Career Suggestion

Climate scientist

Climate scientists study changes in the Earth's climate over time and how they might affect the planet in the future.

Average salary (a year)

£32000.0 to £58000.0 (starter to experienced)

Typical hours (a week)

37.0 to 42.0

You could work

between 8am and 6pm

You can get into this job through a university course.

University

You could do a degree or postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject like:

  • environmental science or ecology
  • geography, earth sciences or geology
  • physics
  • maths and statistics
  • oceanography or marine science
  • meteorology and climate science
  • computer science

Work experience

You can get work experience through internships, placements or a year in industry during your course. This may help you to identify your area of interest for research.

For example, the Met Office early careers section has details of online and in-person work placements, as well as industrial placements and graduate schemes.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree

  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

More Information

Career Tips

You can find information about global climate conditions through:

Further Information

Discover more about working in climate science from:

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • maths knowledge
  • knowledge of geography
  • knowledge of physics
  • analytical thinking skills
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • science skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications

Day-to-day tasks

As a climate scientist, you could:

  • analyse data from the atmosphere, oceans and land
  • simulate the effects of climate change with computer modelling
  • design and build scientific instruments and sensors
  • study past changes to climate to help forecast future trends
  • monitor global ice and sea levels, using radar and satellite imagery
  • look at how global climate affects regional weather events
  • attend conferences and publish research findings
  • investigate ways to tackle climate change
  • advise policy makers

We've identified this as a green job

As a climate scientist, you'll collect and analyse data to help forecast future climate trends and inform policies for environmental sustainability. This can have a positive impact on the environment.

Find out more about green careers

Working environment

You could work in a laboratory, at a university or visit sites.

Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.

You could specialise in an area of climate science, for example polar research, rainfall patterns or ocean changes. You might do this through research and teaching at a university or by working for a government department.

You could also work as a palaeoclimatologist, studying historical variations in climate and how the Earth adapted to these.

Other career options include working as a consultant for science publishers or broadcasters.

You may be able to apply for Chartered Environmentalist status with the Society for the Environment, which recognises your knowledge and expertise in this area.

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