Atmospheric and Space Scientists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for atmospheric and space scientists is $99,070, or $47.63 per hour. About 10,000 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $128,800 in Maryland to $42,820 in New Hampshire.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 47 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $128,800 | $61.92 | 750 | 4.21 |
| 2 | California | $124,920 | $60.06 | 510 | 0.43 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $121,010 | $58.18 | 70 | 1.69 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $120,180 | $57.78 | 60 | 0.20 |
| 5 | Idaho | $119,430 | $57.42 | 50 | 0.96 |
| 6 | New York | $117,540 | $56.51 | 370 | 0.59 |
| 7 | Florida | $115,960 | $55.75 | 270 | 0.43 |
| 8 | Arizona | $115,020 | $55.30 | 80 | 0.36 |
| 9 | Missouri | $114,230 | $54.92 | 160 | 0.83 |
| 10 | Illinois | $112,280 | $53.98 | 110 | 0.27 |
| 11 | Oregon | $112,260 | $53.97 | 100 | 0.82 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $110,070 | $52.92 | 60 | 1.03 |
| 13 | Nevada | $109,300 | $52.55 | 120 | 1.19 |
| 14 | Kansas | $109,300 | $52.55 | 80 | 0.89 |
| 15 | Montana | $108,890 | $52.35 | 70 | 2.12 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $108,050 | $51.95 | — | — |
| 17 | Minnesota | $106,270 | $51.09 | 50 | 0.29 |
| 18 | Colorado | $104,670 | $50.32 | 1,150 | 6.22 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $103,860 | $49.93 | 70 | 1.64 |
| 20 | Maine | $103,710 | $49.86 | 50 | 1.15 |
| 21 | Indiana | $103,680 | $49.85 | 80 | 0.37 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $103,240 | $49.63 | 100 | 0.77 |
| 23 | Michigan | $103,210 | $49.62 | 150 | 0.54 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $99,940 | $48.05 | 40 | 2.22 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $97,470 | $46.86 | 70 | 0.60 |
| 26 | Georgia | $96,820 | $46.55 | 170 | 0.54 |
| 27 | Utah | $96,520 | $46.41 | 170 | 1.50 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $96,190 | $46.25 | 230 | 1.11 |
| 29 | Washington | $94,400 | $45.39 | 190 | 0.82 |
| 30 | Alaska | $94,380 | $45.38 | — | — |
| 31 | North Dakota | $91,560 | $44.02 | 40 | 1.51 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $91,560 | $44.02 | 170 | 0.53 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $85,870 | $41.29 | 280 | 1.49 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $85,110 | $40.92 | 50 | 0.41 |
| 35 | Texas | $84,990 | $40.86 | 720 | 0.80 |
| 36 | Virginia | $83,880 | $40.33 | 350 | 1.31 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $82,240 | $39.54 | 150 | 0.99 |
| 38 | Alabama | $81,080 | $38.98 | 340 | 2.49 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $80,690 | $38.80 | 40 | 0.95 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $78,900 | $37.93 | 130 | 4.46 |
| 41 | Ohio | $78,580 | $37.78 | 160 | 0.46 |
| 42 | Iowa | $76,850 | $36.95 | 100 | 1.03 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $76,480 | $36.77 | 420 | 3.78 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | $75,890 | $36.48 | 160 | 0.41 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $71,940 | $34.59 | — | — |
| 46 | Nebraska | $60,540 | $29.11 | 160 | 2.44 |
| 47 | New Hampshire | $42,820 | $20.59 | 130 | 3.00 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make?
The median annual wage for atmospheric and space scientists in the United States is $99,070, or $47.63 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $53,060, and the top 10% earn $161,890.
How many atmospheric and space scientists are employed in the U.S.?
About 10,000 people work as atmospheric and space scientists nationwide.
Which state pays atmospheric and space scientists the most?
Maryland pays the most at a median of $128,800, followed by California ($124,920) and Hawaii ($121,010).
Which state pays atmospheric and space scientists the least?
New Hampshire has the lowest median at $42,820.
Where are atmospheric and space scientists jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Colorado at 6.22×.