Average Salary for Hydrologists
SOC 19-2043 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Hydrologists in the United States is $92,060 ($44.26/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $60,010 at the 10th percentile to $139,420 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 5,720 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 17.5% since 2014.
Median Annual
$92,060
Mean Annual
$98,130
10th Pct
$60,010
75th Pct
$114,940
Employment
5,720
Salary Distribution
$60k
10th
$73k
25th
$92k
Median
$115k
75th
$139k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $138,500 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $137,270 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $137,090 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $134,410 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $125,670 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $125,670 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $123,840 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $123,450 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $119,250 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $119,180 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $115,540 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $114,790 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $112,590 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $107,980 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $107,440 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Hydrologists broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Utilities | $165,480 |
| Utilities | $165,480 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $113,390 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $113,390 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | $111,760 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | $111,750 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $111,750 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $103,990 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $101,730 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $101,730 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $98,640 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $96,170 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $96,170 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $93,680 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $93,650 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $90,690 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $90,690 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $89,860 |
| Engineering Services | $85,450 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $83,630 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $83,630 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $83,630 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $81,520 |
| Educational Services | $80,690 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $79,710 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $79,500 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $79,190 |
| Educational Services | $79,190 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $39,120 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $92,060 |
| 2023 | $88,770 |
| 2022 | $85,990 |
| 2021 | $84,030 |
| 2020 | $84,040 |
| 2019 | $81,270 |
| 2018 | $79,370 |
| 2017 | $79,990 |
| 2016 | $80,480 |
| 2015 | $79,550 |
| 2014 | $78,370 |