How to become a Meteorologist
Official title: Meteorologists
Also called: Climatologist, Hydrometeorologist, Meteorologist, Weather forecaster
Meteorologists prepare short-term or long-term weather forecasts used in aviation, shipping, agriculture and other areas and for the information of the general public. They conduct research related to the composition, structure and dynamics of the atmosphere.
Main tasks
- Investigating direction and speed of air movements, pressures, temperatures, humidity, physical and chemical transformation of pollutants and other phenomena such as cloud formation and precipitation, electrical disturbances or solar radiation
- Studying data collected from meteorological stations, radar and satellite imagery and computer model output to plot and forecast weather conditions
- Preparing and reporting short-term or long-term weather maps, forecasts and warnings relating to atmospheric phenomena such as cyclones, storms and other hazards to life and property, and disseminating information about atmospheric conditions through a variety of media including radio, television, print and the Internet
- Conducting experiments in fog dispersal, cloud seeding, rain enhancement and other types of weather modification programmes
- Developing and testing mathematical computer models of weather and climate for experimental or operational use
- Participating in studies of the effect of weather on the environment
- Analysing the impact of industrial projects and human activity on the climate and quality of the air, and working with the social science, engineering and economic communities to develop appropriate mitigation strategies
- Engaging in the design and development of new equipment and procedures for meteorological data collection and remote sensing, or for related applications
- Conducting research on and improving or developing concepts, theories and operational methods related to the composition, structure and dynamics of the atmosphere, and preparing scientific papers and reports on the outcome of this research
Ways in
- University: Science degrees, Offered by 21 universities in Hong Kong
- University: Agriculture & Environment degrees, Offered by 1 universities in Hong Kong
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: HK$48,000 a month
- About 1,542,900 people in 2025, and about 1,639,100 projected by 2028. (+6.2%)
- Generative AI could change many tasks in this job, which usually reshapes the work more than it replaces it, by the ILO's global estimate.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Meteorologist?
Ways in include: Science degrees; Agriculture & Environment degrees.
Do you need a degree to become a Meteorologist?
Usually. 88% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a Meteorologist?
Generative AI could change many tasks in this job, which usually reshapes the work more than it replaces it, by the ILO's global estimate.
Sources
- Census and Statistics Department (2021 Population Census): 2021 Population Census, Interactive Data Dissemination Service: working population by occupation (38 groups) and sex, age, education, income; median income and field of education (9 groups) (2021 Population Census), retrieved 4 October 2026
- Census and Statistics Department (General Household Survey): Median monthly employment earnings by occupation (9 groups), excluding foreign domestic helpers (Table 210-06317A); employed persons by occupation, age and sex (210-06307A) and by industry (210-06308A) (2025 annual (series to 2026-07)), retrieved 4 October 2026
- Labour and Welfare Bureau; tables published by C&SD: Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection to 2028: supplementary statistical tables (5 occupation groups, 17 selected industries) (2025 to 2028 (published 2026-09)), retrieved 4 October 2026
- International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
Updated 4 October 2026