A meteorologist, also known as a weatherman or a weather forecaster, is a trained scientist who studies weather and weather patterns. While both meteorologists and climatologists study weather, climatologists are more interested in long-term trends and effects, whereas meteorologists are more interested in short-term weather patterns. A bachelor’s degree is required for entry into the field of meteorology, and a master’s degree is required for a large number of positions. The US Weather Service, which is part of the government, employs over one-third of meteorologists in the United States. The salary of a meteorologist is determined by his educational background, experience, type of employer, and whether or not he works in the media.
Education is one of the first factors to consider when determining a meteorologist’s salary. As previously stated, a bachelor’s degree in meteorology, atmospheric science, or a related field of study is required to work in this field. A master’s degree is required for many jobs, especially those with the US National Weather Service. If they had a degree at all, television weathermen used to have bachelor’s degrees in journalism, communications, or another media-related field. Gradually, television stations began to promote the accuracy of their weather forecast over that of competitors by promising meteorologists rather than weathermen.
Another factor that influences a meteorologist’s salary is experience. In government agencies, where salary ranges are determined by a ranking matrix, the number of years a weather scientist has been employed or has experience in the field is especially important. In the private sector, an employee’s length of service with a company is frequently associated with a higher salary. Tuition reimbursement is a common benefit that allows experienced employees the time and financial resources to pursue a master’s degree or even a doctorate, potentially increasing the meteorologist’s salary. When combined with popularity ratings, experience can be very beneficial to a television meteorologist’s salary, especially during contract negotiations.
The salary of a media-related meteorologist is determined by factors that are not present in the salaries of other weather forecasters. Higher pay is clearly associated with larger urban markets, as it is with most local television news positions. The majority of television meteorologists begin their careers in smaller towns with smaller markets, earning significantly less than their urban counterparts. The market share of a television station has a significant impact on the salary of a resident meteorologist. Whether a media-related meteorologist works for a local or national station now has an impact on potential earnings.