Forecasts solar storms that can disrupt GPS, radio, power grids, and astronauts.
At NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado, you watch the sun around the clock. When a big eruption heads toward Earth, you issue warnings to airlines, power companies, and NASA.
Based on atmospheric scientists.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in physics, meteorology, or space science; Air Force/Space Force weather training is another route.
Ways in: 4-year college, Military, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Physics, Meteorology, Space Physics.
Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years). Growth is for atmospheric scientists overall.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI models are improving fast at storm forecasts; fewer forecasters needed, mostly to judge and issue warnings.
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.