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How much do atmospheric scientists jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for atmospheric scientists in the United States is $81,521.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $59,000.00 and $99,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Atmospheric Scientists vs Meteorologists?

AspectAtmospheric ScientistsMeteorologists
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in atmospheric science, meteorology, or related fieldsBachelor's or higher in meteorology or atmospheric science
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, universities, government agenciesWeather stations, broadcast media, government agencies
Industry UsageResearch, academia, government research projectsWeather forecasting, public communication, media

Atmospheric Scientists and Meteorologists both study the atmosphere, but Atmospheric Scientists focus more on research and understanding atmospheric processes, often working in labs or academia. Meteorologists primarily forecast weather and communicate it to the public, working in media or weather services. While their credentials overlap, their work environments and industry applications differ.

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Atmospheric Scientists jobs near you
Infographic showing various Atmospheric Scientists job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,521 per year, or $39.2 per hour.

Head of Atmospheric Science - Onsite in Albuquerque, NM

Roadrunner Venture Studio

Albuquerque, NM • On-site

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

About Roadrunner Venture Studios
Roadrunner Venture Studios is the nation's leading platform for founding breakthrough ventures in frontier technology. We partner with scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to turn deep technology into real companies. Our work spans energy, manufacturing, semiconductors, quantum computing, aerospace, advanced materials, artificial intelligence, and high performance computing.
About the Role
Roadrunner Venture Studios is recruiting a Head of Atmospheric Science for a portfolio company developing rainfall enhancement technology.
You will lead the atmospheric science function and connect scientific validation with operational deployment. The scope includes meteorology, atmospheric prediction, modeling, data assimilation, field-data review, and scientific evaluation of deployments.
Atmospheric modeling is a major part of a broader mandate. You will set scientific direction, work hands-on, and build the team needed to support a growing deployment program.
This role includes significant equity.
This is an early-stage startup building something that has not been built before. Expect weeks of 50 to 60 hours, sometimes more, with frequent travel and regular weekend work. Priorities will change quickly. If this working environment does not excite you, this job is probably not for you.
What You Will Do
Atmospheric Science and Prediction
  • Set the scientific strategy for evaluating atmospheric conditions, selecting deployment windows, interpreting results, and improving operating criteria.
  • Integrate forecasts, historical datasets, soundings, radar, satellite imagery, surface observations, and field-sensor data into clear scientific assessments.
  • Review data before, during, and after deployments. Compare predicted and observed conditions, identify important differences, and communicate conclusions and uncertainty.
  • Work with science, software, and field teams to improve observation methods, data quality, operational prediction, and post-deployment analysis.
Atmospheric Modeling and Data Assimilation
  • Lead the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) modeling program for deployment planning, atmospheric prediction, scenario analysis, and post-deployment review.
  • Architect WRF data assimilation using WRF Data Assimilation (WRFDA), the Data Assimilation Research Testbed (DART), or similar frameworks.
  • Integrate standard meteorological observations and data from monitoring and deployment hardware to improve model initial conditions and predictions.
  • Build an operational modeling chain that ingests historical, forecast, and observational data for high-resolution WRF simulations.
  • Evaluate artificial intelligence and machine learning weather models and emulators for prediction, model acceleration, and operational decision support.
  • Develop cloud and high performance computing workflows for model execution, data management, analysis, and visualization.
Scientific and Team Leadership
  • Set technical priorities and communicate scientific findings, limitations, and uncertainty to company leadership and external research partners.
  • Recruit, mentor, and lead atmospheric scientists, meteorologists, data scientists, and scientific software engineers as the company grows.
  • Build productive relationships with universities, national laboratories, research institutions, and other scientific partners.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree or higher in atmospheric science, meteorology, physics, computer science, data science, or a related field. An advanced degree is preferred.
  • Broad experience in atmospheric science, meteorology, weather prediction, numerical weather prediction, or atmospheric research.
  • Extensive experience configuring, running, and analyzing WRF. Experience contributing to WRF development is valuable.
  • Experience implementing WRFDA, DART, or similar data assimilation systems for research or operational use.
  • Strong knowledge of boundary layer meteorology, cloud microphysics, convective initiation, precipitation processes, and mesoscale atmospheric dynamics.
  • Experience interpreting forecasts and observations from radar, satellite, soundings, surface stations, or other meteorological systems.
  • Prior experience with artificial intelligence and machine learning weather modeling, weather emulators, or related atmospheric applications.
  • Experience running numerical weather prediction models in Linux, cloud computing, or high performance computing environments.
  • Deep experience with meteorological datasets and formats such as NetCDF and GRIB.
  • Strong Python skills and working knowledge of Fortran, C++, or similar scientific computing languages.
  • Experience leading technical teams, setting scientific priorities, and communicating complex results to technical and nontechnical audiences.
  • Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and work effectively in a fast-changing startup environment.
  • Hands-on experience deploying, operating, troubleshooting, or interpreting data from meteorological field equipment.
  • Experience with Doppler light detection and ranging (lidar) systems, weather radar, radiometers, radiosondes, disdrometers, ceilometers, or surface weather stations.
  • Experience with field campaigns, environmental monitoring, or deployment operations in the Southwest United States.
  • Experience at a national laboratory, research university, government weather organization, or artificial intelligence weather company.
Location
This role may be based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, or New Mexico. The balance between in-person and remote work can be tailored to the candidate and team needs. Frequent travel is required.

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