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Meteorologist

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Primary Secondary Post-16

Imagine looking up at the sky and knowing exactly what the clouds mean, or seeing a map and being able to tell if it will rain tomorrow. That is what a meteorologist does! These clever scientists study the weather and the atmosphere, which is the air all around our planet. They use special tools like satellites in space, radar on the ground, and even big balloons to collect information about the weather. They then use super powerful computers to make predictions about what the weather will be like in the future. Their job helps us decide if we need to take an umbrella to school, if farmers need to protect their crops, or if aeroplanes can fly safely. They are like weather detectives, always looking for clues to understand our amazing planet's weather.

Career Path

📊 Statistics

Average Starting Salary

A new meteorologist in the UK might start with a salary around 20,000 to 25,000 pounds a year.

Experienced Salary

With lots of experience, a meteorologist can earn between 35,000 to 50,000 pounds a year, and even more for very senior roles.

Main Employers

Most meteorologists in the UK work for organisations like the Met Office, the BBC, or for airports and aviation companies. There are hundreds of people doing this job across the country.

🚀 Careers in this path

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Storm Chaser

Imagine being a super brave detective for storms! You'd travel to where big storms are happening, like really big rain or snowy blizzards, to study them up close and help people stay safe by understanding how they work. You'd use special tools to measure the wind and rain.

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Climate Scientist

A Climate Scientist is like a detective for the Earth's weather over a really, really long time. They look at how the weather has changed in the past and how it might change in the future, like if winters will be colder or summers hotter. They help us understand how to look after our planet.

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Weather Forecaster for TV

Do you love telling stories and talking about the weather? A Weather Forecaster for TV gets to stand in front of a big map and tell everyone on the television what the weather will be like tomorrow or next week – if it will be sunny, rainy, or perhaps even snowy! You'd make the weather exciting and easy for everyone to understand.

Learning About Weather

Watch the Weather

Start by looking at the sky every day. Notice if it's sunny, cloudy, or rainy. Feel the wind. Can you tell if it's a warm or cold day?

Pay close attention to how the clouds look. Are they fluffy like cotton balls, or big and grey? Does the weather change quickly, or stay the same all day? Keeping a little weather diary can be a fun way to remember what you observe each day.

Learn Weather Words

Find out what words like 'temperature', 'wind speed', 'humidity', and 'precipitation' mean. These are important words for understanding weather.

You can use books, weather apps, or even ask a grown-up to help you learn these words. Understanding what each word means will help you sound like a real weather expert and better understand weather forecasts on TV.

Make a Rain Gauge

You can make a simple rain gauge at home! This helps you measure how much rain falls in your garden.

Get a clear plastic bottle, cut the top off, and turn it upside down into the base. Use a ruler to mark lines on the side. When it rains, collect the water and see how high it goes! This is a simple way to do a real weather experiment.

Exploring Weather Science

Read Weather Books

Visit your local library or a bookshop and find books about weather, clouds, and climate. They often have amazing pictures!

Look for books that explain why it rains, how rainbows form, or what causes thunder and lightning. Some books might even have fun experiments you can try. Reading helps you learn more about the science behind the weather.

Watch Weather Forecasts

Watch the weather forecast on TV or online. Listen carefully to what the meteorologist says and look at the weather map.

Notice how they use colours and symbols on the map to show different types of weather. Try to understand why they predict certain weather for different parts of the country. This helps you see how real meteorologists do their job.

Visit a Science Museum

If you can, visit a science museum. They often have exhibits about weather and climate that are fun and interactive.

Science museums sometimes have special machines that show you how tornadoes work or how clouds are formed. You might even get to try being a weather reporter for a day! It's a great way to see science in action.

Dreaming Big for the Future

Study Science and Maths

When you go to school, try your best in science and maths lessons. These subjects are super important for a meteorologist.

Maths helps you understand measurements and patterns, and science teaches you how the world works, including the atmosphere. Doing well in these subjects will build a strong foundation for your future studies in meteorology.

Learn About Computers

Meteorologists use computers a lot to look at weather data and make predictions. Learning how to use computers well will be very helpful.

You don't need to be an expert right away, but understanding how to use different computer programmes and finding information online will give you a head start. Computers are powerful tools for understanding and predicting the weather.

Think About University

When you're older, you could go to a university to study meteorology or atmospheric science. That's where you'll become a real weather expert!

Universities teach you all the complex science behind weather patterns, climate change, and how to use advanced technology to forecast. It's an exciting path for anyone who loves understanding the sky and helping people know what to expect from the weather.

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🎯 View Apprenticeships

Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Meteorologist. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.

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Career Progressions

No career progressions found for Meteorologist

Sample Qualifications

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • training with a professional body

University

You'll usually need a degree in meteorology or a related subject like:

  • physical sciences
  • maths
  • geography
  • computer science
  • environmental science

You might need a postgraduate qualification in meteorology or climatology if you want to do research.

You can find out more about relevant degree subjects from the Royal Meteorological Society.

Getting experience of computer modelling during your degree or postgraduate course can be useful in this role.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including a science, for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

Volunteering

You can get  experience with the Met Office 10 week summer internship schemes. There are schemes for different groups, including graduates and A level students who are thinking about meteorology as a career.

Other Routes

You can apply to the Met Office for a place as a trainee on their forecasting and observations course.

You'll need a degree or equivalent qualification in science, maths or a related subject like geography. Other subjects may be accepted if you have the right qualities.

More Information

Career tips

You can do a short work placement to find out more about meteorology as a career, if you're aged between 13 and 18.

Further information

You can learn more about becoming a meteorologist from the Met Office and the Royal Meteorological Society.

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