Back to all careers
Energy & Environment Degree plus

Climate Modeller

Use physics, maths and supercomputers to simulate climate systems and predict environmental change.

A day in the life

Run global simulations, compare predictions with satellite data, write research papers, and brief policymakers.

Typical route

Helpful A-levels

Physics + Maths (+ Geography/Computer Science useful)

Typical qualification and training

  • Physics, Maths, Meteorology or Environmental Science degree
  • Masters or PhD in climate science

These are common routes, not compulsory subject combinations. Entry requirements vary between universities, training schemes and employers, so always check the current provider requirements.

Indicative UK salary

Starter
£26,000-£32,000
Experienced
£40,000-£55,000
Senior
£65,000+

Academic and government salaries differ from private consultancies.

Salary range checked against National Careers Service: Climate Scientist.

UK employers

  • Met Office
  • British Antarctic Survey
  • NERC
  • UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Worldwide employers

  • NASA GISS
  • NOAA
  • ECMWF
  • National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)

Useful route links

These links are good starting points for courses, apprenticeships, graduate routes and professional training. They open the official or specialist sites rather than another summary page.

Key skills

Sources and further reading

External links open in a new tab.

Back to all careers Take the careers quiz