Hydrologist salary in the U.S.
Hydrologists in the U.S. earn a median of $96,600 a year ($46.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,850 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,130 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $103,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for hydrologists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,020 | $30.78 |
| 25th percentile | $77,210 | $37.12 |
| Median | $96,600 | $46.44 |
| 75th percentile | $122,830 | $59.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $153,130 | $73.62 |
| Average (mean) | $103,600 | $49.81 |
Half of hydrologists 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 | $8,050 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,025 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,715.38 |
| Weekly | $1,857.69 |
| Hourly | $46.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Hydrologist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $143,010 | 90 |
| Virginia | $132,080 | 40 |
| New Jersey | $126,680 | n/a |
| California | $122,110 | 540 |
| Georgia | $121,830 | 30 |
| Massachusetts | $119,350 | 50 |
| Missouri | $116,100 | 50 |
| Alaska | $108,660 | 60 |
| Nevada | $107,930 | 170 |
| Washington | $105,600 | 350 |
| Louisiana | $104,520 | n/a |
| Michigan | $101,060 | 40 |
| Colorado | $100,840 | 360 |
| Ohio | $98,200 | 390 |
| New Mexico | $97,470 | 100 |
| Oklahoma | $97,470 | 40 |
| Minnesota | $94,580 | 300 |
| Wyoming | $94,520 | 40 |
| Utah | $94,190 | 80 |
| Oregon | $93,690 | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,730 | 160 |
| New York | $88,100 | 160 |
| Arizona | $86,700 | 400 |
| Vermont | $86,140 | 50 |
| Montana | $84,500 | 190 |
| Illinois | $83,720 | 100 |
| North Carolina | $81,770 | 150 |
| Iowa | $81,150 | 50 |
| Texas | $81,080 | 220 |
| Indiana | $80,700 | 50 |
| Idaho | $78,850 | 160 |
| Wisconsin | $78,770 | 150 |
| Florida | $76,850 | 280 |
| South Carolina | $65,770 | 100 |
Best-paying metro areas for hydrologists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $152,730 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $147,080 | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $142,640 | 30 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $138,020 | 50 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $128,320 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $126,820 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $123,420 | 70 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $118,390 | 50 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $113,550 | 80 |
| Reno, NV | $111,140 | 70 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $108,680 | 140 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $106,860 | 110 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $101,520 | 50 |
| Akron, OH | $99,470 | n/a |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $99,320 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most hydrologists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 260 | $90,000 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 210 | $94,580 |
| Columbus, OH | 170 | $98,200 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 140 | $108,680 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 130 | $88,100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 110 | $106,860 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 100 | $73,810 |
| Columbia, SC | 100 | $65,770 |
| Boise City, ID | 80 | $88,150 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 80 | $93,340 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 80 | $113,550 |
| Tucson, AZ | 80 | $81,640 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 70 | $123,420 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 70 | $85,540 |
| Reno, NV | 70 | $111,140 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
| Chemist | $91,240 | $43.87 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $101,920 | $49.00 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $122,570 | $58.93 |
| Physicist | $172,250 | $82.81 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $99,070 | $47.63 |
| Materials Scientist | $117,790 | $56.63 |
| Astronomer | $128,820 | $61.94 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $100,580 | $48.36 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 | $27.65 |
| School Psychologist | $95,990 | $46.15 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-2043. 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 hydrologist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for hydrologists in the U.S. is $96,600 a year, or $46.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid hydrologists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of hydrologists in the U.S. earn at least $153,130 a year. The top 25% earn $122,830 or more.
What is the starting pay for hydrologists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,020 a year, and a quarter of hydrologists earn $77,210 or less.
How many hydrologists work in the U.S.?
About 5,850 hydrologists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.