METEOROLOGISTS

Nature of the Work

Meteorology is the study of the atmosphere, the air that covers the earth.  Meteorologists study the atmosphere's physical characteristics, motions, and processes, and the way the atmosphere affects the rest of our environment.  The best-known application of this knowledge is in forecasting the weather.  However, weather information and meteorological research also are applied in air-pollution control, agriculture, air and sea transportation, defense, and the study of trends in the earth's climate such as global warming or ozone depletion.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

A bachelor's degree with a major in meteorology or a closely related field with coursework in meteorology is the usual minimum requirement for a beginning job as a meteorologist.

Although positions in operational meteorology are available for those with only a bachelor's degree, obtaining a graduate degree enhances advancement potential.  A master's degree is usually necessary for conducting research and development, and a Ph.D.  is usually required for college teaching.  Students who plan a career in teaching or research and development need not necessarily major in meteorology as an undergraduate.  In fact, a bachelor's degree in mathematics, physics, or engineering is excellent preparation for graduate study in meteorology.

Job Outlook

Employment of meteorologists is expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005.  The National Weather Service, which employs many meteorologists, expects to increase its employment of meteorologists, mainly in its field offices, to improve short-term and local-area weather forecasts.  Although some of these additional jobs are being filled internally through the upgrading of meteorological technicians, there still should be more openings in the National Weather Service in the next 5 years than there have been in the past.  Employment of meteorologists in other parts of the Federal Government is not expected to increase.  Additional jobs will be created in private industry with the increased use of private weather forecasting and meteorological services by farmers, commodity investors, utilities, transportation and construction firms, and radio and TV stations.  For people in these and other areas, even a slight improvement in the detail and accuracy of weather information and forecasts over the general information provided by the National Weather Service can yield significant benefits.  However, because many customers for private weather services are in industries sensitive to fluctuations in the economy, the sales and growth of private weather services depend on the health of the economy.

Earnings

The average salary for meteorologists in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions employed by the Federal Government was $48,266 in 1993.  In 1993, meteorologists in the Federal Government with a bachelor's degree and no experience received a starting salary of $18,340 or $22,717 a year, depending on their college grades.  Those with a master's degree could start at $22,717 or $27,790; those with the Ph.D.  degree, at $33,623 or $40,299.

Sources of Additional Information

Information on career opportunities in meteorology is available from:

American Meteorological Society, 45 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108-3693.

National Weather Service, Personnel Branch, 1335 East West Hwy., SSMC1, Silver Spring, MD 20910.


