Let’s kill the biggest lie first: most storm chasers are not rolling in cash. You know those TV shows where guys in tricked-out trucks drive into walls of hail? Those are reality stars, not your average chaser. They get paid by networks like Discovery or Weather Channel—and even then, it’s not what you’d imagine.
According to Pete DeLisi, a veteran chaser I follow online, a TV gig might pay $500 to $1,500 per episode. But that’s before you factor in gas (which can run $500 a day), hotels, and the inevitable truck repairs. Spoiler alert: you’re not retiring on that.
The Real Money Makers: Researchers and Photographers
Here’s where it gets ironic: the most lucrative chasing jobs aren’t about the adrenaline. Research scientists and storm photographers actually make a decent living. Academic researchers, like those working with NOAA, can earn $50,000 to $90,000 a year. They get to chase storms, but they’re also required to collect boring data—like hail size and wind speed.
Then there’s the photographer route. Kurtis Sluss, a storm photographer who sold a lightning strike image to National Geographic, says a single good photo can fetch $500 to $5,000. But you need to sell dozens of those a year to pay the bills. Plus, you’re competing with every guy with a GoPro and a death wish.
