Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for an atmospheric scientist
Quoted expert
Sami Mejri Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to atmospheric scientist jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. Although there are abundant atmospheric scientist jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Idaho is the best state in the country for atmospheric scientist jobs.
Idaho is the best state for jobs for atmospheric scientists, and Alabama is the worst. The most common pay in Idaho is $132,001, while the median pay in Alabama is $83,799.We found that the South is best for atmospheric scientists, and the West is the worst. Richland, WA is the best city in the country for atmospheric scientist jobs, where as Idaho is the best state in the country.
10 best states for atmospheric scientists in 2025
1. Idaho
Total atmospheric scientist jobs: 119 Average annual salary: $132,001 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
2. Maine
Total atmospheric scientist jobs: 101 Average annual salary: $130,089 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $207,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
3. Wisconsin
Total atmospheric scientist jobs: 361 Average annual salary: $127,971 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
4. North Dakota
Total atmospheric scientist jobs: 80 Average annual salary: $119,190 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
5. Alaska
Total atmospheric scientist jobs: 70 Average annual salary: $126,449 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
6. Utah
Total atmospheric scientist jobs: 217 Average annual salary: $126,136 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $196,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
7. Washington
Total atmospheric scientist jobs: 399 Average annual salary: $135,628 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $207,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
8. Indiana
Total atmospheric scientist jobs: 293 Average annual salary: $126,941 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
9. New Mexico
Total atmospheric scientist jobs: 162 Average annual salary: $116,884 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
10. New York
Total atmospheric scientist jobs: 1,144 Average annual salary: $114,815 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
Atmospheric scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an atmospheric scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an atmospheric scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $132,001 | $85,000 | 1,716,943 | 119 |
| 2 | Maine | $130,089 | $81,000 | 1,335,907 | 101 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $127,971 | $81,000 | 5,795,483 | 361 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $119,190 | $77,000 | 755,393 | 80 |
| 5 | Alaska | $126,449 | $84,000 | 739,795 | 70 |
| 6 | Utah | $126,136 | $81,000 | 3,101,833 | 217 |
| 7 | Washington | $135,628 | $88,000 | 7,405,743 | 399 |
| 8 | Indiana | $126,941 | $81,000 | 6,666,818 | 293 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $116,884 | $74,000 | 2,088,070 | 162 |
| 10 | New York | $114,815 | $71,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,144 |
| 11 | Missouri | $117,385 | $74,000 | 6,113,532 | 376 |
| 12 | Maryland | $111,842 | $70,000 | 6,052,177 | 830 |
| 13 | California | $127,937 | $83,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,355 |
| 14 | Mississippi | $120,096 | $75,000 | 2,984,100 | 55 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $111,986 | $70,000 | 1,815,857 | 79 |
| 16 | Nebraska | $116,608 | $73,000 | 1,920,076 | 99 |
| 17 | Michigan | $114,702 | $71,000 | 9,962,311 | 330 |
| 18 | Montana | $110,494 | $70,000 | 1,050,493 | 99 |
| 19 | Texas | $115,001 | $72,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,012 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $107,562 | $67,000 | 869,666 | 108 |
| 21 | Ohio | $111,638 | $69,000 | 11,658,609 | 493 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $111,337 | $70,000 | 6,715,984 | 252 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $112,832 | $71,000 | 3,930,864 | 84 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $110,301 | $69,000 | 5,024,369 | 243 |
| 25 | Georgia | $111,884 | $70,000 | 10,429,379 | 411 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $111,313 | $69,000 | 3,004,279 | 83 |
| 27 | Oregon | $106,965 | $68,000 | 4,142,776 | 275 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $109,836 | $69,000 | 4,454,189 | 139 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $95,384 | $58,000 | 9,005,644 | 912 |
| 30 | Colorado | $107,749 | $67,000 | 5,607,154 | 347 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $94,121 | $57,000 | 1,342,795 | 136 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $94,477 | $57,000 | 1,059,639 | 93 |
| 33 | Delaware | $93,230 | $57,000 | 961,939 | 129 |
| 34 | Vermont | $93,062 | $55,000 | 623,657 | 70 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $110,020 | $68,000 | 4,684,333 | 116 |
| 36 | Nevada | $97,037 | $61,000 | 2,998,039 | 113 |
| 37 | Connecticut | $94,126 | $57,000 | 3,588,184 | 270 |
| 38 | Massachusetts | $94,468 | $57,000 | 6,859,819 | 656 |
| 39 | Pennsylvania | $87,449 | $54,000 | 12,805,537 | 926 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $85,538 | $53,000 | 10,273,419 | 842 |
| 41 | Virginia | $86,913 | $54,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,038 |
| 42 | Florida | $93,740 | $56,000 | 20,984,400 | 747 |
| 43 | Illinois | $91,198 | $56,000 | 12,802,023 | 833 |
| 44 | Kansas | $88,734 | $55,000 | 2,913,123 | 170 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $81,800 | $51,000 | 579,315 | 59 |
| 46 | Iowa | $89,834 | $56,000 | 3,145,711 | 143 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $58,174 | $41,000 | 1,427,538 | 66 |
| 48 | District of Columbia | $92,817 | $57,000 | 693,972 | 57 |
| 49 | Arizona | $86,788 | $55,000 | 7,016,270 | 268 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $84,080 | $53,000 | 5,576,606 | 356 |
| 51 | Alabama | $83,799 | $52,000 | 4,874,747 | 147 |
Highest paying states for atmospheric scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Atmospheric Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $132,001 |
| 2 | Maine | $130,089 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $127,971 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $119,190 |
| 5 | Alaska | $126,449 |
| 6 | Utah | $126,136 |
| 7 | Washington | $135,628 |
| 8 | Indiana | $126,941 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $116,884 |
| 10 | New York | $114,815 |
| 11 | Missouri | $117,385 |
| 12 | Maryland | $111,842 |
| 13 | California | $127,937 |
| 14 | Mississippi | $120,096 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $111,986 |
| 16 | Nebraska | $116,608 |
| 17 | Michigan | $114,702 |
| 18 | Montana | $110,494 |
| 19 | Texas | $115,001 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $107,562 |
| 21 | Ohio | $111,638 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $111,337 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $112,832 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $110,301 |
| 25 | Georgia | $111,884 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $111,313 |
| 27 | Oregon | $106,965 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $109,836 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $95,384 |
| 30 | Colorado | $107,749 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $94,121 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $94,477 |
| 33 | Delaware | $93,230 |
| 34 | Vermont | $93,062 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $110,020 |
| 36 | Nevada | $97,037 |
| 37 | Connecticut | $94,126 |
| 38 | Massachusetts | $94,468 |
| 39 | Pennsylvania | $87,449 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $85,538 |
| 41 | Virginia | $86,913 |
| 42 | Florida | $93,740 |
| 43 | Illinois | $91,198 |
| 44 | Kansas | $88,734 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $81,800 |
| 46 | Iowa | $89,834 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $58,174 |
| 48 | District of Columbia | $92,817 |
| 49 | Arizona | $86,788 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $84,080 |
| 51 | Alabama | $83,799 |
Expert opinions on the best states for atmospheric scientists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for atmospheric scientists to find work opportunities?
Sami Mejri Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Science, Assistant Dean, Graduate Programs, Tiffin University
With the rising cost of living, a college graduate's ideal first job may not be in their home state or favorite vacation town. According to Business Insider, MidWestern cities like Columbus-Ohio, Cincinnati-Ohio, Madison-Wisconsin, Milwaukee-Wisconsin, and Indianapolis-Indiana were some of the best geographical areas to live for college graduates. The cost of living in these Midwestern states remains relatively lower than coastal areas, making these locations ideal for college graduates entering the workforce. However, college graduates with degrees in healthcare, computer science, and data analytics may not be limited to these geographical areas, given employers' incentives to these in-demand jobs.
Atmospheric scientist best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.
Search for atmospheric scientist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025