Also called: Swell Forecaster, Surf Report Forecaster
Predicts the size and timing of waves at beaches using storm maps, buoy data and wave models, so surfers know when to go.
A surf forecaster tracks a storm near Antarctica and figures out when its swell will hit California a week later. They check offshore buoys, compare wave models, look at live surf cams, and write daily reports for millions of surfers. Big-wave events like Mavericks or Jaws need special, careful forecasts.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Degree in meteorology or oceanography helps; deep surf knowledge is a must.
Ways in: 4-year college, Self-taught. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Meteorology, Oceanography, Atmospheric Science.
Growing about average. A handful of forecasting jobs at surf apps and media.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Automated wave models and AI write basic surf reports, so fewer human forecasters are needed except for expert calls.
Classes: Earth science, Physics, Statistics.
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.