Hydrologists: Job Description
Research the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters; and study the form and intensity of precipitation and its rate of infiltration into the soil, movement through the earth, and return to the ocean and atmosphere.
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What Tasks Do Hydrologists Take On?
Typical responsibilities of hydrologists include:
- Prepare written and oral reports describing research results, using illustrations, maps, appendices, and other information.
- Design and conduct scientific hydrogeological investigations to ensure that accurate and appropriate information is available for use in water resource management decisions.
- 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.
- Coordinate and supervise the work of professional and technical staff, including research assistants, technologists, and technicians.
- Study public water supply issues, including flood and drought risks, water quality, wastewater, and impacts on wetland habitats.
- Apply research findings to help minimize the environmental impacts of pollution, waterborne diseases, erosion, and sedimentation.
- Study and document quantities, distribution, disposition, and development of underground and surface waters.
What Hydrologists Need to Know
Top hydrologists rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Hydrologists Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Groundwater Consultant
- Hydraulic Engineer
- Hydrogeologist
- Hydrologic Engineer
- Hydrologist
- Isotope Hydrologist
- Physical Scientist
- Project Hydrogeologist
How Many Hydrologists Are There?
There are roughly 54,483 hydrologists working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +8.2% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Hydrologists Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $96,513 |
| Hourly median | $46.40 |
| 10th percentile | $69,339 |
| 25th percentile | $82,926 |
| 75th percentile | $110,100 |
| 90th percentile | $123,687 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Hydrologists Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $134,410 |
| Virginia | $125,900 |
| California | $118,960 |
| Massachusetts | $116,750 |
| Colorado | $116,000 |
| New Jersey | $115,770 |
| Michigan | $111,860 |
| Missouri | $109,970 |
| Oklahoma | $104,330 |
| Washington | $100,000 |
| North Dakota | $98,430 |
| Nevada | $97,430 |
| New Mexico | $96,660 |
| Louisiana | $96,180 |
| Hawaii | $95,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,310 |
| Ohio | $93,520 |
| Oregon | $92,750 |
| Wyoming | $91,890 |
| Minnesota | $90,500 |
| Utah | $89,310 |
| Alabama | $86,750 |
| Iowa | $84,880 |
| New York | $84,320 |
| Indiana | $82,970 |
| Vermont | $82,450 |
| Montana | $80,690 |
| Illinois | $79,790 |
| Wisconsin | $76,460 |
| Arizona | $76,420 |
| Texas | $76,360 |
| Idaho | $74,960 |
| Florida | $71,290 |
| South Carolina | $61,240 |
Where Hydrologists Earn the Most
Pay for hydrologists vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $107,035 | 27.9% | 2.02 |
| Middle Atlantic | $98,875 | 10.7% | 0.74 |
| Rocky Mountains | $93,823 | 14.8% | 4.62 |
| Plains States | $93,057 | 8.6% | 2.18 |
| Great Lakes | $86,664 | 11.7% | 1.10 |
| Southwest | $80,713 | 13.9% | 1.95 |
| New England | $80,265 | 3.1% | 1.14 |
| Southeast | $68,505 | 9.2% | 0.74 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Hydrologists
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $138,500 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $137,270 | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $137,090 | 40 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $134,410 | 40 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $125,670 | 120 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | CO | $125,670 | 30 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $123,840 | 40 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $123,450 | 90 |
Which Industries Hire Hydrologists
The bulk of hydrologists work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,670 | $96,170 |
| Educational Services | 170 | $80,690 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 90 | $111,750 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 50 | $83,630 |
Below are examples of industries where hydrologists work:
Software Hydrologists Use
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Development environment software: Microsoft Visual Basic (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of hydrologists reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How to Become Hydrologists
Typical hydrologists positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Water Resource Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (Supplemental)
- Geodetic Surveyors (Supplemental)
- Water/Wastewater Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Environmental Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers (Supplemental)
- Petroleum Engineers (Supplemental)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Future hydrologists commonly pursue programs in:
Physical Sciences
3 programs across 1 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
2 programs across 2 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 19-2043.00 (Hydrologists).
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