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Job outlook for hydrologists in the United States
Are hydrologist jobs in demand?
Hydrologist job and salary trends over time
Hydrologist jobs over time
Hydrologist job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,992 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,889 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,016 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 2,946 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2,974 | 0.00% |
Average hydrologist salary over time
Hydrologist salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $92,871 | $44.65 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $89,810 | $43.18 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $87,710 | $42.17 | --0.8% |
| 2022 | $88,395 | $42.50 | --0.6% |
| 2021 | $88,937 | $42.76 | +1.2% |
Hydrologist jobs by state
Most common states for hydrologists
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 61 | 5% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 32 | 5% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 33 | 4% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 33 | 4% |
| 5 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 120 | 2% |
| 6 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 86 | 2% |
| 7 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 50 | 2% |
| 8 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 34 | 2% |
| 9 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 28 | 2% |
| 10 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 23 | 2% |
| 11 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 16 | 2% |
| 12 | Vermont | 623,657 | 13 | 2% |
| 13 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 12 | 2% |
| 14 | California | 39,536,653 | 427 | 1% |
| 15 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 167 | 1% |
| 16 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 54 | 1% |
| 17 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 48 | 1% |
| 18 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 41 | 1% |
| 19 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 28 | 1% |
| 20 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 24 | 1% |
Most common cities for hydrologists
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexandria | 1 | 2% | $70,216 |
| 2 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $106,896 |
| 3 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $71,246 |
| 4 | Saint Paul | 1 | 0% | $71,869 |
Hydrologist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of hydrologist experts
Kent State University
Gonzaga University
American Institute of Professional Geologists
Lafayette College
Kennesaw State University
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Baylor University
Michigan State University
Pace University, NYC
Humboldt State University
Michigan State University
The University of Memphis
Bethune-Cookman University
What general advice would you give to a Hydrologist?
Dr. Christopher Post PhD: Start local and get an internship while an undergraduate. Any position with the federal lands agencies (parks, forests, BLM, etc.) are tough to get and you have to work your way in to that federal system. Start local with regional/county/city parks and forests and work up to the federal level. Also keep that balance between the science (the biology and earth science) and the more social science/humanities (ethics, economics, communications) material you’ve learned as undergraduate. These jobs are all about communicating complex scientific/environmental issues with the general public so that context is very important. You have to be nimble and know both areas (the science and the social science) and their overlap.
What Hydrologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Christopher Post PhD: Geographic Information Science—the ability to take field data and make it visual with maps so that you and others can witness and analyze spatial relations is the most important skill set in environmental careers right now and will continue as such. Everything in nature moves—albeit sometimes slowly—and understanding those interactions is key to unfolding humanity’s impacts on the environment, and vice versa.
Dr. Greg Gordon Professor/Chair
Professor/ChairGonzaga University
Natural Resources Conservation And Research
What will help Hydrologists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Greg Gordon Professor/Chair: We find that graphical information systems (GIS) skills are in high demand. Soft skills such as ability to work as a team, develop work plans, collaborate and communicate with diverse stakeholders, communicate technical and scientific information, are, and will be very important in the near and long term future.
What general advice would you give to a Hydrologist?
Aaron Haines Ph.D., Certified Wildlife Biologist ®: Having more technical skill sets can help you get entry level positions that can lead to higher pay positions. These include the ability to extract DNA from biological samples and understand the process of DNA sequencing, be familiar with geographical information systems (GIS) software such as ArcPro, ArcGIS, QGIS, be familiar with programming language such as Phyton and R statical programming, and government policies that impact your field of study.
Be a member of a professional organization and attend their conferences. This will allow you the opportunity to learn from others, network, and meet potential future employers.
What will help Hydrologists increase their earning potential?
Aaron Haines Ph.D., Certified Wildlife Biologist ®: Learn to be a team player and be reliable enough to complete tasks by yourself. Make sure your online presence is one of a professional in your field. Potential employers will search you out online. Have these searches lead to the professional you. The ecology and environmental biology fields are competitive. As a growing professional in these fields, you will begin with lower salaries compared to biology majors in other fields such as the medical, pharmaceutical, and research lab professions. Most government organizations that deal with ecology-based issues, such as natural resources or environmental monitoring, have lower budgets compared to other government departments. Also, non-government organizations that work in these fields are mainly non-profit. The best way to get into these competitive fields is via internships and temporary positions. Experience is key. Temporary positions are low pay, but they provide the building blocks of experience to get you more permanent and better pay positions or entry into graduate school with an assistantship. Graduate assistantships provide opportunities for graduate students to get paid, have benefits, and have tuition covered. That is a good deal. Look for jobs in places you would never think to look. Examples of unique employers in these fields include private consulting organizations, research labs doing environmental work, and Department of Defense.
Christine Lilek
Vice President National AIPGAmerican Institute of Professional Geologists
What skills stand out on Hydrologist resumes?
Christine Lilek: -BS in Environmental Engineering, Geology, Hydrogeology; MS is a plus or equivalent experience.
-G.I.T. (Geologist In Training) or Early Career Professional (from AIPG) is desirable; CPG (from AIPG) or -State PG, or ability to obtain such credential is a plus.
-Excellent computer skills with MS Office, MS Project, PowerPoint, and other computer applications, GIS, and AutoCAD experience are a plus.
-OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER certification is desirable
-Documentation of environmental sustainability projects
-Documentation of diversity and inclusion policy implementation
Dru Germanosk Ph.D.
Dr. Ervin R. VanArtsdalen Professor of GeologyLafayette College
Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences
What skills will help Hydrologists earn the most?
Dru Germanosk Ph.D.: A deep foundation in the sciences with a focus on problem-solving along with the ability to function at the nexus of economics, politics, and policy.
Dr. Dan Ferreira Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Environmental ScienceKennesaw State University
Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
What general advice would you give to a Hydrologist?
Dr. Dan Ferreira Ph.D.: I think it's tough to negotiate higher salaries when you're first starting out, but I think it's perfectly reasonable during a job interview to ask what the advancement potential is like for the position. What is the next step up the ladder and how long does it usually take for a new employee to get promoted to that step? What is the salary like for that position? That way you can have an idea what your future earning potential is going to be like before you take a job. If the employer says that you won't get promoted to the next step for 5 years or that the next step only pays $0.50 an hour more than the entry level step, that's probably a red flag that this is an employer you should avoid. Make sure you also ask about overtime. If you get paid time and a half for working over 40 hours, that gives you an opportunity to pad your paycheck if you can put in a few extra hours. Also, I think it's important to consider non-financial benefits for a position when you think about your total compensation. Will the employer pay for you to get additional certifications in that field? Will the employer pay for you to go to grad school and get your Master's at some point? Will the employer match donations you make to charitable organizations you are passionate about? There are a lot more considerations, when it comes to compensation, than just the base salary or hourly rate.
What Hydrologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Dan Ferreira Ph.D.: I think the best advice I can offer recent graduates is to be as flexible as possible. Being willing to relocate, for example, vastly expands the number of potential jobs they can apply to. Applying for positions that might not be exactly where they want to go, but might give them the experience or skills they need to get to their desired career after a year or two also will help open more doors. So if you can't find your ideal job right away, consider that internship or volunteer opportunity that will make you more marketable in the future.
Joseph Niederhauser Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of BiologyWest Virginia Wesleyan College
Department of Biology and Environmental Science
What skills stand out on Hydrologist resumes?
Joseph Niederhauser Ph.D.: Data collection, management, and analysis skills stand out on an Environmental Scientist's resume. Specifically, knowing how to design experiments, collect many different kinds of data (e.g., soil or water samples, GPS points, wildlife surveys), creating or maintaining a database for samples, and analyzing changes over time or impact of those data make you very marketable. Additionally, knowledge and practice of state and federal environmental protection laws stand out.
What will help Hydrologists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Stacy Atchley Ph.D.: Graduate degrees (M.S. and/or PhD); geospatial numerical modeling skills and associated expertise in data analytics (geostatistics, including machine learning and related artificial intelligence).
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Hydrologists?
Dr. Rebecca Jordan: The pandemic will impact us all for years to come. Students who were initially trained one way very likely had to finish their degrees in an entirely different manner. The internships and the ways in which these students were prepared for jobs were also quite different. This being said, not all sectors of the economy suffered at the same level. This means that opportunities do and will exist for students.
What's a day at work look like for a Hydrologist?
Dr. Rebecca Jordan: Students who are often attracted to sustainability related careers tend to have two things in common (in my view): an enjoyment of the outdoors and a strong sense of community development. In many ways the former will continue to happen but for the near term in separate transportation, with masks, and likely with restricted travel. The latter, working with communities, will likely look very different over the coming year or two. Individuals are going to be online more and conversations and community building events will be smaller.
Anne Toomey Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorPace University, NYC
Department of Environmental Studies and Science
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Hydrologists?
Anne Toomey Ph.D.: I think that in the short term, the job market for recent graduates will be very tough. Many environmental organizations have reduced budgets this year, and subsequently, hiring freezes. I also think 2021 graduates will have had less experience (on average) than those in previous years due to the lack of study abroad, internship and other job opportunities during Covid. For example, most summers I work with at least one or two undergrads on research, but this past year we had to postpone our fieldwork due to Covid.
However, in the medium to long term I think graduates in the environmental fields will do very well. Almost every company these days is thinking in one way or another about their environmental impact (key words being "sustainability", "green", etc.). I think the pandemic has demonstrated to many the importance of access to green spaces, clean air, etc., and over the next few years there will be increased investment in these areas, thus leading to a healthy job market.
What will help Hydrologists increase their earning potential?
Anne Toomey Ph.D.: Broadly speaking, I think the most important skill any recent graduate can have is to be flexible and versatile, able to adapt to constantly changing conditions. The biggest learning curve for most recent graduates is to figure out a way forward when the path isn't totally clear. I see this frequently among undergrads - they tend to get stuck when they hit a barrier and often don't know how to figure out a way forward on their own. In college, there are many support systems (e.g. you can go to your professors' office hours if you have a question) - but when you have a boss, you can't ask them for help every step of the way. You need to figure things out on your own and come up with alternative ideas when the original plan doesn't work out. Graduates who can do this will be a step ahead of the game.
In the environmental field, understanding the social side of things is paramount. I think that science communication is going to be a bigger deal and that requires good writing skills, speaking skills, and how to create online content people will pay attention to. Environmentalism has also recently come under a lot of critique due to its prior lack of engagement with racism and justice, and I think that this is an area where the next generation of environmentalists will have a lot to contribute.
Steven Martin Ph.D.
Professor & Department ChairHumboldt State University
Department of Environmental Science and Management
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Hydrologists?
Steven Martin Ph.D.: Courses or certificates in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), or more broadly anything in the field of geospatial science, which would include GIS, remote sensing, cartography, mobile mapping, and geospatial programming, would be a great addition to a degree in natural resources management or environmental science. Many if not most natural resource managers and environmental scientists use GIS themselves, or at least work closely with geospatial specialists. Having some background in GIS or the geospatial sciences in general will make an applicant that much more desirable to an employer. I'd also put in a plug for courses in statistics, environmental methods, and data analysis. Students sometimes tend to shy away from those if given a choice, but they are really valuable and would be desirable to most employers.
What will help Hydrologists increase their earning potential?
Richard Kobe Ph.D.: Educate yourself broadly. Forestry is an interdisciplinary field. Just learning about how to grow trees could limit career growth. Learn how to collaborate and work in teams and communicate effectively. Learn the ecological, economic and social dimensions of forests for all the great benefits they provide - clean water, recreation, wood products and fighting climate change.
Daniel Larsen
Professor of Earth SciencesThe University of Memphis
Department of Earth Sciences
What's a good job out of college for Hydrologists?
Daniel Larsen: At the Bachelors level, typical entry-level jobs include environmental technicians and specialists (state environmental divisions), and mud loggers in the petroleum industry. At the Masters level, typical jobs include entry-level environmental project managers or support staff, higher level technical staff at state environmental divisions, and entry-level state and federal survey positions, as well as mud loggers and entry-level positions in the petroleum industry.
Dr. Michael Reiter Ph.D.
Professor, Director, and ChairBethune-Cookman University
Department of Integrated Environmental Science
How do you envision technology impacting Hydrologists in the next 5 years?
Dr. Michael Reiter Ph.D.: Technology has been impacting the environmental field dramatically for some time. The use of GIS and Remote Sensing, artificial intelligence and fuzzy logic, drones and in situ sensors, complex modeling (such as global climate models and neural networks), and crowdsourcing strategies are all in use now and growing in application and acceptance. There is also a developing focus on data mining to use the existence of large, relatively underutilized datasets. I expect all of these to continue to develop as the environmental issues of concern continue to grow in scale and complexity and as ways are sought to handle such large complex problems without relying on an enormous increase in the workforce.