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Climate Science Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Patch

Embedded Climate Strategist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$175K - $230K/yr

... with science-based targets (SBTs) and net-zero commitments. * Carbon Market Strategy: Advise ... Climate Claims & Reporting: Help businesses navigate climate-related claims, disclosures, and ...

3M HEALTHCARE

Machine Learning Scientist

Boulder, CO · On-site +1

This role sits at the intersection of hydrology, weather and climate science, and large-scale machine learning. The Sr. Scientist will help shape how hydrologic process understanding, climate data ...

3M HEALTHCARE

Machine Learning Scientist

Boulder, CO · On-site +1

This role sits at the intersection of hydrology, weather and climate science, and large-scale machine learning. The Sr. Scientist will help shape how hydrologic process understanding, climate data ...

3M HEALTHCARE

Senior Machine Learning Scientist

Boulder, CO · On-site +1

$96K - $131K/yr

This role sits at the intersection of hydrology, weather and climate science, and large-scale machine learning. The Sr. Scientist will help shape how hydrologic process understanding, climate data ...

3M HEALTHCARE

Senior Machine Learning Scientist

Boulder, CO · On-site +1

$96K - $131K/yr

This role sits at the intersection of hydrology, weather and climate science, and large-scale machine learning. The Sr. Scientist will help shape how hydrologic process understanding, climate data ...

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Climate Science information

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$24.5K

$48.4K

$79K

How much do climate science jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for climate science in the United States is $48,391.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,500.00 and $52,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is climate science?

Climate science is the study of Earth's climate system, including the atmosphere, oceans, land surfaces, and ice. It involves understanding how these components interact, how the climate has changed in the past, and how it may change in the future due to natural and human influences. Climate scientists use data from observations, models, and experiments to analyze trends, predict climate scenarios, and inform policy decisions. Their work is crucial for addressing issues like global warming, extreme weather events, and environmental sustainability.

What are some common challenges climate scientists face when conducting field research?

Climate scientists often encounter logistical and environmental challenges while conducting field research. These can include accessing remote or hazardous locations, dealing with unpredictable weather conditions, and transporting sensitive equipment. Collaboration with local experts and interdisciplinary teams is essential to ensure accurate data collection and analysis. Additionally, securing funding and adhering to regulatory requirements can be ongoing hurdles, but overcoming these challenges provides valuable experience and contributes to meaningful scientific advancements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a climate scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Climate Scientist, you need a strong background in environmental science, atmospheric physics, mathematics, and typically a graduate degree in a related field. Familiarity with climate modeling software, programming languages like Python or R, and experience analyzing large datasets are commonly required. Excellent analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you interpret data and share findings with diverse audiences. These skills ensure rigorous scientific research, accurate climate predictions, and impactful contributions to environmental policy and public understanding.

What is the difference between Climate Science vs Environmental Science?

AspectClimate ScienceEnvironmental Science
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Climate Science, Environmental Science, or related fields; certifications in climate modeling or data analysisBachelor's or Master's in Environmental Science, Ecology, or related fields; certifications in environmental management
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, government agencies, climate modeling centersEnvironmental consulting firms, government agencies, NGOs
Industry UsageFocuses on climate change, atmospheric processes, and global warmingFocuses on ecosystems, pollution, conservation, and sustainability

Climate Science and Environmental Science share overlapping skills and work environments but differ in focus. Climate Science centers on climate change and atmospheric processes, while Environmental Science covers broader ecological and pollution issues. Both fields are vital for addressing environmental challenges and often collaborate in research and policy development.

Are climate scientists in demand?

Climate scientists are in increasing demand due to growing concerns about climate change and environmental sustainability. They often work in research institutions, government agencies, and environmental organizations, utilizing skills in data analysis, modeling, and environmental policy. Job growth in this field is expected to be faster than average over the coming years.

Do climate scientists make a lot of money?

Climate scientists typically earn a median salary that is comparable to other environmental science roles, with salaries varying based on experience, education, and location. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced professionals with advanced degrees and research expertise can earn higher salaries, often supplemented by grants and institutional funding.

What can you do with a climate science degree?

A climate science degree prepares individuals for careers such as climate analyst, environmental consultant, research scientist, or policy advisor. These roles often involve data analysis, modeling, and using tools like GIS and climate models to assess environmental impacts and develop sustainable solutions.

What do climate scientists do?

Climate scientists study the Earth's climate systems, analyzing data on temperature, weather patterns, and greenhouse gas levels to understand climate change. They use tools like computer models and conduct field research to assess environmental impacts and inform policy decisions.
More about Climate Science jobs

What cities are hiring for Climate Science jobs?

Cities with the most Climate Science job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Climate Science jobs?

The most popular types of Climate Science jobs are:

What states have the most Climate Science jobs?

States with the most job openings for Climate Science jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Climate Science jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Climate Science jobs are:

Climate Science jobs near you
Infographic showing various Climate Science job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 76% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $48,391 per year, or $23.3 per hour.

Climate data scientist, sustainability

Watershed Technology, Inc

San Francisco, CA • On-site, Remote

$193K - $202K/yr

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Develop, maintain, and improve Watershed's built-in sustainability methodologies based on scientific and regulatory standards.

  • Collaborate with software engineers, data scientists, and product managers to design and review methodology features that are scientifically rigorous and user-friendly.

  • Interpret evolving sustainability standards and guidance to ensure product compliance and accuracy.

Job description

About Watershed
Watershed is the enterprise sustainability platform. Companies like Airbnb, Carlyle Group, FedEx, Visa, and Dr. Martens use Watershed to manage climate and ESG data, produce audit-ready metrics for voluntary and regulatory reporting including CSRD, and drive real decarbonization. We are looking for team members who love product-building, want to work hard at a mission-oriented startup, and will collaborate with us in shaping the culture of a growing team.
We have offices in San Francisco, New York, Denver, London, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, Mexico City, and remote team members across the US and Europe. We hope that you'll be interested in joining us!
The role
Domain expertise in the science of sustainability is the foundation upon which Watershed is built. On the Methodology team, we work at the nexus of corporate sustainability, sustainability science, data, and software - developing the methods that turn raw business data into auditable sustainability data and actionable sustainability insight.
This is a technical, hands-on, and highly collaborative role. You'll work closely with software engineers, data scientists, and product managers to build and maintain Watershed's industry-leading built-in methodologies: keeping them up to date with the latest scientific developments and standards, developing pragmatic and innovative approaches to emerging challenges, and maintaining our high bar for scientific rigor and integrity.
This is an applied science role, where your knowledge and expertise will become product capabilities used by companies to understand and reduce their real-world impact. You'll need to understand not only the scientific fundamentals of sustainability, but also how they apply across business contexts, sectors, data realities, legislation, and standards. Great corporate sustainability programs that drive real change are built on credible, accessible, and actionable data - this is our North Star.
You will
  • Develop, maintain, and improve Watershed's built-in sustainability methodologies, translating sustainability science, GHG accounting standards, and emerging regulatory requirements into robust product logic.
  • Partner closely with software engineers, data scientists, and product managers to design methodology features that are scientifically rigorous, auditable, scalable, and intuitive for customers.
  • Work directly in and around the codebase: reviewing methodology implementations, writing clear technical specifications, contributing configuration or logic where appropriate, and helping build tests that give us confidence in scientific correctness.
  • Interpret evolving standards and guidance - including the GHG Protocol, sustainability reporting frameworks, and sector-specific methodologies - and determine how they should be reflected in Watershed's product.
  • Investigate complex customer and product questions where sustainability science, data quality, accounting rules, and business context intersect.
  • Build pragmatic approaches for messy real-world business data, balancing scientific rigor with usability, auditability, and customer impact.
  • Collaborate with our go-to-market and customer-facing teams to explain methodology choices clearly to customers, auditors, and other stakeholders.
  • Help set the bar for scientific quality across Watershed by documenting decisions, reviewing methodology changes, and contributing to our internal methodology standards.
You might be a fit if you
  • Have a Master's or PhD in climate science, environmental science, sustainability, industrial ecology, or another relevant quantitative field.
  • Have 5+ years of experience in corporate sustainability, sustainability consulting, carbon accounting, climate strategy, or a related field - ideally working with large, complex organizations.
  • Are a systems thinker who can zoom out to understand interconnected sustainability and business systems, then zoom in to identify high‑leverage technical solutions and anticipate unintended impacts.
  • Have deep knowledge of both the application of, and reasoning behind, prevailing GHG accounting standards and sustainability reporting frameworks - at minimum the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard and Scope 3 Standard; familiarity with the GHG Protocol Land Sector and Removals Guidance and updated ESRS is a plus.
  • Able to work in a Python codebase. This is not a software engineering role, but you should be comfortable reading code, reasoning about implementation details, and making contributions to the codebase.
  • Can communicate complex ideas clearly to a wide range of audiences, including scientific experts, academics, verifiers, auditors, customers, internal business stakeholders, software engineers, and data scientists.
Bonus points
  • Experience building or maintaining carbon accounting methodologies, emissions factor datasets, LCA models, or sustainability software.
  • Familiarity with assurance or audit processes for GHG inventories or sustainability disclosures.
  • Comfort working with data using Python, SQL, Typescript, or similar tools.
  • Experience translating complex standards or scientific methods into operational guidance, technical specifications, or product requirements.
  • Experience working with engineers to translate scientific methods into tested, production-grade software.

Must be willing to work from an office 4 days per week (except for remote roles)
Watershed has hub offices in San Francisco, New York, London, and Mexico City and satellite offices in Denver, Sydney, Paris, and Berlin. Where we have offices, employees are expected to be in office for 4 days per week. Certain jobs are open to being remote and will be specifically noted on the jobs page and in the job description if so.
What's the interview process like?
It starts the same for every candidate: getting to know the team members through 1 to 2 conversations about Watershed, your experience, and your interests. Next steps can vary by role, but usual next steps are a skill or experience interview (e.g. a coding interview for an engineer, a portfolio review for a designer, deeper experience call for other roles) which leads to a virtual or in person interview panel. We prioritize transparency and lack of surprise throughout the process.
What if I need accommodations for my interview?
At Watershed, we are dedicated to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process. We provide reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities, long-term conditions, mental health needs, religious observances, neurodivergence, or pregnancy-related support requirements. If you need assistance during your process, please contact your recruiter.

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