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Government & Public Water Agencies
U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Reclamation, Environmental Protection Agency
Hydrologists
Hydrologists study where water comes from, where it goes, and how it changes after rain, pumping, pollution, or drought. The job stands out because it mixes field sampling, computer modeling, and public-facing analysis, and the tradeoff is clear: the work is highly specialized and meaningful, but the job market is small and growth is nearly flat.
Also known as HydrologistWater Resources HydrologistGroundwater HydrologistHydrogeologistHydrologic Scientist
Median Salary
$92,060
Mean $98,130
U.S. Workforce
~6K
0.5K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-0.1%
6.3K to 6.3K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Hydrologists sits in the Science category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~6K workers, with a median annual pay of $92,060 and roughly 0.5K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 6.3 K in 2024 to 6.3K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Master's degree in hydrology, geology, environmental science, or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Hydrologic Technician and can progress toward Water Resources Manager. High-value skills usually include Hydrologic Data Analysis, ArcGIS, R & Python, Water Sampling, Field Sensors & Monitoring Stations, and GIS Mapping, Remote Sensing & Satellite Data, paired with soft skills such as Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Core Responsibilities
- Go out to wells, streams, and monitoring stations to collect water samples and check readings from sensors.
- Study rainfall, floods, drought, erosion, sediment, and pollution to understand how they affect water supplies.
- Build and update computer models that estimate how groundwater and surface water will behave under different conditions.
- Write reports and explain findings to agencies, utilities, and landowners so they can make water-management decisions.
Keep exploring: more Science careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Go out to wells, streams, and monitoring stations to collect water samples and check readings from sensors.
02 Study rainfall, floods, drought, erosion, sediment, and pollution to understand how they affect water supplies.
03 Build and update computer models that estimate how groundwater and surface water will behave under different conditions.
04 Write reports and explain findings to agencies, utilities, and landowners so they can make water-management decisions.
05 Design field studies and choose sampling methods so the data are accurate enough for scientific and regulatory use.
06 Supervise technicians or assistants and oversee programs such as sealing abandoned wells or tracking conservation efforts.
Industries That Hire
🌿
Environmental Consulting
Tetra Tech, Jacobs, Stantec
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Engineering & Infrastructure
AECOM, WSP, HDR
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Water Utilities
American Water, Veolia, Severn Trent
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Mining, Oil & Energy
Rio Tinto, Newmont, ConocoPhillips
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is solid for a science career, with a mean annual wage of $98,130 and a median of $92,060.
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The work is varied, with a mix of field sampling, data analysis, and computer modeling instead of a single routine all day.
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The subject matter is concrete and important: wells, floods, droughts, pollution, and water-supply decisions affect real communities.
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A bachelor's degree can get you started, since 39.13% of workers have one and no on-the-job training is typically required.
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The job leans heavily on analysis and problem-solving, which can be a good fit if you like evidence-based work.
Challenges
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The job market is tiny, with only 5,720 workers now and projected employment of just 6.3K in 2034.
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Growth is basically flat at -0.1%, so most openings will come from replacement rather than expansion.
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There are only about 0.5K annual openings, which means competition can be strong for each vacancy.
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A master's degree is common, held by 52.17% of workers, so the education cost and time commitment can be a real barrier.
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Fieldwork can be uncomfortable and unpredictable, with remote sites, weather exposure, travel, and muddy conditions part of the job.
Career Progression
Hydrologic Technician
0-2 years
$45K-$62K
Supports field sampling, data collection, equipment checks, and basic mapping or recordkeeping.
Hydrologist
3-7 years
$82K-$108K
Runs studies, analyzes water data, builds models, and explains results to clients or public agencies.
Senior Hydrologist THIS ROLE
8-12 years
$109K-$136K
Leads larger investigations, reviews technical work, and often mentors junior staff or contractors.
Water Resources Manager
12+ years
$137K-$170K
Oversees projects, budgets, and teams while making higher-level decisions on water policy or operations.
Education Paths
Master's degree in hydrology, geology, environmental science, or a related field
The most common path, held by 52.17% of workers in this role.
Bachelor's degree in environmental science, geology, civil engineering, or a related field
A major entry route, held by 39.13% of workers in this role.
Post-baccalaureate certificate in GIS, hydrology, or groundwater methods
A smaller path, held by 4.35% of workers in this role.
Professional certificate in GIS, water-quality sampling, or hydrologic modeling
A practical add-on for people who already have a degree and want stronger field or software skills.
Key Skills
Technical
Hydrologic Data Analysis, ArcGIS, R & Python 96%
Water Sampling, Field Sensors & Monitoring Stations 91%
GIS Mapping, Remote Sensing & Satellite Data 90%
MODFLOW, Groundwater Modeling & Scenario Analysis 86%
Excel, Databases & QA/QC Reporting 82%
Watershed, Storm-Event & Climate Assessment Modeling 79%
Technical Writing, Permitting Records & Research Documentation 74%
Soft Skills
Critical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingSpeakingActive Learning Job Outlook and Trends
+-0.1%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.5K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 6.3K to 6.3 K over the next decade, representing -0.1% growth. Around 0.5 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.