As of April 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Meteorologist in the United States is $65, which translates to an annual salary of about $136,020.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
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A Meteorologist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Meteorologist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Botanist | 0-0 years | $77,594 |
| Hydrologist | 4-7 years | $112,884 |
| Meteorologist | 7+ years | $136,020 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Meteorologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Customer Service | 9.43% |
| Assembler | 2.14% |
| Programming | 1.8% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Commitment
|
$148,262 |
9%
|
|
Verbal Communication
|
$145,541 |
7%
|
|
Python
|
$145,541 |
7%
|
|
Technical Skills
|
$144,181 |
6%
|
|
Coordination
|
$142,821 |
5%
|
|
Collaboration
|
$141,461 |
4%
|
Understanding how a Meteorologist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Last Updated on April 01, 2026Salaries for a Meteorologist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $104,117 in 2023 to around $100,557 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Meteorologist salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
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|
| 2023 | $104,117 |
| 2024 | $102,026 |
| 2025 | $100,557 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
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Investigates, integrates and analyzes meteorological data from a variety of sources, including surface and air stations, satellites, and radar to prepare reports and forecasts for public and other uses. Analyzes weather model guidance and issues specialized hazardous weather forecasts when warranted. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. Work is highly independent. May assume a team lead role for the work group. A specialist on complex technical and business matters. Typically requires 7+ years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Customer Service: Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Assembler: An assembler is a program that takes basic computer instructions and converts them into a pattern of bits that the computer's processor can use to perform its basic operations.
Programming: Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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