Back to all careers
Energy & Environment Space & Defence Degree

Meteorologist

Study the atmosphere to forecast weather, predict climate trends and advise on severe-weather risks.

A day in the life

Analyse satellite and radar data, run forecast models, produce weather briefings, and warn emergency services about storms.

Typical route

Helpful A-levels

Physics + Maths

Typical qualification and training

  • Meteorology, Physics or Mathematics degree
  • Met Office graduate scheme or operational training

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
£27,000-£33,000
Experienced
£40,000-£55,000
Senior
£65,000+

Met Office figures include shift allowances; private sector may vary.

Salary range checked against Prospects.ac.uk: Meteorologist.

UK employers

  • Met Office
  • BBC Weather
  • Atos (weather services)
  • Environment Agency

Worldwide employers

  • ECMWF
  • NOAA
  • NASA
  • EUMETSAT

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.

UCAS course search: meteorology Compare degree prospectuses, entry requirements, open days and course structures. ucas.com Met Office careers Current routes into operational weather, climate and forecasting roles. careers.metoffice.gov.uk National Careers Service: Green careers Explore routes into jobs that support net zero and the environment. nationalcareers.service.gov.uk UK Space Agency recruitment Official recruitment information for the UK Space Agency. gov.uk UCAS Physics and astronomy courses Search UK undergraduate physics, astrophysics and related degree options. ucas.com Prospects: what can I do with a physics degree? Independent overview of careers that physics graduates enter. prospects.ac.uk

Key skills

Climate Modeller

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

View profile

Data Scientist

Use maths, statistics and programming to find patterns in large datasets and guide decisions.

View profile

Defence Scientist

Apply physics and engineering to develop and evaluate technologies that protect national security.

View profile

Sources and further reading

External links open in a new tab.

Back to all careers Take the careers quiz