How to Research Salary Ranges and Benefits for a Meteorologist

The federal government is the major employer of meteorologists. It pays them an average annual salary of approximately $57,000, plus benefits. However, new hires begin at much lower salaries, and overall hiring has slowed due to budget cuts.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet Access
• Career Counseling
• Computers

1. Familiarize yourself with the field by visiting meteorological Web sites. Search the Web with keywords like "meteorology" and "meteorologist."

2. Contact your university's meteorology professors for their insights into the career.

3. Interview your local TV station meteorologist about the overall benefits of the job.

4. Ask headhunters about job prospects and salaries for meteorologists working in the private sector.

5. Consider working as a meteorologist for weather consulting or environmental firms. Some growth is expected in those areas.

Tips & Warnings

• Realize that this is a computer-oriented field and that superior school grades and computer skills are necessary to launch a successful career.