Atmospheric and Space Scientists Salary
The median pay for a atmospheric and space scientists in Colorado Springs, CO is $106,020/year ($50.97/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $164K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.71), that's roughly $105,273 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,474/month, or 21.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $106K actually covers in Colorado Springs, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Colorado Springs’s Regional Price Parity (100.71). 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 Colorado Springs
Atmospheric and space scientists pay in Colorado Springs tracks closely to the national median, $106K locally vs. $99K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,474/month, 22.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for atmospheric and space scientists in metros near Colorado Springs, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $122K | $116K |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $111K | $110K |
| Oklahoma City | $76K | $85K |
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $101K | $100K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado Springs, CO
Entry-level atmospheric and space scientists (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $106K. Top earners bring in $164K or more, a $108K 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 annually. We'll email you when Colorado Springs numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a atmospheric and space scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado Springs?
Yes — at the median salary of $106K, rent takes 22.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,474/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for atmospheric and space scientists in Colorado Springs?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new atmospheric and space scientists typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,734/month. At HUD’s $1,474/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 Colorado Springs?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $106K locally vs. $99K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Colorado Springs compare to the national average for atmospheric and space scientists?
Colorado Springs pays $106K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $105K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make in Colorado Springs, CO?
The median is $106,020 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,320, and experienced atmospheric and space scientists can clear $164,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $106K enough to live in Colorado Springs?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,526/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,474/month, which eats 22.6% 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 Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs has a Regional Price Parity of 100.71 (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 $105,273 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.