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Meteorologist Salary in the United States

How much does a Meteorologist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Meteorologist in the United States is $136,175 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $65.

However, a Meteorologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $160,306
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $121,449 to $148,806
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $108,042
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Meteorologist Salaries

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.

How Experience Level Affects Meteorologist Salaries?

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:

  • Botanist (0-0 years): $78,266
  • Hydrologist (4-7 years): $113,023
  • Meteorologist (7+ years): $136,175
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Botanist0-0 years$78,266
Hydrologist4-7 years$113,023
Meteorologist7+ years$136,175
View as Graph

How Do Meteorologists Salaries Vary from State to State?

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:
  • District of Columbia: $150,773.
  • California: $150,201.
  • Massachusetts: $148,199.

Top Paying Cities for Meteorologist

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $171,758
  • San Francisco: $169,877
  • Oakland: $166,297

What Skills Can Increase a Meteorologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 9.43% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 2.14% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 1.8% Job Postings): Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 9.43%
Assembler 2.14%
Programming 1.8%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Meteorologist's salary.

  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Python: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment $148,431
9%
Verbal Communication $145,707
7%
Python $145,707
7%
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Meteorologist Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Meteorologist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $149,930. While startup companies pay approximate $126,913.

Meteorologist Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $126,913
Growth Stage 51~500 $134,203
Established 501~5000 $144,803
Enterprise 5000+ $149,930

Meteorologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Meteorologist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Meteorologist positions in Transportation or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Meteorologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Meteorologist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$163,410$79.020%
Aerospace & Defense$149,792$72.010%
Financial Services$142,984$69.05%

Meteorologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

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 September 01, 2026
$121,449
Average $136,175/year
$148,806
$10,121
Average $11,348/month
$12,401
$2,336
Average $2,619/week
$2,862
$58
Average $65/hour
$72
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $148,806 $12,401 $2,862 $72
Average $136,175 $11,348 $2,619 $65
25th Percentile $121,449 $10,121 $2,336 $58

Meteorologist Salary Growth & Career Path

Meteorologist

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Meteorologist, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Biologist IV $120,886 -11%
Geologist IV $109,123 -20%
Geophysicist IV $156,295 15%
Hydrologist IV $143,029 5%

Most common benefits for Meteorologist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Meteorologist

Here are companies hiring for Meteorologist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Meteorologist

1. Where can a Meteorologist earn the most?

A Meteorologist's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Meteorologist earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Meteorologist is $171,758.

2. What is the highest pay for Meteorologist?

The highest pay for Meteorologist is $160,306.

3. What is the lowest pay for Meteorologist?

The lowest pay for Meteorologist is $108,042.

4. What are the responsibilities of Meteorologist?

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 generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Meteorologist?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Meteorologist roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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