Atmospheric and Space Scientists vs Geographers: Similar Pay, 2.6% vs -2.1% Growth

Atmospheric and Space Scientists vs Geographers: what changes?

Consider Atmospheric and Space Scientists if you want to investigate atmospheric phenomena and interpret meteorological data, gathered by surface and air stations, satellites, and radar to prepare reports and forecasts for public and other uses. Consider Geographers if you would rather study the nature and use of areas of the Earth's surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Atmospheric and Space Scientists and Geographers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Atmospheric and Space Scientists

National median pay (2025): $99,070
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Develop or use mathematical or computer models for weather forecasting.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 800

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (10,700 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Atmospheric and Space Scientists brief

Geographers

National median pay (2025): $102,040
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Create and modify maps, graphs, or diagrams, using geographical information software and related equipment, and principles of cartography, such as coordinate systems, longitude, latitude, elevation, topography, and map scales.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 100

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 2.1% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Geographers brief

How the national numbers differ

Atmospheric and Space Scientists has the edge on projected growth

Atmospheric and Space Scientists is at 2.6% projected growth, compared with -2.1% projected growth for Geographers.

Atmospheric and Space Scientists has the edge on annual openings

Atmospheric and Space Scientists is at 800 annual openings, compared with 100 annual openings for Geographers.

Geographers has the edge on median pay

Geographers is at $102,040, compared with $99,070 for Atmospheric and Space Scientists.

44.8/ 100

Atmospheric and Space Scientists

34.5/ 100

Geographers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Atmospheric and Space Scientists vs Geographers

Dimension	Atmospheric and Space Scientists	Geographers
Median pay (2025)	$99,070	$102,040
Pay percentile	81.9 percentile	84.3 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	2.6%	-2.1%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	800	100
2025 employment	10,700	1,500
How you qualify	Bachelor's degree	Bachelor's degree
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 4	Job Zone 4
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Atmospheric and Space Scientists brief Read Geographers brief

Atmospheric and Space Scientists vs Geographers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Atmospheric and Space Scientists

Geographers

How the national numbers differ

Atmospheric and Space Scientists has the edge on projected growth

Atmospheric and Space Scientists has the edge on annual openings

Geographers has the edge on median pay

Atmospheric and Space Scientists vs Geographers

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