Where Can a Meteorology Degree Take You?

When people think of meteorology careers, their first thought is usually the weather forecast. While forecasting can be a great job, the roles are limited, leading many to assume meteorology is a bit of a dead end.

Today we want to rethink that assumption. From research to academia, we’ll be taking a look at the many places a meteorology degree can help you, as well as discussing how best to keep your options open.

Why Study Meteorology?

Meteorology might sound like quite a niche science, but to those who study it, it’s a huge (and hugely important) field. Meteorology isn’t just about memorising cloud patterns and waving your hands in front of a green screen, although that’s certainly a part of it. 

In practice, a meteorology degree is an applied physical science centered on thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and computational data. By studying meteorology, you’ll learn to analyze massive environmental datasets, run complex mathematical models, and translate your results into pragmatic, actionable insights.

And keep in mind that meteorology is getting more important by the day. As severe weather events become increasingly common, environmental and atmospheric predictions now play an ever more significant role in the design, development, and construction of large infrastructure projects like bridges, dams, and power grids. Put simply, this is a job market with lots of growth potential.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Meteorology Degree?

For a standard Bachelor of Science degree, you’re looking at 4 years of full-time study. That said, you may seriously wish to consider going on to do a master’s or even a PhD.

With a BS in meteorology, you’ll be able to leap right into the workforce – especially if you’re most interested in forecasting roles. Unfortunately, there are some hard limits to where a BS alone can take you.

For many people, it’s well worth going on to pursue at least a master’s (MS). While it takes an extra two years to complete, a master’s will open up a whole other level of roles across research agencies and tech companies.

Whichever option you take, make sure to research your degree course well in advance and to pick your modules carefully. Most meteorology degrees will have you studying core STEM subjects like calculus and thermodynamics. This is important because these jobs will give you much broader options when you enter the job market.

While it is possible to do a degree that’s largely just focused on forecasting, this is a much more limited approach and could seriously restrict your job opportunities. Speaking of which…

Meteorology Jobs Opportunities

So what jobs are there in meteorology?

Naturally, the first choice for many is weather forecasting, usually with local news channels and other forms of broadcast media. Of course, as we mentioned up front, these jobs can be quite location-dependent, meaning you may feel restricted in your options.

Outside of weather forecasting, however, there’s a whole world of meteorology careers, and by far the biggest segment is in the private sector.

These days, corporations increasingly hire meteorologists to manage operational risks – particularly insurance companies and airlines. These companies need solid, reliable meteorological modelling, providing specific insights about how to run and price their services.

As for the public sector, the military is one of the most active employers of atmospheric scientists whose research supports aviation and naval operations.

Or, if you’re more drawn to scientific study and discovery, academia has you covered. By pursuing an MS or PhD, you could open the door to specialised research jobs, helping to build the next generation of climate models.

All told, meteorology is a worthwhile degree to pursue if the subject interests you. Although the job market can be competitive, the skills you’ll learn from a degree are highly transferable, especially anything related to data science and data analytics. Just make sure not to let your Python skills go rusty, and you’ll have plenty of job opportunities coming your way.