Atmospheric and Space Scientists Salary
The median pay for a atmospheric and space scientists in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL is $122,280/year ($58.79/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $180K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.89), that's roughly $121,201 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,977/month, or 25.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $122K get you in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater’s Regional Price Parity (100.89). 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater sits well above the national pay line for atmospheric and space scientists, local pay runs about 23% higher than the U.S. median of $99K. Rent runs $1,977/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.89) 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $123K | $107K |
| 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, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Entry-level atmospheric and space scientists (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $122K. Top earners bring in $180K or more, a $139K 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a atmospheric and space scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
Yes — at the median salary of $122K, rent takes 25.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,977/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for atmospheric and space scientists in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new atmospheric and space scientists typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,425/month. At HUD’s $1,977/month FMR, rent would take 82% 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $122K here vs. $99K nationally.
How does Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater compare to the national average for atmospheric and space scientists?
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater pays $122K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $121K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?
The median is $122,280 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,410, and experienced atmospheric and space scientists can clear $179,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $122K enough to live in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,861/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,977/month, which eats 25.1% 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater has a Regional Price Parity of 100.89 (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 $121,201 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.