Meteorologists and other atmospheric scientists study weather and climate. The BLS says they already prepare forecasts using computers, mathematical models, satellites, radar and local station data, and often write programs to support their models. AI weather models are now being added to that toolkit, which makes this one of the more exposed science jobs.
The short answer: AI is changing how forecasts are made, but the BLS still expects modest growth. The ILO's 2025 index rates meteorologists at gradient 3 with a score of 0.54. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3 percent growth for atmospheric scientists, including meteorologists, from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as average, with about 800 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed meteorologists are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Meteorologists | Gradient 3 | 0.54 |
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Atmospheric and space scientists | Grow 3% | About 800 |
The BLS projects employment to grow from 10,700 jobs in 2025 to 10,900 in 2035. It says many openings will come from replacing workers who change occupations or retire. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Running fast weather models alongside traditional physics-based ones.
- Processing satellite and radar data.
- Producing first-draft forecast text and graphics.
- Writing and checking modeling code.
What stays with meteorologists
- Forecast judgment: deciding which model to trust when they disagree.
- Warnings: issuing and explaining severe weather alerts to the public and officials.
- Specialist advice: forecasts for aviation, energy, farming and emergency planning.
- Checking AI help: model output and generated forecast text can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Programming and data skills were already part of the job, and evaluating AI models against observations is becoming one more of them. Communicating risk clearly stays central. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace geoscientists?, will AI replace hydrologists? and will AI replace data analysts?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for atmospheric scientists including meteorologists at $99,070 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace meteorologists?
Not on current projections. The ILO puts meteorologists in gradient 3, but the BLS still projects 3 percent growth from 2025 to 2035.
How many meteorologist jobs are there?
The BLS counts 10,700 atmospheric and space scientist jobs in 2025, projected to reach 10,900 in 2035.
How many openings are expected?
About 800 a year on average over the decade, according to the BLS.
What tools do meteorologists use?
The BLS lists computers, mathematical models, satellites, radar and local station data, plus graphics software for forecasts.