Hydrologists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $64,020 | $30.78 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $96,600 | $46.44 |
| Mean (average) | $103,600 | $49.81 |
| 90th percentile | $153,130 | $73.62 |
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
Hydrologists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 35 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $108,660 | $73,690 | $132,770 | 60 | 4.55 |
| Arizona | $86,700 | $64,700 | $160,710 | 400 | 3.28 |
| California | $122,110 | $76,110 | $181,360 | 540 | 0.79 |
| Colorado | $100,840 | $82,430 | $201,630 | 360 | 3.37 |
| Florida | $76,850 | $58,620 | $119,670 | 280 | 0.74 |
| Georgia | $121,830 | $85,990 | $155,920 | 30 | 0.18 |
| Idaho | $78,850 | $58,260 | $135,380 | 160 | 4.88 |
| Illinois | $83,720 | $59,070 | $133,430 | 100 | 0.45 |
| Indiana | $80,700 | $60,790 | $116,270 | 50 | 0.42 |
| Iowa | $81,150 | $66,180 | $136,340 | 50 | 0.91 |
| Louisiana | $104,520 | $74,480 | $184,290 | ||
| Maryland | $143,010 | $84,590 | $189,260 | 90 | 0.83 |
| Massachusetts | $119,350 | $71,510 | $155,150 | 50 | 0.38 |
| Michigan | $101,060 | $81,330 | $136,990 | 40 | 0.21 |
| Minnesota | $94,580 | $68,620 | $125,300 | 300 | 2.7 |
| Missouri | $116,100 | $73,920 | $136,990 | 50 | 0.43 |
| Montana | $84,500 | $63,060 | $115,210 | 190 | 9.79 |
| Nevada | $107,930 | $77,570 | $164,980 | 170 | 2.94 |
| New Jersey | $126,680 | $76,810 | $176,480 | ||
| New Mexico | $97,470 | $63,660 | $131,370 | 100 | 2.96 |
| New York | $88,100 | $67,760 | $136,590 | 160 | 0.44 |
| North Carolina | $81,770 | $64,320 | $111,050 | 150 | 0.8 |
| Ohio | $98,200 | $60,800 | $131,100 | 390 | 1.89 |
| Oklahoma | $97,470 | $61,110 | $126,440 | 40 | 0.55 |
| Oregon | $93,690 | $68,040 | $124,900 | 300 | 4.06 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,730 | $45,300 | $141,070 | 160 | 0.7 |
| South Carolina | $65,770 | $57,830 | $115,210 | 100 | 1.17 |
| Tennessee | Data unavailable | 150 | 1.18 | ||
| Texas | $81,080 | $54,650 | $126,440 | 220 | 0.42 |
| Utah | $94,190 | $61,580 | $136,990 | 80 | 1.27 |
| Vermont | $86,140 | $78,860 | $107,300 | 50 | 4.1 |
| Virginia | $132,080 | $61,990 | $156,750 | 40 | 0.25 |
| Washington | $105,600 | $80,450 | $194,900 | 350 | 2.62 |
| Wisconsin | $78,770 | $65,290 | $115,920 | 150 | 1.37 |
| Wyoming | $94,520 | $61,110 | $139,920 | 40 | 4.1 |
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 hydrologists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 2.1%.
- 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 hydrologists
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
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
- Earth Systems Science CIP 30.3801
- Environmental Geosciences CIP 30.4101
- Geology/Earth Science, General CIP 40.0601
- Hydrology and Water Resources Science CIP 40.0605
- Oceanography, Chemical and Physical CIP 40.0607
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Design and conduct scientific hydrogeological investigations to ensure that accurate and appropriate information is available for use in water resource management decisions.
- Study and document quantities, distribution, disposition, and development of underground and surface waters.
- Prepare reports or presentations describing research results, using illustrations, maps, appendices, and other information.
- Apply research findings to help minimize the environmental impacts of pollution, waterborne diseases, erosion, and sedimentation.
- Measure and graph phenomena such as lake levels, stream flows, and changes in water volumes.
- Conduct research and communicate information to promote the conservation and preservation of water resources.
- Develop computer models for hydrologic predictions.
- Coordinate and supervise the work of professional and technical staff, including research assistants, technologists, and technicians.
Technology skills
- ESRI ArcGIS software (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Python (in demand)
- R (in demand)
- Geographic information system GIS systems (in demand)
- HEC-HMS (in demand)
- HEC-RAS (in demand)
- RockWare MODFLOW (in demand)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D (hot technology)
- Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- C++ (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination.
Common job titles: Groundwater Consultant, Hydrogeologist, Research Hydrologic Engineer, Research Hydrologist, Source Water Protection Specialist.
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 hydrologists make?
The national median annual wage for hydrologists was $96,600 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $64,020 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $153,130. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do hydrologists need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is hydrologists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of hydrologists to change +1.5% 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 hydrologists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Maryland ($143,010), Virginia ($132,080), New Jersey ($126,680). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.