Occupation salary profile

Hydrologists

SOC 19-2043 BLS OEWS May 2025 H-1B LCAs, last 12 months

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.

National median · BLS
$96,600
▲ +4.93% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
$80,000
▲ +1.32% YoY · 89 LCAs
Average salary · BLS
$103,600
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
5,850
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.

Pay range for Hydrologists

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation; H-1B covers 89 certified Labor Condition Applications filed by sponsoring employers in the last 12 months.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS) H-1B sponsored
10th — entry pay$64,020$58,425
25th$77,210$65,000
Median (50th)$96,600$80,000
75th$122,830$90,708
90th — top pay$153,130$101,795
H-1B sponsors pay a median of $80,000 for Hydrologists — 17.2% below the BLS national median of $96,600.

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Hydrologists

BLS projects employment of hydrologists to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 400 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
6,300 → 6,400
+100 jobs
Projected change
+1.5%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
400
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
No related experience required
Self-employed
2.1% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 4)
Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a bachelor's degree →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

H-1B sponsored pay

Pay by H-1B wage level

Employers assign every H-1B filing a Department of Labor prevailing-wage level, from Level I (entry) to Level IV (fully competent). Pay rises steeply with level.

H-1B median $80,000
Change vs prior year +1.32%
After inflation (CPI-U) -1.76%
Wage level LCAs Share P25 Median P75
Level I 37 41.6% $58,656 $63,922 $72,000
Level II 30 33.7% $75,608 $82,000 $98,924
Level III 11 12.4% $94,453 $95,870 $98,374
Skills & tools

Skills needed for Hydrologists

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Critical Thinking4.1
  • Active Listening3.9
  • Complex Problem Solving3.9
  • Mathematics3.9
  • Reading Comprehension3.9
  • Science3.9
  • Active Learning3.8
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.8
  • Speaking3.8
  • Writing3.8
Top knowledge areas
  • Mathematics4.4
  • Physics4.2
  • Engineering and Technology3.8
  • Chemistry3.6
  • English Language3.6
  • Geography3.5
  • Computers and Electronics3.5
  • Education and Training2.9
Software and technology used
ESRI ArcGIS softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointPythonRGeographic information system GIS systemsHEC-HMSHEC-RASRockWare MODFLOWAutodesk AutoCADAutodesk AutoCAD Civil 3DBentley MicroStationC++Microsoft AccessMicrosoft Active Server Pages ASPMicrosoft Visual BasicMicrosoft Word

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What hydrologists do

  • Design and conduct scientific hydrogeological investigations to ensure that accurate and appropriate information is available for use in water resource management decisions.
  • Study and document quantities, distribution, disposition, and development of underground and surface waters.
  • Prepare reports or presentations describing research results, using illustrations, maps, appendices, and other information.
  • Apply research findings to help minimize the environmental impacts of pollution, waterborne diseases, erosion, and sedimentation.
  • Measure and graph phenomena such as lake levels, stream flows, and changes in water volumes.
  • Conduct research and communicate information to promote the conservation and preservation of water resources.
  • Develop computer models for hydrologic predictions.
  • Coordinate and supervise the work of professional and technical staff, including research assistants, technologists, and technicians.
Also called
Groundwater ConsultantHydrogeologistResearch HydrologistSource Water Protection SpecialistResearch Hydrologic Engineer
More job titles for this occupation (4)
Isotope HydrologistProject HydrogeologistSurface HydrologistWater Resources Scientist

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.