Hydrologists Salary
The median hydrologists salary in the United States is $96,600 per year ($46.44/hour). Salaries range from $64,020 at the entry level to $153,130+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 5,850 hydrologists jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 0.1% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$96,600
per year
Hourly Rate
$46.44
per hour
Employment
5,850
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$64,020
25th percentile
$77,210
Median
$96,600
75th percentile
$122,830
90th percentile
$153,130
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-0.1%
Decline
Annual Openings
500
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Hydrologists Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$66K$143K■ No data
Top Paying States
Maryland
$143K
+48%
Virginia
$132K
+37%
New Jersey
$127K
+31%
California
$122K
+26%
Georgia
$122K
+26%
Massachusetts
$119K
+24%
Missouri
$116K
+20%
Alaska
$109K
+12%
Nevada
$108K
+12%
Washington
$106K
+9%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $143,010 | +48.0% |
| Virginia | $132,080 | +36.7% |
| New Jersey | $126,680 | +31.1% |
| California | $122,110 | +26.4% |
| Georgia | $121,830 | +26.1% |
| Massachusetts | $119,350 | +23.6% |
| Missouri | $116,100 | +20.2% |
| Alaska | $108,660 | +12.5% |
| Nevada | $107,930 | +11.7% |
| Washington | $105,600 | +9.3% |
Showing 1–10 of 34
Hydrologists Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $152,730 | +58.1% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $147,080 | +52.3% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $142,640 | +47.7% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $138,020 | +42.9% |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $128,320 | +32.8% |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $126,820 | +31.3% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $123,420 | +27.8% |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $118,390 | +22.6% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $113,550 | +17.5% |
| Reno, NV | $111,140 | +15.1% |
Showing 1–10 of 33
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A hydrologists earning $96,600/year would need 617 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 663 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how hydrologists salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Hydrologists salary trend (2011–2024) →