Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology at University of Washington-Seattle Campus

The University of Washington's atmospheric sciences program sits at the national median for meteorology earnings, which translates to an estimated $41,000 first-year salary—a figure that's modest for a STEM field at a flagship research institution. With estimated debt around $24,000, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 is manageable, suggesting graduates can handle repayment without crushing financial strain. However, this income level means meteorology graduates earn less out of the gate than many other physical science majors, despite the technical rigor of the degree.

What complicates this picture is that earnings data comes from a small national pool of similar programs, not UW's actual graduates. The suppressed data could mean the cohort is too small to report reliably, which raises questions about job market absorption. Meteorology is a specialized field with limited entry points—government agencies like NOAA and the National Weather Service are major employers, but positions are competitive and sometimes require advanced degrees for career advancement. The estimated $41,000 starting point may be just that: a starting point before graduate school or years of experience unlock better opportunities.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether your student is committed to the specific career path. UW offers strong atmospheric research credentials, but meteorology isn't a field where the bachelor's degree guarantees immediate high earnings. If your child is passionate about weather science and understands the career trajectory, the debt load is reasonable enough to pursue it—just don't expect STEM-level compensation right away.