From Ballerina to Broadcast: The High-Impact Career of WTAE Meteorologist Jill Szwed

For many Pittsburgh natives, Jill Szwed is the welcoming face that guides them through a tricky forecast—whether it’s the season’s first snow or a sudden summer storm.

But the path that led this Butler County native back to WTAE-TV’s “rock star weather team” is a testament to dedication, a passion for science, and a journey through some of the country’s most challenging weather markets.

More than just reporting the temperature, Szwed has carved out a unique role for herself, merging her love for meteorology with a commitment to STEM reporting and community advocacy.

Her story is one of a childhood fascination with a 1998 downtown tornado blossoming into a highly-certified, influential career that serves the very community that shaped her.

The Spark: A Childhood in Western Pennsylvania

Jill Szwed was born on September 24, 1991, making her 34 years old as of 2025. She grew up in Butler, Pennsylvania, a self-described ‘yinzer’ with strong ties to the region.

Unlike some meteorologists who find their calling through a textbook, Szwed’s interest was dramatically sparked by real-life events.

• The 1998 Downtown Tornado: A memorable tornado that swept over Mount Washington and into downtown Pittsburgh cemented her early fascination with severe weather. This, combined with regular experiences of snowstorms and flooding, transitioned her academic focus from a middle school curiosity into a career path.

• The First Forecast: Her interest took root in a fifth-grade science class, showing that the pathway to a high-profile media career often begins in a simple classroom.

Education and the Professional Seal

A 2010 graduate of Saint Joseph High School in Natrona Heights, Szwed’s academic journey took her away from Western Pennsylvania. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology with a minor in Communications from Saint Louis University (SLU).

Notably, she holds the prestigious Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) seal from the American Meteorological Society (AMS). This certification signifies an advanced level of scientific knowledge and communication skill, placing her among the most qualified broadcast meteorologists nationwide.

The Road Home: Career Milestones Across the U.S.

The journey back to Pittsburgh’s top market was a multi-state tour, a common experience for early-career broadcast journalists that builds crucial resilience and on-the-ground experience.

From West Virginia to the Wettest Derby

Szwed’s first major stop after college was in Clarksburg, West Virginia, at WDTV-TV, where she began as a morning forecaster and traffic anchor.

Her career then moved to Lexington, Kentucky, at WLEX-TV. This four-year stint provided some of her most memorable reporting opportunities and challenges:

• Historic Flooding: She covered severe, widespread flooding that devastated parts of Kentucky, highlighting the critical role of accurate weather reporting in disaster response.

• The Kentucky Derby: A unique highlight was broadcasting live from the Kentucky Derby, a cultural landmark. She was on the ground during the wettest Derby on record, the same year Justify won the Triple Crown in the mud.

Back to the Northeast: Albany, New York

Before her return home, Szwed spent three-and-a-half years in Albany, New York, as the weekday morning meteorologist for the WTEN-TV/WXXA-TV duopoly. It was here that she further honed her ability to forecast challenging Northeastern weather and developed her profile as a trusted morning presence.

Coming Home to WTAE-TV

In a moment she described as “pinching herself,” Jill Szwed joined WTAE-TV in February 2024 as a weekend morning meteorologist, fulfilling a long-held career aspiration.

“In this industry, you always hope that someday home will call and offer you a job,” she noted upon her return.

This move was a major professional and personal milestone, allowing her to serve the community where her parents and extended family still reside. It meant her friends and loved ones could finally tune in to watch her live on local television instead of streaming from across the country.

The STEM Reporting Niche: Beyond the Forecast

Szwed’s most unique contribution to the WTAE team is her ambition to dedicate weekday time to STEM reporting. Leveraging her robust science background, she aims to cover:

• Technology companies and startups in Pittsburgh.

• Cutting-edge medical research and environmental issues.

• The impact of climate change on the local lifestyle.

She sees this as her unique niche, hoping to make science topics accessible and engaging for the everyday viewer, and acting as an advocate for girls in the STEM fields.

Personals: Dance, Food, and Family Life

While a high-profile figure on-screen, Szwed is known for maintaining a relatively private personal life, though she shares glimpses of her passions and close-knit family on social media.

The Dancer Turned Foodie

Few viewers know that before her career in meteorology, Szwed was a dedicated dancer, having trained since age four.

• Ballet as a Favorite: Her preferred style was ballet, and she even performed as a guest in the Lexington Ballet’s production of Sleeping Beauty.

• The Kitchen Life: Today, her creative outlet is the kitchen. She is a self-proclaimed foodie who enjoys cooking and baking, often turning to celebrity chef Ina Garten for inspiration.

• Pittsburgh Sports: She remains a loyal fan of her hometown teams: the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates—a prerequisite for any true Western Pennsylvanian.

Jill Szwed’s Family and Marital Status

Family is a clear priority. Her parents live in Butler, a younger sister (who she calls her best friend) resides in Wexford, and her grandparents live in Butler and Scottdale. She is of White-American ethnicity and holds American nationality.

As of the current time, Jill Szwed has not publicly shared details about her marital status or if she has a husband or children. She keeps her personal relationships private, choosing to focus her public profile on her professional achievements and community service.

Quick Facts Table: Jill Szwed at a Glance

Net Worth and Professional Compensation

Details about Jill Szwed’s net worth are not publicly disclosed. Given her decade-plus career experience across multiple television markets, including a major market like Pittsburgh, her salary is competitive.

Experienced broadcast meteorologists in large markets typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, with her specialized certification and dual-role in STEM reporting likely placing her on the higher end of the spectrum.

The WTAE Weather Team

Szwed is a key component of Pittsburgh’s Action Weather team, working alongside a group of highly respected meteorologists:

• Mike Harvey: Chief Meteorologist

• Ashley Dougherty: Meteorologist

• Brian Hutton Jr.: Meteorologist

• Jeff Verszyla: Meteorologist (A full-circle moment, as she interned with him earlier in her career.)

Conclusion: An Anchor for Pittsburgh’s Future

Jill Szwed’s biography is a compelling narrative of a local talent who pursued her scientific passion with excellence, traveling the country before finally realizing the “dream come true” of serving her hometown.

Her commitment to not just forecasting the weather, but also to reporting on the science and environment that shapes it, sets her apart in a competitive industry.

She has established herself as a trusted, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic presence on Pittsburgh television, promising an exciting future for her career and for her audience.

Sources & Further Reading

1. WTAE-TV Official Staff Bio (Jill Szwed’s Background)

2. TribLIVE.com – TV Talk: WTAE hires meteorologist and Butler native Jill Szwed (Jan 19, 2024)

3. Times Union – 20 things you don’t know about me: Jill Szwed, WTEN morning meteorologist (June 29, 2020)

4. Saint Louis University – Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Alumni Network

5. American Meteorological Society (AMS) – CBM Recipient List

6. WLEX-TV Archives – Coverage of the 2018 Kentucky Derby (The Wettest Derby)