Weather forecaster vs weather observer

The differences between weather forecasters and weather observers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a weather forecaster has an average salary of $64,204, which is higher than the $51,408 average annual salary of a weather observer.

The top three skills for a weather forecaster include DOD, weather warnings and computer system. The most important skills for a weather observer are DOD, federal aviation administration, and radar.

Weather forecaster vs weather observer overview

	Weather Forecaster	Weather Observer
Yearly salary	$64,204	$51,408
Hourly rate	$30.87	$24.72
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	427	619
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	-	-

Weather forecaster vs weather observer salary

Weather forecasters and weather observers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Weather Forecaster	Weather Observer
Average salary	$64,204	$51,408
Salary range	Between $36,000 And $114,000	Between $26,000 And $98,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between weather forecaster and weather observer education

There are a few differences between a weather forecaster and a weather observer in terms of educational background:

	Weather Forecaster	Weather Observer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Meteorology	Meteorology
Most common college	SUNY Stony Brook	SUNY Stony Brook

Weather forecaster vs weather observer demographics

Here are the differences between weather forecasters' and weather observers' demographics:

	Weather Forecaster	Weather Observer
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 70.9% Female, 29.1%	Male, 70.4% Female, 29.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 7.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.6% Asian, 7.1% White, 74.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 7.9% Hispanic or Latino, 6.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 75.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between weather forecaster and weather observer duties and responsibilities

Weather forecaster example responsibilities.

Obtain certification from NWS; disseminate hourly METAR's and SPECI's as needed.
Work regularly with the ASOS and various weather relate web sites such as JAAWIN, NOAA and NRL.
Disseminate METARs and SPECIs locally and longline to NOAA.
Analyze GFS models for changes in temperature, precipitation, and visibility.
Predict the next micro and macro trends in fashion and lifestyle before they emerge.
Observe and report current weather conditions at the airport for pilots and NOAA weather statistics.

Weather observer example responsibilities.

Assist in taking patient medical history and managing clinical patients and participate in medical team discussions regarding patient treatment plans.
Collect and plot coordinates using GPS units.
Answer requests for technical information regarding regional products from field meteorologists, DOD customers, and other users.
Prepare and release radiosondes, collect and disseminate upper air data using GPS navigational equipment and RRS software.
Produce up-to-date training seminars in PowerPoint.
Collect and disseminate marine weather observations from vessels in Alaskan waters.

Weather forecaster vs weather observer skills

Common weather forecaster skills

DOD, 21%
Weather Warnings, 15%
Computer System, 10%
Weather Data, 5%
Flight Safety, 5%
Combat, 4%

Common weather observer skills

DOD, 18%
Federal Aviation Administration, 15%
Radar, 10%
Air Traffic Control, 6%
Data Quality Control, 6%
Weather Station, 6%

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Weather Forecaster
Weather Forecaster vs Weather Observer

Updated January 8, 2025

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