The image of a storm chaser is one of adventure and adrenaline—speeding towards a towering supercell on the vast American plains. While the passion for meteorology is what drives these individuals, a practical question remains for anyone considering this path: can you actually make a living doing it? The answer is more complex than a simple number, but for the dedicated professional, the career can be both thrilling and financially viable, with salaries for related professions often ranging from $55,000 to over $115,000 per year.
This article will break down the realities of earning a living in the world of severe weather pursuit, looking at the data, the influencing factors, and the career paths that make it possible.
What Does a Storm Chaser Do?
Before discussing salary, it's crucial to understand that "storm chaser" is rarely a formal job title. Instead, it's an activity performed as part of a broader professional role or as a freelance endeavor. The primary goal is to intercept, observe, and document severe weather events like tornadoes, hurricanes, and supercell thunderstorms.
Responsibilities vary based on the chaser's primary career:
- Researchers and Scientists: Collect critical data using mobile radar, atmospheric sensors, and probes. Their work helps improve weather models and warning systems.
- Broadcast Meteorologists and Journalists: Provide live, on-the-ground reports and dramatic visuals for news outlets.
- Freelance Photographers and Videographers: Capture high-quality, often breathtaking, images and footage to sell to media companies, documentary filmmakers, and stock agencies.
- Storm Tour Guides: Lead paying customers on expeditions to safely witness severe weather phenomena.
In essence, a storm chaser's job is to be in the right place at the right time, armed with scientific instruments, cameras, and an expert understanding of atmospheric dynamics and safety protocols.
Average Storm Chaser Salary
Because storm chasing is not a standalone profession tracked by statistical agencies, we must look at the salaries of the primary jobs that incorporate it.
The most direct and stable career path is that of a meteorologist or atmospheric scientist. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for atmospheric and space scientists was $101,730 as of May 2023. The salary range is wide, reflecting differences in experience, education, and employer:
- Lowest 10%: Earned less than $55,980
- Median (50%): Earned $101,730
- Highest 10%: Earned more than $166,150
For those who earn income through freelance means, such as selling footage, the pay is far less predictable. A single, dramatic video clip of a tornado sold to a national news network could fetch anywhere from $200 to over $1,500, depending on its quality and exclusivity. However, this income is highly inconsistent and depends on successfully capturing marketable events, which is never guaranteed.
Key Factors That Influence Salary
Several key variables determine the earning potential for a professional involved in storm chasing. Understanding these factors is essential for anyone mapping out a career in this field.
### Level of Education
Education is arguably the most significant factor. A formal degree is the gateway to the highest and most stable salaries.
- Bachelor's Degree: A B.S. in Meteorology or Atmospheric Science is the minimum requirement for most professional meteorologist positions, including those with the National Weather Service (NWS) or in broadcast media.
- Master's or Ph.D.: Advanced degrees are typically required for research positions at universities or government agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These roles are often at the higher end of the salary spectrum and may involve leading grant-funded storm research projects.
### Years of Experience
Experience directly correlates with expertise, safety, and earning power. An entry-level atmospheric scientist will start at the lower end of the BLS scale. In contrast, a senior research scientist with a decade of experience leading field projects or a broadcast meteorologist who has become a trusted local personality will command a much higher salary. For freelancers, a long-standing reputation and a deep portfolio of high-quality work allow them to negotiate better rates for their footage and build reliable client relationships.
### Geographic Location
While storm chasers can travel, their home base and primary market matter. The highest concentration of severe weather research and media coverage is in the Great Plains, colloquially known as "Tornado Alley" (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, etc.).
Major research universities and federal labs in this region are hubs for atmospheric science jobs. Furthermore, media markets in cities like Oklahoma City, Dallas, and Kansas City place a high value on experienced, on-the-ground severe weather reporting, potentially leading to higher salaries for broadcast meteorologists.
### Company Type
The type of employer has a profound impact on salary and job stability.
- Federal Government: The NWS and NOAA offer structured, stable salaries based on the government's General Schedule (GS) pay scale. These are secure, respected positions with excellent benefits.
- Private Sector: This is a diverse category. Broadcast media stations can offer competitive salaries, especially in major markets. Private-sector meteorology also includes consulting for industries like energy (wind farm forecasting), aviation, and insurance (risk assessment), which can be highly lucrative.
- Academia: Universities provide salaries for research and teaching positions. These are often funded by grants, and a successful, well-funded researcher can earn a substantial income.
- Self-Employed/Freelance: This path offers the highest-risk but also a high-potential-reward. Success depends entirely on business acumen, networking, and the ability to consistently produce valuable content or services (like tours).
### Area of Specialization
How a person specializes within the field is the final piece of the salary puzzle.
- Research Scientist: Focuses on data collection and analysis. Earning potential is tied to education, grants, and the prestige of the employing institution.
- Broadcast Meteorologist: Combines scientific knowledge with communication skills. Salaries are influenced by market size, ratings, and on-air experience.
- Emergency Management: Some chasers work with state or local governments to provide real-time ground-truth reports during severe weather, a role that falls under a public service salary structure.
- Entrepreneur (e.g., Tour Operator): Income is based on business success. A popular storm tour company with a strong safety record can be profitable, but this requires significant investment and business management skills.
Job Outlook
The career outlook for the professions associated with storm chasing is stable. The BLS projects that employment for atmospheric and space scientists will grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations.
The demand for these professionals is driven by the continuous need to improve weather prediction and climate modeling to protect lives and property. While the number of positions is limited, making the field competitive, well-qualified candidates with strong educational backgrounds and technical skills will have the best prospects. For media-focused roles, the landscape is shifting, but the demand for compelling, real-time weather content remains strong.
Conclusion
Chasing storms is a career born from passion, but it can be built into a sustainable profession through strategic planning. The key takeaway is that the "salary for a storm chaser" is determined by the primary career that enables the chase.
For those inspired by the sky's power, the most reliable and rewarding path is not to aim to be just a "chaser," but to become a:
- Degreed Meteorologist
- Published Research Scientist
- Skilled Broadcast Professional
- Successful Freelance Entrepreneur
By pursuing a formal education, gaining experience, and specializing in a high-demand area, you can build a career that is not only on the front lines of nature's most dramatic events but is also financially secure and professionally fulfilling.