19 Series · SOC 19-4044
Hydrologic Technicians Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $64,790
- Median / year
- +10.6%
- 2024→2025
- $100,480
- Top 10% earn
- -2.1%
- Growth '24–'34
- 2,840
- Estimated US jobs
Hydrologic Technicians earn a median of $64,790 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $64,790, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $44,950 (10th percentile) to $100,480 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 2,840 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Texas ($88,400).
The pay verdict
Hydrologic Technicians earn a median of $64,790, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 56% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #38 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 2.1% by 2034.
- $64,790
- Median annual wage
- Top 44%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #38 of 48
- in Life, Physical, and Social Science
- 2.2×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Texas at $88,400. Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
Hydrologic Technicians (SOC 19-4044) has a national median of $64,790 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $44,950 to $100,480, and the published mean is $69,530. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 2,840 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 29 state or territory areas and 13 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $58,570 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $64,790 in May 2025, a rise of $6,220 (+10.6%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -2.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as declining relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 400 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Associate's degree as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Texas pays the highest state median at $88,400, which is +36% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Midland, TX at $102,150. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$64,790
per year
Median Hourly
$31.15/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$69,530
average
Employment
2,840
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Hydrologic Technicians pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$64,790 Top 44% higher than 56% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 (this entry) | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$64,790 · 56th percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 19-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Hydrologic Technicians; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Medical Scientists, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.7%, Median annual wage $103410
- Occupational Health …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.5%, Median annual wage $90150
- Environmental Scient…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.4%, Median annual wage $82220
- Chemists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $91240
- Clinical and Counsel…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 11.2%, Median annual wage $100580
- Life, Physical, and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.5%, Median annual wage $62280
- Biological Technicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.5%, Median annual wage $57510
- School Psychologists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.7%, Median annual wage $95990
- Chemical Technicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.7%, Median annual wage $60390
- Biological Scientist…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $98920
- Urban and Regional P…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.4%, Median annual wage $89320
- Social Scientists an…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.7%, Median annual wage $101110
- Environmental Scienc…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4%, Median annual wage $55090
- Biochemists and Biop…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.8%, Median annual wage $127410
- Social Science Resea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.4%, Median annual wage $61990
- Occupational Health …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.5%, Median annual wage $61560
- Forest and Conservat…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.2%, Median annual wage $54560
- Conservation Scienti…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.4%, Median annual wage $73010
- Geoscientists, Excep…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $101920
- Physical Scientists,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.6%, Median annual wage $122570
- Physicists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4%, Median annual wage $172250
- Forensic Science Tec…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.8%, Median annual wage $72060
- Microbiologists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $87990
- Psychologists, All O…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.3%, Median annual wage $110840
- Hydrologic Technicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -2.1%, Median annual wage $64790
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-2.1%
Declining
Annual Openings
400
per year (projected)
Employment Change
-100
3,100 (2024) → 3,000 (2034)
Typical Education
Associate's degree
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
0.7/100
Danger Index
3.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Hydrologic Technicians roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Key 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.
- ▸ Investigate the properties, origins, or activities of glaciers, ice, snow, or permafrost.
- ▸ Locate and deliver information or data as requested by customers, such as contractors, government entities, and members of the public.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Hydrologic Technicians pay history, 2021–2025
Published national median across 5 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $62,280 |
| 2022 | $58,360 |
| 2023 | $55,890 |
| 2024 | $58,570 |
| 2025 | $64,790 |
2021 median
$62,280
2025 median
$64,790
2021–2025 change
+$2,510 (+4%)
Avg/year
+1%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $62,280 | First banked release | 3,550 |
| May 2022 | $58,360 | -6.3% | 2,920 |
| May 2023 | $55,890 | -4.2% | 3,000 |
| May 2024 | $58,570 | +4.8% | 2,940 |
| May 2025 | $64,790 | +10.6% | 2,840 |
Across the 5 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $62,280 in May 2021 to $64,790 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2021–2025), the like-for-like change averages +1% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 3,550 in May 2021 to 2,840 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 29 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | $88,400 | +36% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $85,240 | +32% above national |
| 3 | New Mexico | $79,710 | +23% above national |
| 4 | Missouri | $79,440 | +23% above national |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $73,820 | +14% above national |
| 6 | California | $70,790 | +9% above national |
| 7 | Nevada | $68,660 | +6% above national |
| 8 | Maryland | $67,520 | +4% above national |
| 9 | Georgia | $66,770 | +3% above national |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $65,420 | +1% above national |
| 11 | New Jersey | $65,190 | +1% above national |
| 12 | New York | $65,190 | +1% above national |
| 13 | Arizona | $65,170 | +1% above national |
| 14 | Kentucky | $65,170 | +1% above national |
| 15 | Louisiana | $65,170 | +1% above national |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $64,790 | same as national |
| 17 | Oregon | $62,510 | 4% below national |
| 18 | Florida | $61,820 | 5% below national |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $60,100 | 7% below national |
| 20 | North Carolina | $59,590 | 8% below national |
| 21 | Puerto Rico | $57,160 | 12% below national |
| 22 | Colorado | $56,780 | 12% below national |
| 23 | Idaho | $54,950 | 15% below national |
| 24 | Montana | $53,550 | 17% below national |
| 25 | Illinois | $52,870 | 18% below national |
| 26 | Virginia | $52,190 | 19% below national |
| 27 | Ohio | $52,120 | 20% below national |
| 28 | West Virginia | $48,230 | 26% below national |
| 29 | Tennessee | $30,780 | 52% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 12 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midland, TX | $102,150 | +58% above national |
| 2 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $82,360 | +27% above national |
| 3 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $79,860 | +23% above national |
| 4 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $70,750 | +9% above national |
| 5 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $70,510 | +9% above national |
| 6 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $64,750 | same as national |
| 7 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $64,570 | same as national |
| 8 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $62,450 | 4% below national |
| 9 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $60,700 | 6% below national |
| 10 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $57,160 | 12% below national |
| 11 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $54,200 | 16% below national |
| 12 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $52,300 | 19% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 19 (Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Agricultural Technicians
SOC 19-4012
Animal Scientists
SOC 19-1011
Anthropologists and Archeologists
SOC 19-3091
Astronomers
SOC 19-2011
Atmospheric and Space Scientists
SOC 19-2021
Showing 5 of 47 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($64,790 here) and reported employment (2,840 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Hydrologic Technicians make? ▼
Where does Hydrologic Technicians pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Hydrologic Technicians the most? ▼
What education do Hydrologic Technicians need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Hydrologic Technicians? ▼
Is Hydrologic Technicians a good career? ▼
How does Hydrologic Technicians pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Hydrologic Technicians? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Hydrologic Technicians pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $84,680/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Texas leads at $88,400/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.