Also called: Solar Weather Forecaster
Forecasts solar storms that can knock out satellites, GPS, and power grids.
At NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center or in the Air Force, forecasters watch the sun 24/7 and issue alerts when a solar flare is headed for Earth.
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.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, Military. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Physics, Astronomy, Meteorology, Space Science.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years).
Medium risk for 10 years. AI models increasingly predict solar flares and storm arrival times; forecasters shift to checking models and issuing alerts, with fewer routine desk roles.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, Computer Science, Astronomy.
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.