Atmospheric and Space Scientists Salary
The median pay for a atmospheric and space scientists in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD is $128,800/year ($61.92/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $162K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.49), that's roughly $123,265 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,857/month, or 24.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $129K get you in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baltimore-Columbia-Towson’s Regional Price Parity (104.49). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About atmospheric and space scientists
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What this looks like in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson sits well above the national pay line for atmospheric and space scientists, local pay runs about 30% higher than the U.S. median of $99K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,857/month, 24% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 104.49) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson offers a genuinely strong financial position for atmospheric and space scientistss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for atmospheric and space scientists in metros near Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $118K | $108K |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $83K | $81K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $99K | $101K |
| Richmond | $113K | $115K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Entry-level atmospheric and space scientists (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $162K or more, a $82K spread from bottom to top.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $129K | +30% | 750 |
| California | $125K | +26% | 510 |
| Hawaii | $121K | +22% | 70 |
| New Jersey | $120K | +21% | 60 |
| Idaho | $119K | +21% | 50 |
| New York | $118K | +19% | 370 |
| Florida | $116K | +17% | 270 |
| Arizona | $115K | +16% | 80 |
| Missouri | $114K | +15% | 160 |
| Illinois | $112K | +13% | 110 |
| Oregon | $112K | +13% | 100 |
| New Mexico | $110K | +11% | 60 |
| Nevada | $109K | +10% | 120 |
| Kansas | $109K | +10% | 80 |
| Montana | $109K | +10% | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $108K | +9% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $106K | +7% | 50 |
| Colorado | $105K | +6% | 1,150 |
| District of Columbia | $104K | +5% | 70 |
| Maine | $104K | +5% | 50 |
| Indiana | $104K | +5% | 80 |
| Kentucky | $103K | +4% | 100 |
| Michigan | $103K | +4% | 150 |
| Wyoming | $100K | +1% | 40 |
| Louisiana | $97K | -2% | 70 |
| Georgia | $97K | -2% | 170 |
| Utah | $97K | -3% | 170 |
| Tennessee | $96K | -3% | 230 |
| Washington | $94K | -5% | 190 |
| Alaska | $94K | -5% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $92K | -8% | 170 |
| North Dakota | $92K | -8% | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $86K | -13% | 280 |
| Connecticut | $85K | -14% | 50 |
| Texas | $85K | -14% | 720 |
| Virginia | $84K | -15% | 350 |
| South Carolina | $82K | -17% | 150 |
| Alabama | $81K | -18% | 340 |
| West Virginia | $81K | -19% | 40 |
| South Dakota | $79K | -20% | 130 |
| Ohio | $79K | -21% | 160 |
| Iowa | $77K | -22% | 100 |
| Oklahoma | $76K | -23% | 420 |
| Pennsylvania | $76K | -23% | 160 |
| Arkansas | $72K | -27% | N/A |
| Nebraska | $61K | -39% | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $43K | -57% | 130 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track atmospheric and space scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Baltimore-Columbia-Towson numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a atmospheric and space scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 24% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,857/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for atmospheric and space scientists in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new atmospheric and space scientists typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,757/month. At HUD’s $1,857/month FMR, rent would take 39% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is atmospheric and space scientist a high-paying job in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Local pay is 30% above the national median — $129K here vs. $99K nationally.
How does Baltimore-Columbia-Towson compare to the national average for atmospheric and space scientists?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s +30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $123K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median is $128,800 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,280, and experienced atmospheric and space scientists can clear $161,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,731/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,857/month, which eats 24% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a atmospheric and space scientists salary go in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson has a Regional Price Parity of 104.49 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median atmospheric and space scientists salary is worth about $123,265 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do atmospheric and space scientists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.