Hydrologist: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.
The work, the skills that matter, the tools in demand and the pay range, from U.S. government data, plus every TryHired page for the role.
10% of hydrologists earn less than this amount.
- Annual
- $64,020
- Hourly
- $30.78
- Source
- BLS May 2025
25% of hydrologists earn less than this amount.
- Annual
- $77,210
- Hourly
- $37.12
- Source
- BLS May 2025
Half of hydrologists earn more than this and half earn less.
- Annual
- $96,600
- Hourly
- $46.44
- Source
- BLS May 2025
75% of hydrologists earn less than this amount.
- Annual
- $122,830
- Hourly
- $59.06
- Source
- BLS May 2025
90% of hydrologists earn less than this amount.
- Annual
- $153,130
- Hourly
- $73.62
- Source
- BLS May 2025
Hydrologists 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. The median pay is $96,600 a year ($46.44 an hour) (BLS, May 2025).
- Median pay
- $96,600
- BLS May 2025
- Employed in the U.S.
- 5,850
- BLS May 2025
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- considerable preparation
Hydrologists at a glance
Hydrologists in the United States earned a median annual wage of $96,600 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
In its 2025–35 employment projections, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for hydrologists in the United States.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
BLS projects employment of hydrologists in the United States to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035, with about 400 openings a year on average, including replacement openings.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
BLS estimated that 5,850 people were employed as hydrologists in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Every page for Hydrologists
What hydrologists do day to day
Data Core tasks rated most important by workers in the role (O*NET).
- 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.
Industries that employ it
Data Share of all hydrologist jobs in each industry, 2025 (BLS Employment Matrix).
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals64.4% of all jobs in this occupation · -0.7% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $97,860
- Professional, scientific, and technical services27.5% of all jobs in this occupation · +5.4% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $118,060
- Educational services; state, local, and private3.5% of all jobs in this occupation · +3.4% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $82,430
- Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations0.8% of all jobs in this occupation · +10.9% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $103,230
Sources: BLS 2025–35 National Employment Matrix (share of the occupation's jobs, projected change) and BLS OEWS May 2025 industry estimates (mean wage). Different industry estimates are not a pay forecast for any person.
Ranked by importance to the job
Data O*NET importance ratings. The first three are core.
Knowledge areas: Mathematics, Physics, Engineering and Technology, Chemistry, English Language, Geography.
Software hydrologists use
Data Examples reported for the role; employer demand flags from O*NET.
- ESRI ArcGIS softwareGeographic information systemIn demand
- Geographic information system GIS systemsGeographic information systemIn demand
- HEC-HMSAnalytical or scientific softwareIn demand
- HEC-RASAnalytical or scientific softwareIn demand
- RockWare MODFLOWAnalytical or scientific softwareIn demand
- Autodesk AutoCADComputer aided design CAD softwareHot technology
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3DComputer aided design CAD softwareHot technology
- Bentley MicroStationComputer aided design CAD softwareHot technology
- The MathWorks MATLABAnalytical or scientific softwareHot technology
- Advanced Logic Technology WellCADComputer aided design CAD software
- Amtec Engineering TecplotGraphics or photo imaging software
- Argus ONE Open Numerical EnvironmentsAnalytical or scientific software
Also called: Groundwater Consultant, Hydrogeologist, Research Hydrologic Engineer, Research Hydrologist, Source Water Protection Specialist.
How this page is built
Tasks, skills, tools, education and related roles come from O*NET 31.0. Pay and employment come from the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimates. The skill-match score is our calculation: Skill match is the cosine similarity of the two occupations' skill profiles: for each of 35 O*NET skills (10 essential, 25 transferable) we multiply importance by level and subtract the average across all occupations, then compare the direction of the two profiles. 100 means identical shape; 0 means unrelated or opposite (negative values are shown as 0). Only occupations that O*NET itself lists as related are compared.
- How a specific employer defines the job.
- Pay for self-employed workers (OEWS covers employees).
- Your own chances: data describes the occupation, not you.
- O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).
How TryHired builds this data: sources, methods and downloads. Spotted an error? Report a correction.