Hydrologist salary in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Hydrologists in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median of $126,820 a year ($60.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $133,460 for the top 10%. That is 31% higher than the national median of $96,600. Pay here is 4% higher than the California statewide median of $122,110. There are 0.02 hydrologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $112,990, close to the median.
Pay range for hydrologists in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,460 | $38.68 |
| 25th percentile | $90,100 | $43.32 |
| Median | $126,820 | $60.97 |
| 75th percentile | $126,940 | $61.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,460 | $64.16 |
| Average (mean) | $112,990 | $54.32 |
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 | $10,568.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,284.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,877.69 |
| Weekly | $2,438.85 |
| Hourly | $60.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $126,820 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Hydrologist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $147,080 | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $142,640 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $123,420 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $106,860 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for hydrologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $143,010 |
| Virginia | $132,080 |
| New Jersey | $126,680 |
| California | $122,110 |
| Georgia | $121,830 |
| Massachusetts | $119,350 |
| Missouri | $116,100 |
| Alaska | $108,660 |
| Nevada | $107,930 |
| Washington | $105,600 |
See Hydrologist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $104,110 | $50.05 |
| Chemist | $92,660 | $44.55 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $90,270 | $43.40 |
| Materials Scientist | $129,050 | $62.04 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $106,750 | $51.32 |
| Physicist | $163,990 | $78.84 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,310 | $43.42 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $138,390 | $66.53 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $92,730 | $44.58 |
| School Psychologist | $139,400 | $67.02 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $63,150 | $30.36 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $51,310 | $24.67 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $108,760 | $52.29 |
| Chemical Technician | $55,620 | $26.74 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
The median salary for hydrologists in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $126,820 a year, or $60.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $80,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $133,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid hydrologists make in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
The top 10% of hydrologists in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn at least $133,460 a year. The top 25% earn $126,940 or more.
What is the starting pay for hydrologists in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,460 a year, and a quarter of hydrologists earn $90,100 or less.
How many hydrologists work in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
About 40 hydrologists are employed in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.