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Meteorologist

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Primary Secondary Post-16

Being a Meteorologist is all about understanding and predicting the weather. Imagine knowing exactly why it's raining or how sunny it will be tomorrow! Meteorologists study the Earth's atmosphere, using advanced scientific tools like satellites, radar, and computer models to collect data. They then use this information, along with their knowledge of physics and maths, to create weather forecasts for different purposes. This could be for the daily news to help people plan their week, or for specific industries like aviation (telling pilots about flying conditions) or agriculture (helping farmers know when to plant or harvest crops). They are super important for keeping us safe, for example, by warning us about severe weather like storms or floods. It's a job that requires a real passion for science and a keen eye for detail. You'd spend your time analysing data, making predictions, and often communicating your findings clearly to others, whether that's through reports, maps, or even on television or radio. Many Meteorologists work in offices or at weather stations, sometimes working shifts to cover all hours, as the weather never sleeps! It's a fascinating career for anyone who loves science, solving puzzles, and wants to make a real difference by helping people understand and prepare for whatever the weather brings.

Meteorologist

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📊 Statistics

Average Starting Salary

A new Meteorologist in the UK might expect to earn around 20,000 to 25,000 pounds per year, especially when starting out in the Met Office or similar organisations.

Experienced Salary Range

With more experience, a Meteorologist in the UK can earn between 35,000 to 60,000 pounds per year, and those in senior or specialist roles could earn even more.

Career Opportunities

While it's a specialist field, the Met Office is a major employer, along with broadcasters and private companies. There are typically a steady number of opportunities, especially for those with strong maths and science backgrounds.

🚀 Careers in this path

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Weather Presenter

Imagine you're on TV or radio, explaining the weather forecast to everyone. You'd need to understand the weather and be good at talking clearly and friendly so people know whether to bring an umbrella!

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Climate Change Researcher

This job is like being a detective for the Earth's long-term weather patterns. You'd study how our planet's climate is changing over many years and try to figure out why, which is really important for our future.

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Environmental Scientist

You'd be like a guardian of nature, looking at how weather affects plants, animals, and the environment around us. You could work on projects like making sure rivers are clean or helping protect forests from extreme weather.

Build Your Foundations

Excel in Science and Maths

Focus on your Science (especially Physics and Chemistry) and Maths subjects in school. These are super important for understanding how weather works.

Understanding the principles of physics helps explain phenomena like atmospheric pressure, temperature changes, and cloud formation. Chemistry is important for understanding the composition of the atmosphere and pollutants. Strong mathematical skills are essential for analysing data, creating models, and making predictions, so really try your best in these subjects throughout secondary school.

Get Curious About Weather

Start paying attention to the weather around you. Why does it rain? How do clouds form? Look up interesting weather facts and phenomena.

Try keeping a simple weather journal! Note down the temperature, wind direction, and any rainfall each day. You could even try to predict tomorrow's weather based on what you observe. Watching weather forecasts on TV or online can also help you understand the language and tools meteorologists use. There are many fantastic documentaries about weather too, which can make learning fun.

Join a Science Club

If your school has a science club, join it! It's a great way to do fun experiments and learn more about how the world works.

Science clubs often have hands-on activities that can spark your interest in different scientific fields, including those related to meteorology. You might get to build models, conduct experiments, or even go on trips that expose you to scientific concepts. If there isn't a club, perhaps you could ask a teacher if they would be willing to start one, or look for local science workshops outside of school.

Further Your Education

Choose A-Levels Wisely

When you choose your A-Levels, pick subjects like Maths, Physics, and potentially Geography or Computer Science. These will be key for a university degree in meteorology.

Most UK universities offering degrees in Meteorology or Atmospheric Science will require strong grades in A-Level Maths and Physics. Geography can provide a good understanding of Earth systems, and Computer Science is increasingly valuable for data analysis and modelling in modern meteorology. Always check the specific entry requirements for universities you're interested in, as they can vary slightly.

Study at University

To become a Meteorologist, you'll need a university degree, usually in Meteorology, Atmospheric Science, or a related field like Physics or Environmental Science.

There are several excellent universities in the UK that offer dedicated degrees in Meteorology, such as the University of Reading. These courses will teach you everything from atmospheric dynamics to climate change and weather forecasting techniques. If a specific Meteorology degree isn't available or preferred, a strong degree in Physics, Mathematics, or Environmental Science with a focus on atmospheric physics can also lead into this career, often followed by a postgraduate qualification.

Consider a Postgraduate Degree

For some specialist roles or research, a Master's (MSc) or PhD might be very helpful, especially if your first degree wasn't directly in Meteorology.

A Master's degree allows for deeper specialisation in areas like climate modelling, severe weather prediction, or air quality. A PhD is usually for those who want to work in research or academia, pushing the boundaries of what we know about the atmosphere. It can also open doors to more advanced roles in organisations like the Met Office.

Gain Experience and Specialise

Seek Work Experience or Internships

Try to get some work experience during your university holidays. Organisations like the Met Office sometimes offer internships or placements.

Practical experience is incredibly valuable. An internship or placement with a meteorological organisation will give you a real insight into the day-to-day work of a meteorologist, allowing you to apply your academic knowledge in a practical setting. You might get to see forecasting centres, learn about data collection, or even contribute to research projects. Even if it's not a formal internship, reaching out to local environmental agencies or weather-related businesses might offer opportunities to learn and observe.

Develop Technical Skills

Learn to use computer programming languages like Python or R, and gain experience with data analysis software. These skills are essential for modern meteorology.

Meteorologists spend a lot of time analysing vast amounts of data from satellites, radar, and weather stations. Proficiency in programming allows you to process, visualise, and model this data efficiently. Learning Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can also be very useful for mapping and analysing spatial weather patterns. Many universities integrate these skills into their courses, but additional self-study or online courses can be a big advantage.

Apply for Meteorologist Roles

Once you have your degree and some experience, you can start applying for jobs at places like the Met Office, environmental agencies, or even in broadcasting.

The Met Office is the UK's national weather service and a major employer of meteorologists. Other opportunities can be found in sectors like aviation (providing weather info for pilots), energy (forecasting for wind farms), and environmental consultancy. Some meteorologists also work in media, presenting weather forecasts on TV or radio, which requires good communication skills in addition to scientific knowledge.

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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

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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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