For Educators: Military Resources
Military Meteorologists / Oceanographers
Median Salary
96,751
Workforce Count
1,854
Overview
What are the responsibilities of this role?
Meteorologists and oceanographers in the Military prepare and disseminate weather warnings, watches, and advisories for military installations worldwide. They develop tailored forecasts for operations and conduct scientific research in ocean environments utilizing remote sensors and unmanned underwater vehicles. They integrate weather analyses with radar and satellite imagery interpretations to brief personnel on current and forecast weather conditions and their effect on air, land, and sea operations.
What is the work environment like?
Meteorologists/oceanographers in the military work in a variety of settings, both indoors and outdoors, depending on the area of specialization. Many meteorologists/oceanographers perform their work in laboratories or offices. Other meteorologists/oceanographers spend extensive hours outdoors collecting and analyzing data in the field.
How many people have this role in the Military?
1,854
Compensation
Understanding How Military Pay is More Than Just a Salary
Base pay is the standard income you’ll earn as a service member, providing a stable foundation to start achieving your financial goals.
- Always fixed based on rank and service time.
- Distributed monthly.
What is the typical salary range?
Salary by Years of Service
$116,014
2 Years
$100,132
6 Years
$116,014
10+ Years
Median Salary
Military Details
What Service Branches offer this role?
Is this a staff or leadership role?
Officers are service members who plan, direct operations and manage enlisted personnel, developing a broad range of leadership-related skills.
Learn More About Enlisted and Officer PathsWhat does the training for this role entail?
Job training for meteorologists/oceanographers primarily consists of classroom instruction and on-the-job learning in various training environments. Like other officers, they complete a comprehensive training program covering responsibilities, military structure and etiquette, traditions, and leadership development. Job-specific training may include:
- Methods of analyzing weather conditions
- Identification of common weather patterns
- Techniques and procedures of forecasting
Education
What level of education do professionals in this role have?
Which college majors best prepare you for this role?
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General
- Meteorology
- Climate Science
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Other
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Climatology
- Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics
Learn About How Military Can Pay for 100% of your College Degree
The Military has several programs that cover college costs — so you can pursue your education with little to no debt.
Learn More About Paying For CollegeSkills and Interest
What knowledge is essential to bring to the table?
- Mathematics
- Geography
- Computers and Electronics
- Physics
- English Language
What personality traits help people thrive in this role?
Investigative
You love figuring out how things work and researching subjects that interest you.
Realistic
You love hands-on work and solving practical problems — like fixing things and building stuff.
Conventional
You like structure, staying organized, and working with systems to get things done efficiently.
RIASEC represents six broad interest areas—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional—helping individuals identify careers that match their skills and preferences.
Take the RIASEC Test