19 Series · SOC 19-2043

Hydrologists Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$96,600
Median / year
$153,130
Top 10% earn
-0.1%
Growth '23–'33
5,850
US workers

Hydrologists earn a median of $96,600 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $96,600, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $64,020 (10th percentile) to $153,130 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 5,850 US workers. Maryland pays the most ($143,010), since pay varies by state and metro area.

19 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Hydrologists earn a median of $96,600, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 81% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #19 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 0.1% by 2033.

$96,600
Median annual wage
Top 19%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#19 of 48
in Life, Physical, and Social Science
2.4×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Maryland at $143,010. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Hydrologists (SOC 19-2043) pays a national median of $96,600 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $64,020 at the 10th percentile to $153,130 at the 90th, with a mean of $103,600 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 5,850 Americans work in this occupation across 34 reporting states and 37 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -0.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 500 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. 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. Maryland pays the highest state median at $143,010, which is +48% above the national figure. The top metro is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $152,730 - 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.

BLS OEWS May 2025 5,850 jobs Median $96,600/yr

Median Salary

$96,600

per year

Median Hourly

$46.44/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$103,600

average

Employment

5,850

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Hydrologists pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$96,600 Top 19% higher than 81% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

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 Hydrologists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Hydrologists sits on the slower-growing side at -0.1% growth and $96,600 median pay.

Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Hydrologists sits on the slower-growing side at -0.1% growth and $96,600 median pay. Scatter plot of 25 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000 -5%0%5%10%15% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Hydrologists sits on the slower-growing side at -0.1% growth and $96,600 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

-0.1%

Declining

Annual Openings

500

per year (projected)

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

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 Hydrologists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Critical Thinking 4.0
Reading Comprehension 3.9
Active Listening 3.9
Science 3.9
Speaking 3.8
Mathematics 3.8
Complex Problem Solving 3.8
Writing 3.6
Active Learning 3.6
Monitoring 3.5

Knowledge Areas

Mathematics 4.3
Physics 4.1
Engineering and Technology 4.0
English Language 3.9
Geography 3.9
Computers and Electronics 3.5
Chemistry 3.4
Biology 3.2
Customer and Personal Service 2.7
Administration and Management 2.6

Key Tasks

  • ▸ 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.
  • ▸ Install, maintain, and calibrate instruments such as those that monitor water levels, rainfall, and sediments.
  • ▸ Develop computer models for hydrologic predictions.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$64,020$77,210$96,600$122,830$153,130
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$30.78$37.12$46.44$59.06$73.62
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$64,020

25th Percentile

$77,210

Median

$96,600

75th Percentile

$122,830

90th Percentile

$153,130

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. Maryland $143,010 2. Virginia $132,080 3. New Jersey $126,680 4. California $122,110 5. Georgia $121,830

Lowest Paying States

30. South Carolina $65,770 31. Florida $76,850 32. Wisconsin $78,770 33. Idaho $78,850 34. Indiana $80,700
View all 34 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Maryland $143,010 +48% above national
2 Virginia $132,080 +37% above national
3 New Jersey $126,680 +31% above national
4 California $122,110 +26% above national
5 Georgia $121,830 +26% above national
6 Massachusetts $119,350 +24% above national
7 Missouri $116,100 +20% above national
8 Alaska $108,660 +12% above national
9 Nevada $107,930 +12% above national
10 Washington $105,600 +9% above national
11 Louisiana $104,520 +8% above national
12 Michigan $101,060 +5% above national
13 Colorado $100,840 +4% above national
14 Ohio $98,200 +2% above national
15 New Mexico $97,470 +1% above national
16 Oklahoma $97,470 +1% above national
17 Minnesota $94,580 2% below national
18 Wyoming $94,520 2% below national
19 Utah $94,190 2% below national
20 Oregon $93,690 3% below national
21 Pennsylvania $91,730 5% below national
22 New York $88,100 9% below national
23 Arizona $86,700 10% below national
24 Vermont $86,140 11% below national
25 Montana $84,500 13% below national
26 Illinois $83,720 13% below national
27 North Carolina $81,770 15% below national
28 Iowa $81,150 16% below national
29 Texas $81,080 16% below national
30 Indiana $80,700 16% below national
31 Idaho $78,850 18% below national
32 Wisconsin $78,770 18% below national
33 Florida $76,850 20% below national
34 South Carolina $65,770 32% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $152,730 2. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $147,080 3. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $142,640 4. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $138,020 5. Trenton-Princeton, NJ $128,320

Lowest Paying Metros

33. Columbia, SC $65,770 34. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $73,810 35. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $77,020 36. Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $78,120 37. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $80,400
View all 37 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $152,730 +58% above national
2 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $147,080 +52% above national
3 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $142,640 +48% above national
4 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $138,020 +43% above national
5 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $128,320 +33% above national
6 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $126,820 +31% above national
7 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $123,420 +28% above national
8 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $118,390 +23% above national
9 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $113,550 +18% above national
10 Reno, NV $111,140 +15% above national
11 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $108,680 +13% above national
12 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $106,860 +11% above national
13 Albuquerque, NM $101,520 +5% above national
14 Akron, OH $99,470 +3% above national
15 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $99,320 +3% above national
16 Columbus, OH $98,200 +2% above national
17 Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $97,860 +1% above national
18 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $94,580 2% below national
19 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $94,420 2% below national
20 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $93,340 3% below national
21 Bend, OR $91,170 6% below national
22 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $90,000 7% below national
23 Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $89,270 8% below national
24 Boise City, ID $88,150 9% below national
25 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $88,100 9% below national
26 Helena, MT $86,260 11% below national
27 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $85,540 11% below national
28 Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area $85,150 12% below national
29 Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area $84,300 13% below national
30 Tucson, AZ $81,640 15% below national
31 Madison, WI $81,310 16% below national
32 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $80,700 16% below national
33 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $80,400 17% below national
34 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $78,120 19% below national
35 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $77,020 20% below national
36 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $73,810 24% below national
37 Columbia, SC $65,770 32% 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.

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
Compare Hydrologists side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Hydrologists make? ▼
The median annual salary for Hydrologists is $96,600 ($46.44/hour). The salary range spans from $64,020 at the 10th percentile to $153,130 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Hydrologists the most? ▼
Maryland pays the highest median salary for Hydrologists at $143,010/year, which is +48% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Hydrologists? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Hydrologists is Bachelor's degree.
How dangerous is being a Hydrologists? ▼
Hydrologists has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 1.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.7 per 100 workers.
Is Hydrologists a good career? ▼
Employment for Hydrologists is projected to decline 0.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 500 openings are projected each year.
How does Hydrologists pay vary by state? ▼
Hydrologists salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Maryland at $143,010/year, while Indiana pays the least at $80,700/year. BLS data covers 34 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Hydrologists? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Hydrologists is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $152,730/year. BLS reports wage data for 37 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Hydrologists pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $122,830/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: Maryland leads at $143,010/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.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

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.