Observed career paths · climate_science

Where does a Climate Scientist go next?

12 observed directions, from real career histories. Percentages are the share of people who made each move; the count is how many careers each number rests on. This is the generic map. No aspiration, no filler.

Management path
Senior Climate Scientist+28% typical comp change · ~3.0y typical
64% of observed moves out of Climate Scientist go here (4,200 careers)
leadership branchconfidence high4,200 careers100% of observed exits move upward from there
Climate Programme Lead+71% typical comp change · ~3.0y typical
21% of observed moves out of Climate Scientist go here (1,400 careers)
leadership branchconfidence high1,400 careers84% of observed exits move upward from there
Research Lead, Atmosphere+22% typical comp change · ~7.0y typical
reachable via Senior Atmospheric Scientist. 5% joint share of observed careers
leadership branchconfidence moderate460 careers100% of observed exits move upward from there
Higher-growth opportunity
Director of Climate Science+146% typical comp change · ~6.0y typical
reachable via Senior Climate Scientist. 16% joint share of observed careers
executive stepconfidence high1,400 careersno observed onward moves above the evidence floor
Career pivot
Senior Atmospheric Scientist-5% typical comp change · ~4.0y typical
7% of observed moves out of Climate Scientist go here (460 careers)
pivotconfidence moderate460 careers86% of observed exits move upward from there
Remote Sensing Specialist-9% typical comp change · ~4.0y typical
7% of observed moves out of Climate Scientist go here (460 careers)
pivotconfidence moderate460 careers86% of observed exits move upward from there

What this page can’t know: which of these fit you. Your skills change the overlap, your record changes the difficulty, your priorities change the order. One question. What do you do today?. And this map becomes yours.

See your version of this map →
Where does a Climate Scientist go next? · Startline