SOC 19-2043 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

Hydrologists

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$96,600

U.S. median hourly wage$46.44

U.S. employment5,850

Nationally, hydrologists earned a median of $96,600 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 5,850 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

Filter state

Hydrologists: pay and employment by state
State
Maryland	$143,010	$68.75	90	0.0
Virginia	$132,080	$63.50	40	0.0
New Jersey	$126,680	$60.90	Not published	Not published
California	$122,110	$58.71	540	0.0
Georgia	$121,830	$58.57	30	0.0
Massachusetts	$119,350	$57.38	50	0.0
Missouri	$116,100	$55.82	50	0.0
Alaska	$108,660	$52.24	60	0.2
Nevada	$107,930	$51.89	170	0.1
Washington	$105,600	$50.77	350	0.1
Louisiana	$104,520	$50.25	Not published	Not published
Michigan	$101,060	$48.59	40	0.0
Colorado	$100,840	$48.48	360	0.1
Ohio	$98,200	$47.21	390	0.1
New Mexico	$97,470	$46.86	100	0.1
Oklahoma	$97,470	$46.86	40	0.0
Minnesota	$94,580	$45.47	300	0.1
Wyoming	$94,520	$45.44	40	0.2
Utah	$94,190	$45.28	80	0.0
Oregon	$93,690	$45.04	300	0.2
Pennsylvania	$91,730	$44.10	160	0.0
New York	$88,100	$42.36	160	0.0
Arizona	$86,700	$41.68	400	0.1
Vermont	$86,140	$41.42	50	0.2
Montana	$84,500	$40.62	190	0.4
Illinois	$83,720	$40.25	100	0.0
North Carolina	$81,770	$39.31	150	0.0
Iowa	$81,150	$39.02	50	0.0
Texas	$81,080	$38.98	220	0.0
Indiana	$80,700	$38.80	50	0.0
Idaho	$78,850	$37.91	160	0.2
Wisconsin	$78,770	$37.87	150	0.1
Florida	$76,850	$36.95	280	0.0
South Carolina	$65,770	$31.62	100	0.0
Tennessee	Not published	Not published	150	0.0

Pay by metro area

All 35 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

Filter metro area

Hydrologists: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$152,730	$73.43	50	0.0
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$147,080	$70.71	50	0.0
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$142,640	$68.58	30	0.0
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$138,020	$66.36	50	0.0
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	$128,320	$61.69	40	0.2
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$126,820	$60.97	40	0.0
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$123,420	$59.34	70	0.0
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$118,390	$56.92	50	0.0
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$113,550	$54.59	80	0.1
Reno, NV	$111,140	$53.43	70	0.2
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$108,680	$52.25	140	0.1
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$106,860	$51.37	110	0.1
Albuquerque, NM	$101,520	$48.81	50	0.1
Akron, OH	$99,470	$47.82	Not published	Not published
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$99,320	$47.75	50	0.0
Columbus, OH	$98,200	$47.21	170	0.2
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$94,580	$45.47	210	0.1
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$94,420	$45.40	60	0.1
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	$93,340	$44.87	80	0.6
Bend, OR	$91,170	$43.83	30	0.3
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$90,000	$43.27	260	0.1
Boise City, ID	$88,150	$42.38	80	0.2
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$88,100	$42.36	130	0.0
Helena, MT	$86,260	$41.47	50	1.1
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$85,540	$41.12	70	0.0
Tucson, AZ	$81,640	$39.25	80	0.2
Madison, WI	$81,310	$39.09	60	0.2
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$80,700	$38.80	30	0.0
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$80,400	$38.66	60	0.0
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$78,120	$37.56	40	0.0
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$77,020	$37.03	60	0.0
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$73,810	$35.49	100	0.1
Columbia, SC	$65,770	$31.62	100	0.2
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	Not published	Not published	80	0.1
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	Not published	Not published	140	0.1

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.