Atmospheric and Space Scientists build complex problem solving, judgment and decision making and social perceptiveness skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Geographers (86%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geographers | 86% | $102,040 | +3% | None |
| 2 | Data Scientists | 84% | $120,230 | +21% | None |
| 3 | Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians | 81% | $116,580Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 4 | Water Resource Specialists | 77% | $167,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Natural Sciences Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Statisticians | 75% | $105,650 | +7% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Petroleum Engineers | 75% | $144,910 | +46% | None |
| 7 | Transportation Planners | 74% | $101,110Pay for the broader BLS group “Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 8 | Mathematicians | 74% | $126,710 | +28% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Environmental Engineers | 73% | $107,110 | +8% | None |
| 10 | Wind Energy Engineers | 73% | $122,930Pay for the broader BLS group “Engineers, All Other” | Not compared | None |
Compared with Atmospheric and Space Scientists, median $99,070. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as atmospheric and space scientists (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
86% skill match · $102,040 · +3% pay
Systems Analysis · Negotiation
84% skill match · $120,230 · +21% pay
Programming · Quality Control Analysis
81% skill match · $116,580 (broader BLS group)
Troubleshooting · Quality Control Analysis · Operation and Control
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Geographers (86% skill match, median $102,040), Data Scientists (84% skill match, median $120,230) and Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians (81% skill match, median $116,580), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 12 pay more than atmospheric and space scientists at the median. The biggest increases: Medical Dosimetrists (+49%, $147,470), Petroleum Engineers (+46%, $144,910) and Database Architects (+41%, $139,500).
22 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones. 3 usually need a graduate degree: Statisticians, Mathematicians and Soil and Plant Scientists.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.