Atmospheric and Space Scientists Salary
The median pay for a atmospheric and space scientists in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD is $82,980/year ($39.89/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $171K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.55), that's roughly $80,917 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,810/month, about 33.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $83K get you in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington’s Regional Price Parity (102.55). 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington
Pay for atmospheric and space scientists in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $99K. Rent runs $1,810/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.55) 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $129K | $123K |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $129K | $114K |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $134K | $135K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Entry-level atmospheric and space scientists (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $171K or more, a $115K 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a atmospheric and space scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 33.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,810/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new atmospheric and space scientists typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,328/month. At HUD’s $1,810/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $83K here vs. $99K nationally.
How does Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington compare to the national average for atmospheric and space scientists?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.55), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — below the national median.
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?
The median is $82,980 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,470, and experienced atmospheric and space scientists can clear $170,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,351/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,810/month, which eats 33.8% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.55 (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 $80,917 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.