Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorologyat University of Wisconsin-Madison
Graduates earn $36,790/yr in their first year — about 9.0% below the national Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $450K; scenarios range from $436K to $444K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UW-Madison
Your path in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology from UW-Madison is shaped by unique regional and industry factors. While the program itself is highly respected, often leading to roles at agencies like NOAA, the National Weather Service, or specialized research, the local labor market isn't as rich with high-paying private sector opportunities as some coastal or energy-centric areas. This can influence initial earnings compared to the national average for this niche field. The 'Very High' AI risk reflects the increasing automation of routine forecasting and data analysis tasks. Future meteorologists will need to excel in areas AI struggles with: interpreting complex model discrepancies, communicating nuanced uncertainty to diverse audiences, and developing new predictive tools. Therefore, actively seek internships that expose you to advanced data science applications and interdisciplinary problem-solving, ensuring your skills remain indispensable.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UW-Madison's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
How UW-Madison stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UW-Madison
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UW-Madison, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology at UW-Madison
How does University of Wisconsin-Madison's Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology program score?
This program scores 32/100 — on the lower end for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 52% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.