Compliance Officers
Median wage · national
$80,730
Range: $61K – $109K
Employed
417K
Openings/yr
33K
Typically: bachelor's degree
HUMANITIES
Hydrologists
Hydrologists earn $96,600 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $77,210 and $122,830. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Hydrologists
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a hydrologists: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Geosciences and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
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.
- Median Wage
- $96,600
- Employed Nationally
- 6K
- Openings / Year
- 400
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Also known as:
Groundwater Consultant
Hydraulic Engineer
Hydrogeologist
Hydrologic Engineer
Hydrologist
How Much Do Hydrologists Make?
Most hydrologists take home around $96,600 a year, well above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $77,210 and $122,830, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. Worth weighing against how long the training takes. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$96,600
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$77K–$123K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$77,210
Entry-level
$96,600
Median
$122,830
Experienced
What Do Hydrologists Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Science
Mathematics
Who Thrives Here
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Hydrologists Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Hydrologists?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +1.5%, meaning it is growing slowly, a little behind the average job. Around 400 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +1.5%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
Slower than average.
400
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
6K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Hydrologists professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $96,600 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 540 | $122,110 | +26.4% |
| 2 | Arizona | 400 | $86,700 | -10.2% |
| 3 | Ohio | 390 | $98,200 | +1.7% |
| 4 | Colorado | 360 | $100,840 | +4.4% |
| 5 | Washington | 350 | $105,600 | +9.3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a bachelor's degree. The 2 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is an Environmental Geosciences program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geosciences | 7,691 | $60,190 | 592 |
| 2 | Environmental Geosciences | 102 | — | 15 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Hydrologists
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD | 97 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 4 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 5 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Hydrologists, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Hydrologists pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Hydrologists Pros & Cons
The data on Hydrologists shows 2 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $96,600 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $122,830 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- Slow job growth At +1.5% projected growth, this career lags the national average. Limited expansion means stiffer competition for openings that do appear.
- Extensive preparation before reaching full earning potential This is a Job Zone 5 occupation, extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $96,600 median while building the experience employers require.
Hydrologists Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Hydrologists professionals earn?
Around $96,600 a year for the typical worker, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $77,210 and $122,830. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Hydrologists a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $96,600 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Research salary outcomes at specific programs, not just the national median, before committing to a graduate path.
How long does it take to work as Hydrologists?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Geosciences are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $96,600 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Hydrologists?
Employment is projected to change by +1.5% through 2035, slower than average compared with other occupations. Around 400 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 6K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
What skills do Hydrologists professionals need?
Mainly Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Science, and Mathematics. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
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10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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