| Computers and Electronics | 4.2 |
| English Language | 3.8 |
| Communications and Media | 3.2 |
| Chemistry | 3.0 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.0 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 60.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 20.0% |
| Post-first professional | 15.0% |
| Other | 5.0% |
Typical Tasks
- 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.
- Gather data from sources such as surface or upper air stations, satellites, weather bureaus, or radar for use in meteorological reports or forecasts.
- Prepare forecasts or briefings to meet the needs of industry, business, government, or other groups.
- Measure wind, temperature, and humidity in the upper atmosphere, using weather balloons.
- Analyze climate data sets, using techniques such as geophysical fluid dynamics, data assimilation, or numerical modeling.
- Formulate predictions by interpreting environmental data, such as meteorological, atmospheric, oceanic, paleoclimate, climate, or related information.
- Perform managerial duties, such as creating work schedules, creating or implementing staff training, matching staff expertise to situations, or analyzing performance of offices.
- Consult with other offices, agencies, professionals, or researchers regarding the use and interpretation of climatological information for weather predictions and warnings.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Adobe Photoshop C++ Facebook IBM SPSS Statistics Linux Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word Perl Python R
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