Atmospheric and Space Scientists Salary
The median pay for a atmospheric and space scientists in Richmond, VA is $112,510/year ($54.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $164K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.86), that's roughly $114,970 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,655/month, or 23.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $113K get you in Richmond?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Richmond’s Regional Price Parity (97.86). 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 Richmond
Richmond sits well above the national pay line for atmospheric and space scientists, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $99K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,655/month, 24.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.86) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Richmond 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 Richmond, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $99K | $101K |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $118K | $108K |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $129K | $123K |
| Memphis | $79K | $86K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Richmond, VA
Entry-level atmospheric and space scientists (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $113K. Top earners bring in $164K or more, a $93K 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 Richmond numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a atmospheric and space scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Richmond?
Yes — at the median salary of $113K, rent takes 24.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,655/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for atmospheric and space scientists in Richmond?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new atmospheric and space scientists typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,271/month. At HUD’s $1,655/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 Richmond?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $113K here vs. $99K nationally.
How does Richmond compare to the national average for atmospheric and space scientists?
Richmond pays $113K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $115K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make in Richmond, VA?
The median is $112,510 a year, that works out to about $54 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,190, and experienced atmospheric and space scientists can clear $163,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $113K enough to live in Richmond?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,799/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,655/month, which eats 24.3% 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 Richmond?
Richmond has a Regional Price Parity of 97.86 (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 $114,970 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.