The Salary of Storm Trackers
While the majority of people run for cover and away from the eye of a storm, a storm tracker — more formally known as an atmospheric scientist — charts a course right toward it. Atmospheric scientists study these devastating acts of Mother Nature as well as how to prepare and possibly prevent them. While storm tracker salaries vary by industry of employment as well as areas of the country, several states offer both high wages and high opportunities for employment in the profession.
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Total Trackers
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Storms from coast to coast and throughout the country were tracked by approximately 8,640 atmospheric scientists, earning mid-range salaries of $87,780 as of May 2010, as reported in the latest version of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wages report. In the report, storm tracker pay scales ranged from $45,050 at the 10th percentile to $132,130 at the 90th percentile.
All Over the Map
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Many different industries employed storm trackers, but the largest contingent were in the federal executive branch of the government, employing more than double the next-largest employer, professional and technical services. The federal executive branch paid higher-than-average salaries of $95,760 for its atmospheric scientists, the fourth-highest salary for the profession, Atmospheric scientists working for navigational, electromedical and control instruments manufacturing companies earned the highest salaries, at $147,370.
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Tracking High Salaries
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Maryland’s employers paid their atmospheric scientists the highest statewide wages in the country, at $114,650 at the time of the BLS survey. Storm trackers in New Jersey placed second, taking in annual wages of $107,840, followed by those in Colorado, earning $99,510. California’s atmospheric scientists took fourth place, with wages of $98,130. Fifth-highest place Texas had storm tracker salaries of $95,320.
Correlations
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States with the highest salaries for the storm tracking profession also appeared on the BLS list of high employment levels for the profession, but it in a slightly shuffled order. Colorado, the third-highest payer, topped the BLS list as having the highest employment level in the country. Texas, fifth place for salaries, was second place for employment. California, in fourth place for salary, took third place for employment level. Maryland, the country’s highest payer for the profession, had the fourth-highest employment level. In fifth place for employment level, Massachusetts paid a below-average annual wage of $81,860.
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