Entry-level Atmospheric and Space Scientist salary in Boulder, CO
Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Boulder, CO metro area, FY2025–FY2026.
Also listed as: Earth Scientist Atmospheric Science
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $70,370 |
| 25th | $75,000 |
| 50th (median) | $82,650 |
| 75th | $83,270 |
| 90th | $85,520 |
Cost of living
Boulder's median entry-level Atmospheric and Space Scientist salary of $82,650 is worth about $78,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boulder = 105.2).
Compared with all workers here
All Atmospheric and Space Scientists in the Boulder, CO area earned a median of $121,870 in May 2025 (620 employed). The H-1B median here is $82,650, 32% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| University Corporation for Atmospheric Research | too few | 7 |
| University of Colorado | too few | 5 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $82,650 | 13 |
| Mid-level · Level II | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | $105,600 | 17 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $61,027 | $82,650 | 13 |
| Senior · Level III | $98,280 | $105,600 | 17 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.