Hydrologic technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $64,790 | $31.15 |
| Mean (average) | $69,530 | $33.43 |
| 90th percentile | $100,480 | $48.31 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Hydrologic technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 29 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $65,170 | $40,330 | $96,100 | 50 | 0.81 |
| California | $70,790 | $48,480 | $104,750 | 300 | 0.9 |
| Colorado | $56,780 | $49,940 | $96,030 | ||
| Florida | $61,820 | $44,520 | $89,230 | 240 | 1.3 |
| Georgia | $66,770 | $42,800 | $101,630 | 60 | 0.66 |
| Idaho | $54,950 | $45,350 | $83,780 | 50 | 3.33 |
| Illinois | $52,870 | $52,870 | $77,760 | ||
| Kentucky | $65,170 | $44,950 | $96,100 | 30 | 0.96 |
| Louisiana | $65,170 | $44,320 | $91,170 | 40 | 1.05 |
| Maryland | $67,520 | $39,670 | $97,510 | 50 | 1.06 |
| Massachusetts | $73,820 | $50,920 | $98,000 | 60 | 0.95 |
| Missouri | $79,440 | $50,770 | $98,550 | 40 | 0.7 |
| Montana | $53,550 | $40,060 | $86,260 | 70 | 6.99 |
| Nevada | $68,660 | $41,180 | $95,620 | 30 | 1.2 |
| New Hampshire | $64,790 | $62,390 | $98,700 | 50 | 3.67 |
| New Jersey | $65,190 | $47,170 | $101,650 | 40 | 0.48 |
| New Mexico | $79,710 | $50,480 | $120,520 | 50 | 3.24 |
| New York | $65,190 | $42,470 | $94,060 | 50 | 0.28 |
| North Carolina | $59,590 | $47,370 | $94,570 | 110 | 1.22 |
| Ohio | $52,120 | $29,590 | $82,280 | 80 | 0.76 |
| Oregon | $62,510 | $45,150 | $100,900 | 80 | 2.32 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,420 | $47,580 | $102,610 | 100 | 0.94 |
| Puerto Rico | $57,160 | $22,040 | $74,010 | 30 | 2 |
| Tennessee | $30,780 | $27,730 | $86,260 | ||
| Texas | $88,400 | $47,360 | $122,000 | 270 | 1.06 |
| Virginia | $52,190 | $37,650 | $91,170 | 40 | 0.55 |
| Washington | $85,240 | $49,940 | $103,540 | 70 | 1.03 |
| West Virginia | $48,230 | $40,210 | $81,330 | ||
| Wisconsin | $60,100 | $40,330 | $91,170 | 50 | 0.91 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for hydrologic technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for hydrologic technicians
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Hydrology and Water Resources Science CIP 40.0605
- Science Technologies/Technicians, General CIP 41.0000
- Physical Science Technologies/Technicians, Other CIP 41.0399
- Science Technologies/Technicians, Other CIP 41.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Analyze ecological data about the impact of pollution, erosion, floods, and other environmental problems on bodies of water.
- Answer technical questions from hydrologists, policymakers, or other customers developing water conservation plans.
- Apply research findings to minimize the environmental impacts of pollution, waterborne diseases, erosion, or sedimentation.
- Assist in designing programs to ensure the proper sealing of abandoned wells.
- Collect water and soil samples to test for physical, chemical, or biological properties, such as pH, oxygen level, temperature, and pollution.
- Develop computer models for hydrologic predictions.
- Estimate the costs and benefits of municipal projects, such as hydroelectric power plants, irrigation systems, and wastewater treatment facilities.
- Investigate complaints or conflicts related to the alteration of public waters by gathering information, recommending alternatives, or preparing legal documents.
Technology skills
- Geographic information system GIS systems (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Datasurge GEOPRO
- Delft GeoSystems MStab
- ESRI ArcInfo
- ESRI ArcView
- Email software
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do hydrologic technicians make?
The national median annual wage for hydrologic technicians was $64,790 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $44,950 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $100,480. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do hydrologic technicians need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is hydrologic technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of hydrologic technicians to change -1.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay hydrologic technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Texas ($88,400), Washington ($85,240), New Mexico ($79,710). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.