Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$64,020
- 25th Percentile — Junior$77,210
- 50th Percentile — Median$96,600
- 75th Percentile — Senior$122,830
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$153,130
The top 10% of Hydrologists earn $153,130 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $64,020, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (est.) | $160,580 | +55.0% |
| District of Columbia (est.) | $157,472 | +52.0% |
| Maryland | $145,970 | +40.9% |
| New Jersey | $127,450 | +23.0% |
| Connecticut (est.) | $126,392 | +22.0% |
| Washington | $123,510 | +19.2% |
| California | $122,940 | +18.7% |
| Colorado | $122,740 | +18.5% |
| Georgia | $122,030 | +17.8% |
| Massachusetts | $119,710 | +15.6% |
| Virginia | $119,240 | +15.1% |
| Rhode Island (est.) | $119,140 | +15.0% |
| New Hampshire (est.) | $118,104 | +14.0% |
| Nevada | $116,790 | +12.7% |
| Missouri | $110,030 | +6.2% |
| Louisiana | $108,810 | +5.0% |
| Delaware (est.) | $108,780 | +5.0% |
| Alaska | $108,750 | +5.0% |
| Michigan | $105,910 | +2.2% |
| New Mexico | $105,700 | +2.0% |
| Maine (est.) | $105,672 | +2.0% |
| Arizona | $100,600 | -2.9% |
| Wyoming | $99,810 | -3.7% |
| Oregon | $98,910 | -4.5% |
| Oklahoma | $97,470 | -5.9% |
| Utah | $97,230 | -6.1% |
| Ohio | $95,570 | -7.8% |
| North Dakota (est.) | $95,312 | -8.0% |
| New York | $95,000 | -8.3% |
| Minnesota | $94,300 | -9.0% |
| Pennsylvania | $93,500 | -9.7% |
| Montana | $92,840 | -10.4% |
| Illinois | $92,640 | -10.6% |
| Nebraska (est.) | $91,168 | -12.0% |
| Tennessee (est.) | $91,168 | -12.0% |
| Iowa | $90,730 | -12.4% |
| Alabama (est.) | $90,132 | -13.0% |
| South Dakota (est.) | $90,132 | -13.0% |
| Texas | $89,530 | -13.6% |
| Vermont | $89,120 | -14.0% |
| Kansas (est.) | $88,060 | -15.0% |
| Idaho | $86,620 | -16.4% |
| North Carolina | $86,330 | -16.7% |
| Wisconsin | $86,040 | -16.9% |
| Arkansas (est.) | $85,988 | -17.0% |
| Kentucky (est.) | $85,988 | -17.0% |
| Florida | $84,130 | -18.8% |
| Indiana | $83,660 | -19.2% |
| Mississippi (est.) | $82,880 | -20.0% |
| West Virginia (est.) | $80,808 | -22.0% |
| South Carolina | $74,660 | -27.9% |
What Factors Affect Hydrologists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Hydrologists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: Maryland pays an average of $145,970, while South Carolina pays $74,660 — a gap of $71,310 per year.
The middle half of Hydrologists earn between $77,210 and $122,830 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $64,020, while the top 10% earn more than $153,130.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Hydrologists?
The average salary for Hydrologists in the United States is $103,600 per year, with a median of $96,600.
What is the starting salary for Hydrologists?
Entry-level Hydrologists typically earn between $64,020 and $77,210 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Hydrologists the most?
Maryland pays Hydrologists the most at $145,970 per year on average, followed by New Jersey ($127,450) and Washington ($123,510).
How much do Hydrologists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $103,600, Hydrologists earn approximately $49.81 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Hydrologists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 5,850 Hydrologists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $103,600 and a median of $96,600 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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