Also called: River Forecaster
Forecasts heavy rain, snowmelt and floods for the National Weather Service, Army Corps of Engineers or water utilities, using river and weather models.
At an NWS River Forecast Center, you combine rainfall forecasts with river models to predict how high rivers will rise and when.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 5 years after high school. Bachelor's in meteorology or hydrology.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Meteorology, Hydrology.
Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years). Growth is for atmospheric scientists overall.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI flood forecasts are improving fast; fewer forecasters per river center, with warning judgment staying human.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, Earth 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.