Jobs Similar to Atmospheric and Space Scientists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to atmospheric and space scientists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Astronomers, Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers) and Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists: $99,070 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Atmospheric and Space Scientists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AstronomersSame group | 83% | $128,820+30% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersSame group | 83% | $101,920+3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Remote Sensing Scientists and TechnologistsSame group | 83% | $122,570Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | HydrologistsSame group | 81% | $96,600−2% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Industrial EcologistsSame group | 79% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Geographers | 79% | $102,040+3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Mathematicians | 79% | $126,710+28% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | PhysicistsSame group | 78% | $172,250+74% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Soil and Plant Scientists | 77% | $78,850−20% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthSame group | 77% | $82,220−17% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Water Resource Specialists | 77% | $167,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Conservation Scientists | 77% | $73,010−26% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Statisticians | 76% | $105,650+7% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | 75% | $81,390−18% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Bioinformatics Technicians | 75% | $81,490Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Environmental Restoration PlannersSame group | 75% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Computer and Information Research Scientists | 75% | $140,300+42% | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Bioinformatics Scientists | 75% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Petroleum Engineers | 75% | $144,910+46% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | 74% | $76,780−22% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Astronomers
83% similar · $128,820 (+30%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
83% similar · $101,920 (+3%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
83% similar · $122,570 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Hydrologists
81% similar · $96,600 (−2%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Industrial Ecologists
79% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Geographers
79% similar · $102,040 (+3%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Mathematicians
79% similar · $126,710 (+28%) · Graduate degree
- 8Physicists
78% similar · $172,250 (+74%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Soil and Plant Scientists
77% similar · $78,850 (−20%) · Graduate degree
- 10Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
77% similar · $82,220 (−17%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Water Resource Specialists
77% similar · $167,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Conservation Scientists
77% similar · $73,010 (−26%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Statisticians
76% similar · $105,650 (+7%) · Graduate degree
- 14Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
75% similar · $81,390 (−18%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Bioinformatics Technicians
75% similar · $81,490 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Environmental Restoration Planners
75% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 17Computer and Information Research Scientists
75% similar · $140,300 (+42%) · Graduate degree
- 18Bioinformatics Scientists
75% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 19Petroleum Engineers
75% similar · $144,910 (+46%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
74% similar · $76,780 (−22%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than atmospheric and space scientists.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for atmospheric and space scientists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where atmospheric and space scientists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like atmospheric and space scientists
What jobs are most similar to atmospheric and space scientists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Astronomers (83% similar), Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers) (83% similar), Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists (83% similar), Hydrologists (81% similar) and Industrial Ecologists (79% similar).
Which jobs like atmospheric and space scientists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Physicists ($172,250, +74%; usually a graduate degree), Petroleum Engineers ($144,910, +46%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Computer and Information Research Scientists ($140,300, +42%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with atmospheric and space scientists ($99,070). Without more preparation than atmospheric and space scientists usually need: Petroleum Engineers, Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers) and Geographers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.