Atmospheric and Space Scientists Salary
The median pay for a atmospheric and space scientists in Urban Honolulu, HI is $122,880/year ($59.08/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $168K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.96), so that salary is closer to $110,743 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,642/month, about 36.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $123K get you in Urban Honolulu?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Urban Honolulu’s Regional Price Parity (110.96). 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 Urban Honolulu
Urban Honolulu 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. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,642/month, which is 37.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.96), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Urban Honolulu, HI
Entry-level atmospheric and space scientists (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $123K. Top earners bring in $168K or more, a $85K 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 Urban Honolulu numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a atmospheric and space scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Urban Honolulu?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $123K, rent takes 37.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,642/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,100/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 Urban Honolulu?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new atmospheric and space scientists typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,976/month. At HUD’s $2,642/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Urban Honolulu?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $123K here vs. $99K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 11% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Urban Honolulu compare to the national average for atmospheric and space scientists?
Urban Honolulu pays $123K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s +24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.96), the purchasing-power equivalent is $111K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make in Urban Honolulu, HI?
The median is $122,880 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $82,930, and experienced atmospheric and space scientists can clear $168,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $123K enough to live in Urban Honolulu?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,128/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,642/month, which eats 37.1% 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 Urban Honolulu?
Urban Honolulu has a Regional Price Parity of 110.96 (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 $110,743 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.