Hydrologic Technician salary in the U.S.
Hydrologic Technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $64,790 a year ($31.15 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,480 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $69,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for hydrologic technicians in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| 25th percentile | $52,040 | $25.02 |
| Median | $64,790 | $31.15 |
| 75th percentile | $84,680 | $40.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,480 | $48.31 |
| Average (mean) | $69,530 | $33.43 |
Half of hydrologic technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,399.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,699.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,491.92 |
| Weekly | $1,245.96 |
| Hourly | $31.15 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Hydrologic Technician salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $88,400 | 270 |
| Washington | $85,240 | 70 |
| New Mexico | $79,710 | 50 |
| Missouri | $79,440 | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $73,820 | 60 |
| California | $70,790 | 300 |
| Nevada | $68,660 | 30 |
| Maryland | $67,520 | 50 |
| Georgia | $66,770 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,420 | 100 |
| New Jersey | $65,190 | 40 |
| New York | $65,190 | 50 |
| Arizona | $65,170 | 50 |
| Kentucky | $65,170 | 30 |
| Louisiana | $65,170 | 40 |
| New Hampshire | $64,790 | 50 |
| Oregon | $62,510 | 80 |
| Florida | $61,820 | 240 |
| Wisconsin | $60,100 | 50 |
| North Carolina | $59,590 | 110 |
| Puerto Rico | $57,160 | 30 |
| Colorado | $56,780 | n/a |
| Idaho | $54,950 | 50 |
| Montana | $53,550 | 70 |
| Illinois | $52,870 | n/a |
| Virginia | $52,190 | 40 |
| Ohio | $52,120 | 80 |
| West Virginia | $48,230 | n/a |
| Tennessee | $30,780 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for hydrologic technicians
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | $102,150 | n/a |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $82,360 | 40 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $79,860 | 30 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $70,750 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $70,510 | 60 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $64,750 | 110 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $64,570 | 40 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $62,450 | 40 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $60,700 | 40 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $57,160 | 30 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $54,200 | 30 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $52,300 | n/a |
Metro areas with the most hydrologic technicians
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 110 | $64,750 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 60 | $70,510 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 40 | $62,450 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 40 | $64,570 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 40 | $82,360 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 40 | $70,750 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 40 | $60,700 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 30 | $54,200 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | 30 | $57,160 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 30 | $79,860 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 | $27.65 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 | $29.03 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $55,090 | $26.49 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $61,990 | $29.81 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $54,560 | $26.23 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $72,060 | $34.65 |
| Agricultural Technician | $49,630 | $23.86 |
| Food Science Technician | $52,130 | $25.06 |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $53,350 | $25.65 |
| Nuclear Technician | $110,240 | $53.00 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4044. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hydrologic technician make in the U.S.?
The median salary for hydrologic technicians in the U.S. is $64,790 a year, or $31.15 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid hydrologic technicians make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of hydrologic technicians in the U.S. earn at least $100,480 a year. The top 25% earn $84,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for hydrologic technicians in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,950 a year, and a quarter of hydrologic technicians earn $52,040 or less.
How many hydrologic technicians work in the U.S.?
About 2,840 hydrologic technicians are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.