Aside from the numerous financial aid programs offered by colleges and universities, there are several scholarship programs administered by the American Meteorological Society. Contact the AMS for information. Summer intern programs with a stipend are provided to undergraduate students through the National Council of Industrial Meteorologists. Check with the Meteorology Department office at the college […]

Many atmospheric scientists are members of the American Geophysical Union (2000 Florida Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20009). The AGU conducts numerous scientific meetings that span the breadth of geophysics and publishes a number of well-regarded technical journals, including Geophysical Research Letters and the Journal of Geo physical Research. Those interested in forecasting and the operational […]

The primary scientific and professional society for atmospheric sciences in the United States is the American Meteorological Society. It has over 10,000 members who work in the various disciplines of meteorology, oceanography, and hydrology. The objectives of the Society are the development and dissemination of knowledge of the atmosphere and related oceanic and hydrological sciences, […]

Not everyone presenting forecasts on radio or television is a trained meteorologist. Some are simply broadcasters who “rip and read,” hopefully without their own embellishments, forecasts prepared by the National Weather Service or a private forecasting company. But there are many professional meteorologists working in the media. In order to help the viewers identify those […]

Many aspiring meteorologists yearn to “get into television.” It is possible, but it is not always easy. First, you need the basic training in meteorology, particularly in the practical aspects of forecasting. You should be reasonably telegenic, or at least have an engaging on-air personality. Computer skills are most valuable. College courses in communications, if […]

According to a recent survey conducted of private sector meteorologists by the American Meteorological Society, the distribution of salaries (for all positions) as a function of experience is as follows:

Annual salary $75,000
Entry Level 7.1 percent
27.5 percent
28.1 percent
24.4 percent
9.9 percent
1.5 percent
1.2 percent
0.3 percent
1 - 2 years 0.0 percent
11.5 percent
22.0 percent
31.0 percent
29.1 percent
4.0 percent
1.5 percent
0.9 percent
3 - 5 years  
0.0 percent
2.1 […]

With the end of World War II, thousands of returning military meteorologists were looking for work. At that time the only significant employers were the (then) Weather Bureau and universities. Many introduced to the science during the war wanted to stay active in the field. Thus was born the private sector. Many small companies pro […]

Actually, these two groups, with whom the public has the most contact, comprise a minority of the nation’s meteorological practitioners. About 1,000 meteorologists are actively working in the media. The National Weather Service employs approximately 5,000 professionals. At least 6,000 meteorologists are working in the rapidly expanding private sector.
handy-weather-366.jpg   Growth chambers used in studying the […]

The first university in the United States to have a formal meteorology degree program was the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The department was founded in 1928 by Swedish scientist Carl-Gustaf Rossby. There are dozens of institutions of higher learning that offer formal degree programs. A complete listing of these universities, their faculties, facilities, and course […]

According to The Jobs Rated Almanac, the number of new positions for trained meteorologists will continue to grow over the next decade. This would appear especially true for students with advanced degrees in the atmospheric sciences and who are highly trained in computer-related skills. While there are a few low-level jobs for those with only […]