Atmospheric and Space Scientists Salary
The median pay for a atmospheric and space scientists in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL is $122,700/year ($58.99/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $172K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 114.16), so that salary is closer to $107,481 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,436/month, about 30.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $123K get you in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach’s Regional Price Parity (114.16). 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach sits well above the national pay line for atmospheric and space scientists, local pay runs about 24% higher than the U.S. median of $99K. Rent runs $2,436/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 14% above the national average (BEA RPP 114.16), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for atmospheric and space scientists in metros near Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $122K | $121K |
| Huntsville | $81K | $87K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $103K | $103K |
| Birmingham | $78K | $85K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
Entry-level atmospheric and space scientists (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $123K. Top earners bring in $172K or more, a $131K 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a atmospheric and space scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $123K, rent takes 30.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,436/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for atmospheric and space scientists in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new atmospheric and space scientists typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,482/month. At HUD’s $2,436/month FMR, rent would take 98% 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $123K here vs. $99K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 14% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach compare to the national average for atmospheric and space scientists?
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach pays $123K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s +24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 114.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL?
The median is $122,700 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,370, and experienced atmospheric and space scientists can clear $172,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $123K enough to live in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,885/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,436/month, which eats 30.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a atmospheric and space scientists salary go in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach has a Regional Price Parity of 114.16 (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 $107,481 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.