💡 Why it matters: Floods, heat and unusual rain already affect farms and cities around the world. Analysts help governments and firms understand the risks and plan ahead.
🌍 Around the world
- Nigeria: Floods, heat and unusual rain already affect Nigerian farms and cities.
- United States: Jobs for environmental scientists and specialists (the closest US category) are projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than average (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
💰 What it can pay
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Starting out
- ₦1.8M – ₦4M
- Mid-career
- ₦4.5M – ₦11M
- Senior
- ₦11M – ₦28M
≈ ₦375k – ₦917k a month mid-career. Indicative estimate by Incusim.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Closest UK profile: Climate scientist. Starter and experienced salary.. National Careers Service, 2026
🇺🇸 United States
Closest US category: Environmental scientists and specialists. Median pay; low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
🇨🇦 Canada
Closest Job Bank category: Environmental consultant (except engineer). Hourly wage low/median/high x 2,080 hours. Job Bank (Government of Canada), 2023-2024
Yearly pay before tax. UK, US and Canada figures come from the official sources named on each card. Nigeria has no official salary survey, so those are our indicative estimates. Real pay depends on the employer, the place, your skills and experience.
🛠️ What you actually do
- Study weather and climate data
- Predict how floods, drought or heat may affect an area
- Write briefs for governments, NGOs and companies
- Help plan ways to cut emissions and adapt
- Share findings using maps and charts
⚡ Skills you'll need
- Data analysis
- Curiosity
- Writing
- Computer skills
- Explaining ideas
Get ready at school
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Online courses in climate science and data analysis
- Master's in climate change and development, locally or abroad
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Graduate scheme or research assistant role at a climate or weather organisation
- Environmental or data analyst apprenticeship, then part-time study
🇺🇸 United States
- Internships at research centres, government agencies or non-profits
- Online courses in climate science and data analysis
🇨🇦 Canada
- Co-op placements with government or research organisations
- Online courses in climate science and data analysis
🗺️ Your path to this career
- 1Study Geography, Physics and Mathematics in school
- 2Follow climate news and learn basic data skills
- 3Earn a degree in meteorology, environmental science or geography
- 4Join a research centre, NGO or government agency
- 5Specialise in policy, risk or research and consider a Master's
⏰ A day in the life
You download rainfall data for the last 30 years and plot it on a chart. Then you write a two-page brief explaining why flooding in one state may worsen, and send it to a government team.