Meteorologists collect data from a variety of sources, such as satellite imaging and Doppler radar. Compiling the data from these sources creates a model that the meteorologist can use in predicting weather and tracking storms. Meteorologists track weather over days while a climatologist studies weather over the long term for seasons, years and longer. A chief meteorologist is the head of a team of meteorologists. This means that in addition to predicting weather, he must also handle the administrative and managerial duties among his team. For taking on these extra duties, the chief meteorologist is generally the highest-paid person on the team.
National Pay
The national average salary for a meteorologist was $85,160 a year in 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since a chief meteorologist is at the higher end of the pay scale, they would be well above the average. Meteorologists in the 75th and 90th percentiles earned $104,520 and $127,250. This would be about the salary a chief meteorologist could expect to make depending on the location.
Pay by State
The state that paid its chief meteorologists the most in 2009 was Texas, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meteorologists in the 75th and 90th percentile earned $107,470 a year and $156,930 a year, respectively. The states rounding out the top 10 highest-paying states were Washington D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Florida, Colorado, Utah and Virginia.
Pay by Industry
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services was by far the top-paying industry for chief meteorologists in 2009. Meteorologists in the 75th and 90th percentiles earned $105,340 a year and $162,950 a year, respectively. In the 90th percentile, this is nearly $18,000 a year more than the no. 2-paying industry. The other top five industries for chief meteorologists in 2009 were Radio and Television Broadcasting; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Scientific Research and Development Services and Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life Sciences.
Pay by Area
The area that paid its chief meteorologists the most in 2009 was Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Michigan, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meteorologists in the 75th and 90th percentile earned $123,730 a year and $163,200 a year, respectively. The areas rounding out the top 10 highest-paying states were: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-Virginia-Maryland-West Virginia; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, Boulder, Colorado; Nassau-Suffolk, New York; Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach, Florida; Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, Florida; New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania; San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, California and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Tags: 75th 90th, chief meteorologists, Meteorologists 75th, Meteorologists 75th 90th, 90th percentile, according Bureau, according Bureau Labor
