---

Meteorology

Types of Degrees Meteorology Majors Are Earning

Those studying Meteorology may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Associate’s Degree	2
Bachelor’s Degree	215
Master’s Degree	55
Doctor’s Degree	12

What Meteorology Majors Need to Know

Studies in Meteorology emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Meteorology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Meteorology 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

Skills developed in a Meteorology 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

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Meteorology 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, Meteorology 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 Meteorology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation 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	—
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
R	Object or component oriented development software	✓

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

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Meteorology graduates include:

• Research Coordinator
• Clinical Trials Manager
• Clinical Project Manager
• Adjunct Professor
• Hydrology Teacher
• Geodesy Teacher
• Earth Science Faculty Member
• Climatology Professor
• Oceanography Teacher
• Geomorphology Teacher
• Assistant Professor
• Volcanology Teacher
• Geoscience Professor
• Petrology Teacher
• Earth Science Professor

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Meteorology 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 Meteorology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 64.4% of Meteorology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	101	35.6%
Men	183	64.4%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Meteorology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	226	79.6%
Asian	8	2.8%
Hispanic or Latino	18	6.3%
Black or African American	8	2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1	0.4%
Two or More Races	9	3.2%
Race Unknown	7	2.5%
International Students	7	2.5%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Meteorology Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Meteorology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 Meteorology Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Meteorology 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 Chemistry and Climatology	40.0402
Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics	40.0403
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General	40.0401
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Other	40.0499
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.