Job Outlook?

[logandowning]

Hey guys, I was curious as to what was going on in the meteorology world.
I'm a Freshman at Purdue University this year and the more I read, the more I
worry about how available jobs will be for meteorology when I graduate. Another
point of concern is what the pay is. I haven't been able to pin down an accurate
pay scale. It seems to vary quite a bit from site to site (For the record, money is
by no means the world to me. I just want to be positive that I can make a decent
living and easily support a family someday (Way down the road by the way lol))

Thanks in advance, It's cool to have a forum dedicated to meteorology ^_^

[Derek Mallia]

My general impression is that there are a fair number of private sector jobs out there while government jobs (especially the NWS) has become quite scarce. Granted this trend is generally occurring across all fields and isn't specific towards meteorology due to govt budget cuts. The good news is that the renewable  energy sector is growing which should help with the job situation as this specific niche employs many meteorologists/forecasters. I personally had one of these jobs so they do exist!  Also with all the talk of climate change there are many different industries interested in people that understand climate. There are probably many other sectors worth mentioning as well! Additional good news is that meteorology is a STEM field, so employers always look fondly upon people that can do math and science ;-)

Work hard in school, take your math and programing courses seriously and you'll succeed! This stuff may seem really dull at first but later on it will really help you as you pursue your weather career and hobby! Try to get a masters degree if possible, though this isn't necessarily a requirement but it will make your life easier. Also, take a statistics course at some point. This will be extremely useful not only in meteorology but for anything really!  And with any field network as much as possible. Attend conferences and do internships to get your face and name out there (this may be the MOST important thing!)

With that said, the meteorology path is not an easy one and will require a lot of work, but what science degree is easy? ;-)


and on a final note, be prepared to move as met jobs tend to be spaced out. Granted there seems to be a nice cluster of met jobs in the Washington DC/Maryland area... I have quite a few friends in that area!


Terms of pay your looking at mostly 40k plus. I've seen the mean and median salaries which seem to be around 70-80k. This seems a little high especially with the economies current situation, though I also haven't applied for a higher level job. Perhaps someone with more experience would know!


Anyways, good luck and if you have anymore questions don't hesitate to ask!

[vanna]

I think Derek nicely summarized the current state of jobs and advice on getting one.  I just wanted to add a couple pieces of advice from watching friends get jobs straight out of undergrad (if that is your goal).  

There are broadcast meteorology jobs hiring, but be prepared to start in a small market.  If you are interested in broadcast, talk to your local news stations about internships.

Don't be afraid to take "soft money" positions when you graduate.  These are positions that are not permanent, so the length of employment depends on how long the employer has funds.  These are common in government research facilities, and while they may be a risk financially, they will give you more connections and experience (which is a big plus).

If you are paying your own way through school and life and have student loans, etc., getting a job soon after you graduate may be more important to you.  If that is the case, try to get experience in related fields while in school to give you a broader job market in which you can work immediately.  For example, look into GIS certifications and risk management training.  Both are important in the public side of meteorology, plus they can help you get a job in something else such as emergency management or city planning if need be.  Also look into hydrology/oceanography.

That being said, the meteorology jobs do exist!  However, the field is popular, so do what you can to set yourself apart (internships, connections, research, any type of experience) and don't expect to get your dream job right away, so be open to working in a related field.

[logandowning]

Thank you guys for the response. I think if I do stay in this field I will go for my masters to make things a little easier on myself. I know that I have definite intentions on getting as much related experience as possible during my time at Purdue. I'll probably be back on here occasionally to ask questions, it's good to know I've got a reliable group of people to ask. Thanks!