Career In Meteorology - Interested in a career in meteorology?

Interested in a career in meteorology?

Hey everyone. I'm a sophomore in high school now, and have been becoming really interested in two things: the weather and local TV news. I've been thinking of maybe shooting for a career in broadcast meteorology. I love to give presentations, love watching (and kind of studying!) our local newscasts, love studying about the atmospheric conditions, and most equation-type and graphing-type math is fairly easy for me. However, I'm not so great at chemistry, but really only because my teacher isn't so great. Btw, I'm in Algebra II this year, and am taking Chemistry and Biology for my sciences. Anyways, I'm probably going full IB (International Bacculaureate, kind of like AP and Honors stuff) next year. I'm planning on taking the 2-year Physics IB course for my junior & senior years. What classes should I try to take while I'm in high school, do during summers and for extra-curriculars, and once I get to college, what kinds of stuff do I need to do? I'm interested in LSU, which is in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I'd like to be able to stay in that market area for a job if I can, but I do understand that broadcast meteorology can really "take you places," and that's OK... Also, does anyone know the yearly salary, work hours, and that kind of stuff for the TV meteorologists in the Baton Rouge metro area? Thanks for the help!!!

Public Comments

The first thing I'm going to tell is that you're going to have to get used to being in plenty of math and science courses. If you're planning on becoming a broadcast meteorologist, you're still likely going to have to take calculus, physics, etc. It depends on what the college or university you attend requires you to take. While you're still in high school, I encourage you to take the following classes: Geology, Introductory Computer Science, Introductory Physics, Introductory Chemistry, Algebra I & II, Trigonometry, Statistics, Pre-Calculus During the summer, you should consider reading books, journals, etc. about weather and climate patterns of the Earth. It would be very beneficial to you to start learning all that you can about types of weather that you see in your area. I'm not a broadcast meteorologist, so I can't help you with the facts about that. However, I will say that it sounds like you're headed in the right direction. I could never be a broadcast meteorologist because I get really nervous in front of a crowd. I'm more into the math and physics approach to meteorology. You wouldn't believe how amazing numerical weather prediction is.
In any credible meteorology program you are going to have to take Physics and Calculus, not so much Chemistry. I am a meteorologist in the southeast and if you are interested in Broadcast Meteorology, the best school in the region by far is Mississippi State. LSU has a good atmospheric science program as does UGA and GA Tech. But, if you want specific classes that teach you for 4 years the methods of preforming in front of a camera, MSU is the best in the nation, by far. For any person starting out, the hours are going to be not fun and the pay is not that great. I know someone in Jackson, MS who makes about 34,000 a year and works close to 60-70 hours a week. But once you get into a big station in a top 25 city, your pay increases very substantially (6 digits). But right now the market is not so good for anyone trying to get on TV. Stations are on hiring freezes and are making big time pay cuts because of the economy. Right now tough thing to get in, but once you get in and if you are good and accurate you should be fine.