Also called: Planetary Meteorologist
Studies weather and climate on other worlds: Martian dust storms, Jupiter's giant storms, Titan's methane rain.
You run a climate model of Mars, compare it with data from an orbiter, and help a rover team decide whether a dust storm will block its solar panels.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 10 years after high school. PhD in atmospheric science or planetary science.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Atmospheric Science, Physics, Planetary Science.
Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI models speed climate simulations of other worlds; theories and mission science stay human.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Chemistry, Earth science, Computer science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.