---

Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology

Types of Degrees Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology Majors Are Earning

Those studying Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	17
Master’s Degree	1

What Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology Majors Need to Know

Studies in Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set built by a Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.1 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.0 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.0 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.0 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.9 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	3.9 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	—
ESRI ArcGIS software	Geographic information system	✓
Adobe Photoshop	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Adobe Acrobat	Document management software	—
IBM SPSS Statistics	Analytical or scientific software	—
R	Object or component oriented development software	✓

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology graduates include:

• Clinical Trials Manager
• Research Coordinator
• Clinical Project Manager
• Climatology Teacher
• Volcanology Teacher
• Geological Science Teacher
• Earth Science Faculty Member
• Professor
• Petrography Teacher
• Earth Science Teacher
• Mineralogy Professor
• Climatology Professor
• Research Professor
• Stratigraphy Teacher
• Hydrometeorology Teacher

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	31.6%
Master’s degree	26.6%
Doctoral degree	14.7%
Post-doctoral training	10.2%
Postsecondary certificate	4.2%
Some college courses	3.4%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	3.1%
High school diploma or equivalent	2.6%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	2.4%
Post-master’s certificate	1.4%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 66.7% of Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	12	66.7%
Men	6	33.3%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	10	55.6%
Asian	2	11.1%
Hispanic or Latino	1	5.6%
Two or More Races	2	11.1%
Race Unknown	1	5.6%
International Students	2	11.1%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$40,631
4 years	$52,102
5 years	$61,596

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $61,596 — roughly 52% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology graduates earn a median of $52,102 four years after completion — roughly 37% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology	40.04
Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics	40.0403
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General	40.0401
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Other	40.0499
Meteorology	40.0404
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other	40.0299
Astronomy	40.0201
Astrophysics	40.0202
Geochemistry and Petrology	40.0606
Geochemistry	40.0602
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other	40.0699

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.