Atmospheric and Space Scientists Salary
The median pay for a atmospheric and space scientists in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI is $72,800/year ($35/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.94), that's roughly $75,098 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,338/month, or 28% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $73K get you in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Milwaukee-Waukesha’s Regional Price Parity (96.94). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Milwaukee-Waukesha
Pay for atmospheric and space scientists in Milwaukee-Waukesha runs about 27% below the U.S. median of $99K. Rent runs $1,338/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 96.94) 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Madison | $108K | $111K |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $77K | $84K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $133K | $129K |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $127K | $127K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Entry-level atmospheric and space scientists (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $39K 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
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 Milwaukee-Waukesha numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a atmospheric and space scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 28.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,338/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for atmospheric and space scientists in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new atmospheric and space scientists typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,844/month. At HUD’s $1,338/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Local pay runs 27% below the national median — $73K here vs. $99K nationally.
How does Milwaukee-Waukesha compare to the national average for atmospheric and space scientists?
Milwaukee-Waukesha pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s -27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.94), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — below the national median.
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The median is $72,800 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,060, and experienced atmospheric and space scientists can clear $102,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,732/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,338/month, which eats 28.3% 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Milwaukee-Waukesha has a Regional Price Parity of 96.94 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median atmospheric and space scientists salary is worth about $75,098 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.