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Boston Career Explorer

Life, Physical, and Social Science

Atmospheric and Space Scientists

Investigate atmospheric phenomena and interpret meteorological data, gathered by surface and air stations, satellites, and radar to prepare reports and forecasts for public and other uses. Includes weather analysts and forecasters whose functions require the detailed knowledge of meteorology.

Also called: Broadcast Meteorologist, Forecaster, General Forecaster, Hydrometeorological Technician (Hydrometeorological Tech), Meteorologist, Ocean Monitoring and Data Assimilation Scientist

Median pay in Greater Boston
$108,040
$51.94/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
Not published
Massachusetts 2024–2034
Not published
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$71,290$75,640$108,040$156,220$162,340

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Develop or use mathematical or computer models for weather forecasting.
  • Interpret data, reports, maps, photographs, or charts to predict long- or short-range weather conditions, using computer models and knowledge of climate theory, physics, and mathematics.
  • Conduct meteorological research into the processes or determinants of atmospheric phenomena, weather, or climate.
  • Formulate predictions by interpreting environmental data, such as meteorological, atmospheric, oceanic, paleoclimate, climate, or related information.
  • Broadcast weather conditions, forecasts, or severe weather warnings to the public via television, radio, or the Internet or provide this information to the news media.
  • Prepare forecasts or briefings to meet the needs of industry, business, government, or other groups.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure91 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 94
  • Language-model AIOE 85
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 93

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

This job has higher AI exposure, which means AI tools can help with or change many of its tasks. Observed AI use is currently at a "some" level. Tools can help build weather models and sort through large amounts of data, while the scientific judgment behind forecasts and warnings, and the work of explaining them to the public, still depend on people.

Likely to change

  • Running and updating weather forecast models
  • Sorting and reading large sets of weather data

Still relies on people

  • Judging forecasts and severe weather risks
  • Explaining warnings clearly to the public

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

2 programs near Boston (plus 1 graduate)

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