SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 19-2043.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $64,020 | $5,335 | $1,231 | $30.78 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $77,210 | $6,434 | $1,485 | $37.12 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $96,600 | $8,050 | $1,858 | $46.44 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $122,830 | $10,236 | $2,362 | $59.06 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $153,130 | $12,761 | $2,945 | $73.62 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Hydrologists is $96,600, which is 89% higher. Among the 48 occupations of the field Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks number 19 by median pay. With 5,850 jobs, it makes up about 0.4 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Hydrologists pay by state
The highest median pay was in Maryland ($143,010), Virginia ($132,080) and New Jersey ($126,680). The lowest was in South Carolina ($65,770), Florida ($76,850) and Wisconsin ($78,770). The most jobs were in California (540), Arizona (400) and Ohio (390). The occupation is most concentrated in Montana, where its share of all jobs is 9.8 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 90 | $143,010 | $145,970 | $68.75 |
| Virginia | 40 | $132,080 | $119,240 | $63.50 |
| New Jersey | not published | $126,680 | $127,450 | $60.90 |
| California | 540 | $122,110 | $122,940 | $58.71 |
| Georgia | 30 | $121,830 | $122,030 | $58.57 |
| Massachusetts | 50 | $119,350 | $119,710 | $57.38 |
| Missouri | 50 | $116,100 | $110,030 | $55.82 |
| Alaska | 60 | $108,660 | $108,750 | $52.24 |
| Nevada | 170 | $107,930 | $116,790 | $51.89 |
| Washington | 350 | $105,600 | $123,510 | $50.77 |
| Louisiana | not published | $104,520 | $108,810 | $50.25 |
| Michigan | 40 | $101,060 | $105,910 | $48.59 |
| Colorado | 360 | $100,840 | $122,740 | $48.48 |
| Ohio | 390 | $98,200 | $95,570 | $47.21 |
| New Mexico | 100 | $97,470 | $105,700 | $46.86 |
| Oklahoma | 40 | $97,470 | $97,470 | $46.86 |
| Minnesota | 300 | $94,580 | $94,300 | $45.47 |
| Wyoming | 40 | $94,520 | $99,810 | $45.44 |
| Utah | 80 | $94,190 | $97,230 | $45.28 |
| Oregon | 300 | $93,690 | $98,910 | $45.04 |
| Pennsylvania | 160 | $91,730 | $93,500 | $44.10 |
| New York | 160 | $88,100 | $95,000 | $42.36 |
| Arizona | 400 | $86,700 | $100,600 | $41.68 |
| Vermont | 50 | $86,140 | $89,120 | $41.42 |
| Montana | 190 | $84,500 | $92,840 | $40.62 |
| Illinois | 100 | $83,720 | $92,640 | $40.25 |
| North Carolina | 150 | $81,770 | $86,330 | $39.31 |
| Iowa | 50 | $81,150 | $90,730 | $39.02 |
| Texas | 220 | $81,080 | $89,530 | $38.98 |
| Indiana | 50 | $80,700 | $83,660 | $38.80 |
| Idaho | 160 | $78,850 | $86,620 | $37.91 |
| Wisconsin | 150 | $78,770 | $86,040 | $37.87 |
| Florida | 280 | $76,850 | $84,130 | $36.95 |
| South Carolina | 100 | $65,770 | $74,660 | $31.62 |
| Tennessee | 150 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$100,580 a year
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists$99,070 a year
- Biological Scientists, All Other$98,920 a year
- School Psychologists$95,990 a year
- Life Scientists, All Other$93,750 a year
- Chemists$91,240 a year
Common questions
How much do Hydrologists earn in the United States?
The median pay was $96,600 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $64,020 and the highest-paid 10% more than $153,130.
How many people work as Hydrologists?
About 5,850 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.