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Meteorologist salary in Australia: how it compares to the national average

The ABS does not publish a specific median weekly earnings figure for meteorologists, but as Professionals their median was $1,900 per week in August 2025, below the national full-time average of $2,083.70.

This sits on the Australian full-time average.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$2,084 a week · $54.83 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $83,159 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

Meteorologist salary in Australia: how it compares to the national average

If you are researching a meteorologist salary in Australia, you will find that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a specific median weekly earnings figure for this occupation. The most recent data from Jobs and Skills Australia, based on the 2021 Census, also lists median weekly earnings as N/A. This makes it difficult to give a precise figure, but we can use related benchmarks to see where a meteorologist’s pay might sit against the national full-time average.

The national average line

The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 reports that full-time adult ordinary time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year (multiplied by 52). This is the reference line used on this site. For comparison, the full-time median weekly earnings from the ABS Employee earnings survey (August 2025) were $1,741 per week (about $90,532 a year), and the median for all employees (including part-time) was $1,425 per week (about $74,100 a year). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week (about $52,255 a year).

Where meteorologists sit

Meteorologists are classified under the occupation code 234913 and fall within the broader Professionals group. According to the ABS Employee earnings survey for August 2025, the median weekly earnings for all Professionals was $1,900 per week, or about $98,800 a year. This is below the national full-time average of $108,352 by about $9,552 per year. However, many meteorologists work in the public sector, particularly for the Bureau of Meteorology. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026 shows that public sector full-time adult ordinary time earnings averaged $2,263.10 per week (about $117,681 a year), which is above the national average. The industry category “Public administration and safety” (which includes government weather services) had an average of $2,179.80 per week (about $113,350 a year).

Because the ABS does not release a dedicated median for meteorologists, the actual salary can vary widely depending on the employer (public vs private), location, and experience level. Entry-level meteorologists may earn less than the Professionals median, while senior forecasters or research meteorologists could earn above the public sector average.

A resident take-home sketch

To see how a typical meteorologist salary compares after tax, we can use the Professionals median of $98,800 as a proxy. Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates:

  • Nil tax on the first $18,200
  • 15% on the next $26,800 ($4,020)
  • 30% on the remaining $53,800 ($16,140)
  • Total income tax: $20,160
  • Medicare levy (2%): $1,976
  • Total tax and Medicare: $22,136
  • Take-home pay: about $76,664 per year, or $1,474 per week

For the national full-time average of $108,352:

  • Tax on $108,352: $18,200 nil, 15% on $26,800 = $4,020, 30% on $63,352 = $19,005.60, total $23,025.60
  • Medicare levy: $2,167.04
  • Total: $25,192.64
  • Take-home: about $83,159 per year, or $1,599 per week

So a meteorologist earning the Professionals median would take home about $125 less per week than someone on the national full-time average. If a meteorologist earns at the public sector average ($117,681), the take-home would be higher, around $88,000 per year.

State comparisons

The national average masks differences across states. The on-site figures from the ABS show that the Australian Capital Territory has the highest full-time average at $119,090 per year, while Tasmania has the lowest at $96,008. Meteorologists in the ACT (where the Bureau of Meteorology headquarters is located) may therefore earn above the national average. Other state averages include New South Wales ($109,658), Victoria ($106,137), Queensland ($106,064), Western Australia ($115,825), South Australia ($102,450), Northern Territory ($103,173), and Tasmania ($96,008).

For more detail on how salaries vary by location, see our States and territories page. You can also Place a salary on the line to compare any figure against the national average.

Industry context

Meteorologists are employed in scientific services, public administration, and sometimes media. The ABS industry data for May 2026 shows that “Professional, scientific and technical services” had a full-time average of $2,389.60 per week ($124,259 a year), while “Public administration and safety” averaged $2,179.80 per week ($113,350). These are averages, not medians, and include all roles in those industries. A meteorologist working in a private weather consultancy might fall under scientific services, while a Bureau of Meteorology employee is in public administration.

Key takeaway

Without a published median for meteorologists, the best reference is the Professionals median of $98,800 per year, which is about 9% below the national full-time average. However, public sector meteorologists likely earn closer to or above the average. For a personalised comparison, use the How the figures are set page to understand the sources, or browse Job medians for other professions.

Questions

What is the average salary for a meteorologist in Australia?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not release a specific median weekly earnings figure for the occupation of meteorologist (ANZSCO 234913). Jobs and Skills Australia also reports median weekly earnings as N/A. However, meteorologists are classified as Professionals, and the ABS Employee earnings survey for August 2025 shows the median weekly earnings for all Professionals was $1,900, or about $98,800 a year before tax. Many meteorologists work in the public sector (e.g., the Bureau of Meteorology), where the full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings were $2,263.10 in May 2026, or about $117,681 a year.

How does a meteorologist salary compare to the national full-time average?

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings were $2,083.70 in May 2026, or about $108,352 a year. The median for all Professionals ($1,900 per week) is about $183.70 less per week than the national average. If a meteorologist earns at the public sector average ($2,263.10 per week), that is about $179.40 above the national average. Without a specific meteorologist median, the comparison depends on the employer and level of experience.

What would a meteorologist earning the Professionals median take home after tax?

Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates and the Medicare levy, a salary of $98,800 (the Professionals median) would result in an estimated tax of about $20,160 plus Medicare levy of $1,976, leaving a take-home pay of roughly $76,664 per year, or about $1,474 per week. This is below the take-home from the national full-time average of $108,352, which after tax and Medicare is about $83,159 per year ($1,599 per week).

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