Atmospheric and space scientists
SOC Code: 19-2021
Atmospheric and space scientists carries a 46% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $97,450 and +0.7% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 9,400 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 46% AI exposure, Atmospheric and space scientists sits 9 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 82% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Career outlook score
47/100
Atmospheric and space scientists, weighted across 3 of 3 tracked dimensions
A weighted composite of median wage, projected growth, and AI-automation security (inverted exposure), each benchmarked against every other tracked occupation. It describes this occupation's standing across those three dimensions, not a guarantee of future outcomes.
- Median wage A $97,450
Annual median wage, percentile rank vs all tracked occupations
- Projected growth F +0.7%
Projected employment change, 2024-2034, BLS Employment Projections
- AI exposure (inverted) F 46% exposure
Lower O*NET task-automability scores lower risk; this dimension scores security, not exposure
Home health and personal care aides is #1 of 832 occupations by employment (4.3M, AI exposure rank #392 at 35%) vs. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks #1 by AI task exposure (95%, employment rank #17 at 1.6M).
Automation-risk inventory
Exclusive cut of 832 occupations by PlainWorkforce automation-risk band. Orthogonal to the continuous AI-exposure distribution chart below and to this occupation's single risk badge, this is the corpus band mix, with Atmospheric and space scientists in the High band.
Credential × growth standing
Bachelor's band with mid-pack BLS pace
Atmospheric and space scientists shares the Bachelor's gate with 178 peer occupations and lands in Slow growth (245 of 832). Neither the rarest nor the most crowded growth shelf - use wage and AI desks on this page for the differentiator.
Where Atmospheric and space scientists sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Where Atmospheric and space scientists sits by AI exposure
AI-exposure score distribution across U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis)
46% Higher than most higher than 82% of 832 occupations
Occupations, banded by AI-exposure score
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor) · BLS 2024–2034
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Atmospheric and space scientists vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Atmospheric and space scientists is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Where This Score Comes From
Atmospheric and space scientists's High automation-risk tier is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each documented task the occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The employment, wage, and education figures above come from a second, separate federal source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034, matched to the O*NET task data by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 19-2021) code, with the wage figure cross-validated against the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 survey. BLS figures are presented exactly as published, with no adjustment on our part; the SOC-code match is what lets Atmospheric and space scientists be compared directly against every other tracked occupation on the same basis, not just roles that happen to share a job title.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Atmospheric and space scientists. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Develop or use mathematical or computer models for weather forecasting.
- 2. Interpret data, reports, maps, photographs, or charts to predict long- or short-range weather conditions, using computer models and knowledge of climate theory, physics, and mathematics.
- 3. Conduct meteorological research into the processes or determinants of atmospheric phenomena, weather, or climate.
- 4. Formulate predictions by interpreting environmental data, such as meteorological, atmospheric, oceanic, paleoclimate, climate, or related information.
- 5. Broadcast weather conditions, forecasts, or severe weather warnings to the public via television, radio, or the Internet or provide this information to the news media.
- 6. Prepare forecasts or briefings to meet the needs of industry, business, government, or other groups.
- 7. Direct forecasting services at weather stations or at radio or television broadcasting facilities.
- 8. Gather data from sources such as surface or upper air stations, satellites, weather bureaus, or radar for use in meteorological reports or forecasts.
- 9. Develop computer programs to collect meteorological data or to present meteorological information.
- 10. Prepare weather reports or maps for analysis, distribution, or use in weather broadcasts, using computer graphics.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Mathematics
Knowledge Areas
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Geography
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Communications and Media
- Customer and Personal Service
- Chemistry
- Education and Training
- Engineering and Technology
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Atmospheric and space scientists?
Atmospheric and space scientists has an AI exposure score of 46%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Atmospheric and space scientists?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Atmospheric and space scientists is projected to grow by 0.7% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 9,400 workers.
What skills are needed for Atmospheric and space scientists?
Key skills for Atmospheric and space scientists include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, and others. Typical entry-level education is Bachelor's degree.
How much do Atmospheric and space scientists earn?
The median annual wage for Atmospheric and space scientists is $97,450, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Atmospheric and space scientists?
The typical entry-level education for Atmospheric and space scientists is Bachelor's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Atmospheric and space scientists?
Atmospheric and space scientists roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
Nationwide occupations with similar workforce profiles
Two data-derived peer sets for Atmospheric and space scientists: AI-exposure neighbors and BLS 2034 growth neighbors (distinct comparison neighborhoods, cross-occupation).
Similar AI exposure score
Nearest O*NET task-automability scores nationwide (46% here).
- Administrative services managers · AI exposure 46%
- Conservation scientists · AI exposure 46%
- Dental assistants · AI exposure 46%
- Economists · AI exposure 46%
Similar projected growth (2024–2034)
Nearest BLS employment change rates nationwide (+0.7% here).
- Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary · growth +0.7%
- Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders · growth +0.7%
- Locomotive engineers · growth +0.7%
- Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary · growth +0.7%
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on published BLS + O*NET metrics among occupations with ≥10,000 workers in 2024; corpus ranks above sort the full tracked set.
Related Occupations
Showing 6 of 13 occupations with a comparable automation-risk profile.
What to do with this
Use Atmospheric and space scientists' numbers above to compare, not just read in isolation.
- Compare Atmospheric and space scientists side by side against another occupation on wage, growth, and AI exposure. Workforce comparison tool
- Understand how the AI exposure score above is actually calculated before treating it as a verdict. Reading AI exposure scores
- See the full ranked list of occupations with the lowest automation exposure nationwide. Safest occupations from AI
AI exposure scores estimate task automatability from O*NET data; they are not a certainty of job loss, and BLS growth projections are estimates, not guarantees.
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).