Climate Science Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Climate Science major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Sciences, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Sciences, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$127,746

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$201,976

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$271,439

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 4.1%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$5,109,840

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Natural Sciences Managers
SOC: 11-9121
Occupation: Natural Sciences Managers
$161,180
100,870
N/A
N/A
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1051
Occupation: Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
$101,390
11,480
N/A
N/A
Atmospheric and Space Scientists
SOC: 19-2021
Occupation: Atmospheric and Space Scientists
$97,450
8,780
N/A
N/A
Geographers
SOC: 19-3092
Occupation: Geographers
$97,200
1,380
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Natural Sciences Managers

16.8%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$161,180100,870
2023$157,74096,520
2022$144,44082,570
2021$137,90074,760
2020$137,94075,870

Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

7.3%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$101,39011,480
2023$100,69011,770
2022$97,77011,150
2021$98,07010,250
2020$94,52011,750

Atmospheric and Space Scientists

-2.3%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$97,4508,780
2023$92,8609,310
2022$83,7809,900
2021$94,5708,520
2020$99,74010,210

Geographers

13.8%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$97,2001,380
2023$90,8801,460
2022$88,9001,360
2021$85,2201,440
2020$85,4301,450