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
- $100,480
- Top 10% earn
- -2.1%
- Growth '23–'33
- 2,840
- US workers
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 US workers. Texas pays the most ($88,400), since pay varies by state and metro area.
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 2033.
- $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) pays a national median of $64,790 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $44,950 at the 10th percentile to $100,480 at the 90th, with a mean of $69,530 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 2,840 Americans work in this occupation across 29 reporting states and 13 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -2.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 400 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Associate's degree and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.7 per 100.
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 top metro is Midland, TX at $102,150 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
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.
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).
Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Hydrologic Technicians sits on the slower-growing side at -2.1% growth and $64,790 median pay.
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)
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 →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
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
10th Percentile
$44,950
25th Percentile
$52,040
Median
$64,790
75th Percentile
$84,680
90th Percentile
$100,480
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 13 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 |
| 13 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $48,230 | 26% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 19 (life physical and social science) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Hydrologic Technicians make? ▼
What state pays Hydrologic Technicians the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Hydrologic Technicians? ▼
How dangerous is being a 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
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $84,680/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. 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.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
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.