Atmospheric and Space Scientists
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 19-2021.00
Investigate atmospheric phenomena and interpret meteorological data, gathered by surface and air stations, satellites, and radar to prepare reports and forecasts for public and other uses. Includes weather analysts and forecasters whose functions require the detailed knowledge of meteorology.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Very high· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.038
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.54
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only27 rated tasks · 25 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (92.6%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % | APIRaw / share % |
|---|---|---|
Interpret data, reports, maps, photographs, or charts to predict long- or short-range weather conditions, using computer models and knowledge of climate theory, physics, and mathematics.19-2021.00 | 0.020735.0 | —0 |
Gather data from sources such as surface or upper air stations, satellites, weather bureaus, or radar for use in meteorological reports or forecasts.19-2021.00 | 0.012120.4 | 0.004466.7 |
Conduct meteorological research into the processes or determinants of atmospheric phenomena, weather, or climate.19-2021.00 | 0.007412.5 | 0.002233.3 |
Design or develop new equipment or methods for meteorological data collection, remote sensing, or related applications.19-2021.00 | 0.00508.4 | —0 |
Prepare weather reports or maps for analysis, distribution, or use in weather broadcasts, using computer graphics.19-2021.00 | 0.00447.4 | —0 |
Prepare scientific atmospheric or climate reports, articles, or texts.19-2021.00 | 0.00427.1 | —0 |
Formulate predictions by interpreting environmental data, such as meteorological, atmospheric, oceanic, paleoclimate, climate, or related information.19-2021.00 | 0.00203.4 | —0 |
Consult with other offices, agencies, professionals, or researchers regarding the use and interpretation of climatological information for weather predictions and warnings.19-2021.00 | 0.00183.0 | —0 |
Broadcast weather conditions, forecasts, or severe weather warnings to the public via television, radio, or the Internet or provide this information to the news media.19-2021.00 | 0.00162.7 | —0 |
| Not observed on any surface — 15 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states. | ||
Prepare forecasts or briefings to meet the needs of industry, business, government, or other groups. | —0 | —0 |
Measure wind, temperature, and humidity in the upper atmosphere, using weather balloons. | —0 | —0 |
Direct forecasting services at weather stations or at radio or television broadcasting facilities. | —0 | —0 |
Conduct numerical simulations of climate conditions to understand and predict global or regional weather patterns. | —0 | —0 |
Analyze climate data sets, using techniques such as geophysical fluid dynamics, data assimilation, or numerical modeling. | —0 | —0 |
Perform managerial duties, such as creating work schedules, creating or implementing staff training, matching staff expertise to situations, or analyzing performance of offices. | —0 | —0 |
Analyze historical climate information, such as precipitation or temperature records, to help predict future weather or climate trends. | —0 | —0 |
Apply meteorological knowledge to issues such as global warming, pollution control, or ozone depletion. | —0 | —0 |
Develop or use mathematical or computer models for weather forecasting. | —0 | —0 |
Research the impact of industrial projects or pollution on climate, air quality, or weather phenomena. | —0 | —0 |
Collect air samples from planes or ships over land or sea to study atmospheric composition. | —0 | —0 |
Conduct wind assessment, integration, or validation studies. | —0 | —0 |
Create visualizations to illustrate historical or future changes in the Earth's climate, using paleoclimate or climate geographic information systems (GIS) databases. | —0 | —0 |
Estimate or predict the effects of global warming over time for specific geographic regions. | —0 | —0 |
Teach college-level courses on topics such as atmospheric and space science, meteorology, or global climate change. | —0 | —0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Develop or use mathematical or computer models for weather forecasting.O*NET Task ID 20208 | 1.0 |
Prepare scientific atmospheric or climate reports, articles, or texts.O*NET Task ID 20211 | 1.0 |
Speak to the public to discuss weather topics or answer questions.O*NET Task ID 21103 | 1.0 |
Develop computer programs to collect meteorological data or to present meteorological information.O*NET Task ID 21104 | 1.0 |
Broadcast weather conditions, forecasts, or severe weather warnings to the public via television, radio, or the Internet or provide this information to the news media.O*NET Task ID 9068 | 0.5 |
Gather data from sources such as surface or upper air stations, satellites, weather bureaus, or radar for use in meteorological reports or forecasts.O*NET Task ID 9069 | 0.5 |
Prepare forecasts or briefings to meet the needs of industry, business, government, or other groups.O*NET Task ID 9070 | 0.5 |
Direct forecasting services at weather stations or at radio or television broadcasting facilities.O*NET Task ID 9076 | 0.5 |
Conduct numerical simulations of climate conditions to understand and predict global or regional weather patterns.O*NET Task ID 9079 | 0.5 |
Design or develop new equipment or methods for meteorological data collection, remote sensing, or related applications.O*NET Task ID 9083 | 0.5 |
Analyze climate data sets, using techniques such as geophysical fluid dynamics, data assimilation, or numerical modeling.O*NET Task ID 19755 | 0.5 |
Conduct wind assessment, integration, or validation studies.O*NET Task ID 19756 | 0.5 |
Create visualizations to illustrate historical or future changes in the Earth's climate, using paleoclimate or climate geographic information systems (GIS) databases.O*NET Task ID 19757 | 0.5 |
Estimate or predict the effects of global warming over time for specific geographic regions.O*NET Task ID 19758 | 0.5 |
Formulate predictions by interpreting environmental data, such as meteorological, atmospheric, oceanic, paleoclimate, climate, or related information.O*NET Task ID 19759 | 0.5 |
Perform managerial duties, such as creating work schedules, creating or implementing staff training, matching staff expertise to situations, or analyzing performance of offices.O*NET Task ID 20202 | 0.5 |
Consult with other offices, agencies, professionals, or researchers regarding the use and interpretation of climatological information for weather predictions and warnings.O*NET Task ID 20203 | 0.5 |
Teach college-level courses on topics such as atmospheric and space science, meteorology, or global climate change.O*NET Task ID 20204 | 0.5 |
Analyze historical climate information, such as precipitation or temperature records, to help predict future weather or climate trends.O*NET Task ID 20205 | 0.5 |
Prepare weather reports or maps for analysis, distribution, or use in weather broadcasts, using computer graphics.O*NET Task ID 20206 | 0.5 |
Apply meteorological knowledge to issues such as global warming, pollution control, or ozone depletion.O*NET Task ID 20207 | 0.5 |
Interpret data, reports, maps, photographs, or charts to predict long- or short-range weather conditions, using computer models and knowledge of climate theory, physics, and mathematics.O*NET Task ID 20209 | 0.5 |
Conduct meteorological research into the processes or determinants of atmospheric phenomena, weather, or climate.O*NET Task ID 20210 | 0.5 |
Research the impact of industrial projects or pollution on climate, air quality, or weather phenomena.O*NET Task ID 20212 | 0.5 |
Develop and deliver training on weather topics.O*NET Task ID 21105 | 0.5 |
Measure wind, temperature, and humidity in the upper atmosphere, using weather balloons.O*NET Task ID 9074 | 0.0 |
Collect air samples from planes or ships over land or sea to study atmospheric composition.O*NET Task ID 9078 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (27)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Broadcast weather conditions, forecasts, or severe weather warnings to the public via television, radio, or the Internet or provide this information to the news media. | Core |
| Gather data from sources such as surface or upper air stations, satellites, weather bureaus, or radar for use in meteorological reports or forecasts. | Core |
| Prepare forecasts or briefings to meet the needs of industry, business, government, or other groups. | Core |
| Measure wind, temperature, and humidity in the upper atmosphere, using weather balloons. | Core |
| Analyze climate data sets, using techniques such as geophysical fluid dynamics, data assimilation, or numerical modeling. | Core |
| Formulate predictions by interpreting environmental data, such as meteorological, atmospheric, oceanic, paleoclimate, climate, or related information. | Core |
| Perform managerial duties, such as creating work schedules, creating or implementing staff training, matching staff expertise to situations, or analyzing performance of offices. | Core |
| Consult with other offices, agencies, professionals, or researchers regarding the use and interpretation of climatological information for weather predictions and warnings. | Core |
| Analyze historical climate information, such as precipitation or temperature records, to help predict future weather or climate trends. | Core |
| Prepare weather reports or maps for analysis, distribution, or use in weather broadcasts, using computer graphics. | Core |
| Apply meteorological knowledge to issues such as global warming, pollution control, or ozone depletion. | Core |
| Develop or use mathematical or computer models for weather forecasting. | Core |
| Interpret data, reports, maps, photographs, or charts to predict long- or short-range weather conditions, using computer models and knowledge of climate theory, physics, and mathematics. | Core |
| Conduct meteorological research into the processes or determinants of atmospheric phenomena, weather, or climate. | Core |
| Prepare scientific atmospheric or climate reports, articles, or texts. | Core |
| Speak to the public to discuss weather topics or answer questions. | Core |
| Develop computer programs to collect meteorological data or to present meteorological information. | Core |
| Develop and deliver training on weather topics. | Core |
| Direct forecasting services at weather stations or at radio or television broadcasting facilities. | Supplemental |
| Collect air samples from planes or ships over land or sea to study atmospheric composition. | Supplemental |
| Conduct numerical simulations of climate conditions to understand and predict global or regional weather patterns. | Supplemental |
| Design or develop new equipment or methods for meteorological data collection, remote sensing, or related applications. | Supplemental |
| Conduct wind assessment, integration, or validation studies. | Supplemental |
| Create visualizations to illustrate historical or future changes in the Earth's climate, using paleoclimate or climate geographic information systems (GIS) databases. | Supplemental |
| Estimate or predict the effects of global warming over time for specific geographic regions. | Supplemental |
| Teach college-level courses on topics such as atmospheric and space science, meteorology, or global climate change. | Supplemental |
| Research the impact of industrial projects or pollution on climate, air quality, or weather phenomena. | Supplemental |
0.03/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Measure wind, temperature, and humidity in the upper atmosphere, using weather balloons. | E2 structured facilities |
| Collect air samples from planes or ships over land or sea to study atmospheric composition. | E2 structured facilities |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 11K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 11K
- Change (2025–35)
- +2.6%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $99,070
- Typical education needed for entry
- Bachelor's degree
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21124 | 지구 및 기상 과학 연구원 | This occupation is narrower | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 2112Meteorologists
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Meteorologists prepare short-term or long-term weather forecasts used in aviation, shipping, agriculture and other areas and for the information of the general public. They conduct research related to the composition, structure and dynamics of the atmosphere.
Tasks
- (a) investigating direction and speed of air movements, pressures, temperatures, humidity, physical and chemical transformation of pollutants and other phenomena such as cloud formation and precipitation, electrical disturbances or solar radiation;
- (b) studying data collected from meteorological stations, radar and satellite imagery and computer model output to plot and forecast weather conditions;
- (c) preparing and reporting short-term or long-term weather maps, forecasts and warnings relating to atmospheric phenomena such as cyclones, storms and other hazards to life and property and disseminating information about atmospheric conditions through a variety of media including radio, television, print and the Internet;
- (d) conducting experiments in fog dispersal, cloud seeding, rain enhancement and other types of weather modification programmes;
- (e) developing and testing mathematical computer models of weather and climate for experimental or operational use;
- (f) participating in studies of the effect of weather on the environment;
- (g) analysing the impact of industrial projects and human activity on the climate and quality of the air and working with the social science, engineering and economic communities to develop appropriate mitigation strategies;
- (h) engaging in the design and development of new equipment and procedures for meteorological data collection, remote sensing, or for related applications;
- (i) conducting research on and improving or developing concepts, theories and operational methods related to the composition, structure and dynamics of the atmosphere and preparing scientific papers and reports on the outcome of this research.
Example occupations
Climatologist · Hydrometeorologist · Meteorologist · Weather forecaster
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- aviation meteorologistESCO 2112.1.1This occupation is broader
Aviation meteorologists forecast weather conditions in airports. They provide day-to-day, hour-to-hour observations, analysis, forecasts, warnings, and advice to pilots, airport operators and airlines in meteorological matters. They report weather conditions expected at airports, current conditions, and en route forecasts.
- meteorologistESCO 2112.1This occupation is broader
Meteorologists study climate processes, measure and predict weather patterns and provide consultancy services to a variety of weather information users. They work out models for weather forecasting, develop instruments to collect meteorological data and compile statistics and databases.
- meteorology technicianESCO 3111.8This occupation is broader
Meteorology technicians collect large amounts of meteorological information for weather information users such as aviation companies or meteorological institutions. They operate specialised measuring instruments to make accurate weather predictions and report their observations. Meteorology technicians assist meteorologists in their scientific operations.
- weather forecasterESCO 2112.1.3This occupation is broader
Weather forecasters gather meteorological data. They predict the weather according to these data. Weather forecasters present these forecasts to the audience via radio, television or online.
- climatologistESCO 2112.1.2Overlapping, not the same
Climatologists study the average change in weather and climate from a long-term perspective. They research and analyse historic weather conditions in order to forecast climatic conditions trends such as changes in temperature, global warming, or regional evolutive weather conditions. They use these findings for advising on environmental policy, construction, agricultural projects, and societal matters.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| M1890 | Responsable d'opérations en station météorologique | This occupation is broader |
| K2407 | Climatologue | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| M1809 | Météorologue | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| M1888 | Spécialiste en modélisation climatique | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| M1891 | Ingénieur / Ingénieure prévisionniste météorologue | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| M1893 | Technicien / Technicienne de la météorologie | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 2412 | Meteorólogos | Same scope |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 42144 | Berufe in der Meteorologie - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Same scopeprovisional |
| 42143 | Berufe in der Meteorologie - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 42142 | Berufe in der Meteorologie - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 051 | 自然科学系研究者 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 249 | 他に分類されない専門的職業従事者 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources