FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

About Meteorology Career Options...

Degrees in meteorology

Meteorology has its roots in math, physics, and chemistry. The best preparation for high school students considering going into meteorology is to have a strong math and science (physics, chemistry) background. It's also useful to take courses in computer science, but they are not absolutely necessary (and may not be available in your school). Good oral and written communication skills are valuable, too! The University of Oklahoma's School of Meteorology has a tips page for high school students who are considering majoring in meteorology.

Meteorology is a college major, but is not offered at all colleges and universities. Here is a partial list of universities with meteorology programs.

NOAA has some information on scholarships, internships, grants and fellowships; NOAA Magazine provides an overview of opportunities for students pursuing educational interests or considering careers in NOAA areas of expertise.

There are many career options in and related to meteorology. There are also many specialties within meteorology: climatology, micrometeorology, cloud physics, cloud electrification, synoptic meteorology, mesoscale meteorology, radar, satellite, hydrology / hydrometeorology, aviation, winter storms, severe storms, tornadoes, flooding and flash flooding, droughts, hurricanes, and more.

But with all the above mentioned topics, there are three main types of jobs for meteorologists:

There are jobs within the government (including the military), private companies (including TV and radio) and colleges and universities.

Government jobs are found mainly within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, and include positions with the National Weather Service and other NOAA research labs, such as the National Severe Storms Laboratory; there are also research positions at joint institutes, cooperative partnerships between NOAA and universities, such as the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies (CIMMS).

The National Weather Service (NWS) is composed of headquarters offices, national centers, regional centers, and field offices for meteorological and hydrological services. Local forecast offices are located all across the country including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

The National Weather Service provides a partial list of many private companies across the country that hire meteorologists and provide a variety of services for their customers.

Profile of Atmospheric Science Careers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has an overview of careers in atmospheric sciences. The profile includes nature of the work, working conditions, employment, training and qualifications, job outlook, and current (2001) starting and average earnings.

Career Guidance

Career guidance resources are listed in the Career Guidance section of the Resource Listing for Weather and Climate Instruction. And the American Meteorological Society career guide is an excellent, comprehensive look at the many, diverse jobs in meteorology.

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