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Operational meteorologist vs atmospheric scientist

The differences between operational meteorologists and atmospheric scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an atmospheric scientist has an average salary of $112,366, which is higher than the $54,170 average annual salary of an operational meteorologist.

The top three skills for an operational meteorologist include emergency operations, and . The most important skills for an atmospheric scientist are MATLAB, remote sensing, and linux.

Operational meteorologist vs atmospheric scientist overview

Operational MeteorologistAtmospheric Scientist
Yearly salary$54,170$112,366
Hourly rate$26.04$54.02
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs86146,693
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4040
Years of experience--

Operational meteorologist vs atmospheric scientist salary

Operational meteorologists and atmospheric scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Operational MeteorologistAtmospheric Scientist
Average salary$54,170$112,366
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $107,000Between $74,000 And $169,000
Highest paying City-Richland, WA
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-Sonoma Technology, Inc.
Best paying industry--

Differences between operational meteorologist and atmospheric scientist education

There are a few differences between an operational meteorologist and an atmospheric scientist in terms of educational background:

Operational MeteorologistAtmospheric Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorMeteorologyMeteorology
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Wisconsin - Madison

Operational meteorologist vs atmospheric scientist demographics

Here are the differences between operational meteorologists' and atmospheric scientists' demographics:

Operational MeteorologistAtmospheric Scientist
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 82.1% Female, 17.9%Male, 66.7% Female, 33.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 5.4% Asian, 5.4% White, 78.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 5.4% Asian, 5.4% White, 78.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between operational meteorologist and atmospheric scientist duties and responsibilities

Operational meteorologist example responsibilities.

  • Analyze atmospheric information using satellite and radar imagery, computer generate graphics, and weather communication equipment and instruments.
  • Produce weather advisory and closely monitor inclement weather conditions for various locations involving forward deploy scientific teams throughout Antarctica.

Atmospheric scientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage pediatric dose development project, technology transfer project and alternate API supplier qualification project on budget and on schedule
  • Organize and execute field campaigns for collecting FTIR spectrometer data.
  • Redesign NMT lightning interferometer signal processing system.
  • Redesign signal processing and display system for NMT wideband multi-polarization radar.
  • Design key targets and supervise one chemistry associate resulting in the synthesis of additional compounds, some with excellent biological activity.
  • Redesign signal processing and display system for NMT wideband multi-polarization radar.

Operational meteorologist vs atmospheric scientist skills

Common operational meteorologist skills
  • Emergency Operations, 100%
Common atmospheric scientist skills
  • MATLAB, 54%
  • Remote Sensing, 26%
  • Linux, 12%
  • Technical Reports, 4%
  • Analysis Products, 4%

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