The median pay for Hydrologic Technicians is $64,790 a year ($31.15/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 1.3% through 2035, with about 400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
- SOC 19-4044
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Hydrologic Technician in four numbers
- Median pay
- $64,790a year, or $31.15/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $45KTop 10% $100K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -1.3%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−1.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −1.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 4003,000 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20253K
- Projected 20353K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 3K Projected 2035 3K - Typical education
- Associate'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Pay
How much do Hydrologic Technicians make?
Every hydrologic technician in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$64,790
Middle half earn $52,040 to $84,680
- 10th
- $44,950
- 25th
- $52,040
- 75th
- $84,680
- 90th
- $100,480
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $44,950 |
| 25th | $52,040 |
| Median | $64,790 |
| 75th | $84,680 |
| 90th | $100,480 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $64,790
- Median hourly wage
- $31.15/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $69,530
- People employed
- 2,840
Versus all US occupations
At $64,790, Hydrologic Technicians earn 27% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $13,810 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 21% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $100,480 or more while the bottom 10% earn $44,950, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 40% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Texas pays the most at $88,400, and still leads at $91,080 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Hydrologic Technicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Texas | $88,400 | $91,080 | 270 |
| 2Washington | $85,240 | $79,654 | 70 |
| 3New Mexico | $79,710 | $86,442 | 50 |
| 4Missouri | $79,440 | $87,473 | 40 |
| 5Massachusetts | $73,820 | $69,802 | 60 |
| 6California | $70,790 | $63,936 | 300 |
| 7Nevada | $68,660 | $68,674 | 30 |
| 8Maryland | $67,520 | $64,330 | 50 |
| 9Georgia | $66,770 | $69,340 | 60 |
| 10Pennsylvania | $65,420 | $67,048 | 100 |
Job outlook
Is Hydrologic Technician a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -1.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Hydrologic Technicians | −1.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Hydrologic Technicians to change -1.3% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 0 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 400 openings are projected each year, 13.3% of the 3,000 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of geological and hydrologic technicians is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 1,400 openings for geological and hydrologic technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of geological and hydrologic technicians varies by occupation (see table).
Getting in
How to become a Hydrologic Technician
Geological and hydrologic technicians typically need at least an associate’s degree in applied science or science-related technology to enter the occupation. Some employers require a bachelor’s degree. Geological and hydrologic technicians also receive on-the-job training.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Associate's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a Hydrologic Technician do?
Collect and organize data concerning the distribution and circulation of ground and surface water, and data on its physical, chemical, and biological properties. Measure and report on flow rates and ground water levels, maintain field equipment, collect water samples, install and collect sampling equipment, and process samples for shipment to testing laboratories. May collect data on behalf of hydrologists, engineers, developers, government agencies, or agriculture.
Geological and hydrologic technicians support scientists and engineers in exploring, extracting, and monitoring natural resources, such as soil, natural gas, and water.
Day-to-day tasks
- Analyze ecological data about the impact of pollution, erosion, floods, and other environmental problems on bodies of water.
- Answer technical questions from hydrologists, policymakers, or other customers developing water conservation plans.
- Apply research findings to minimize the environmental impacts of pollution, waterborne diseases, erosion, or sedimentation.
- Assist in designing programs to ensure the proper sealing of abandoned wells.
- Collect water and soil samples to test for physical, chemical, or biological properties, such as pH, oxygen level, temperature, and pollution.
- Develop computer models for hydrologic predictions.
- Estimate the costs and benefits of municipal projects, such as hydroelectric power plants, irrigation systems, and wastewater treatment facilities.
- Investigate complaints or conflicts related to the alteration of public waters by gathering information, recommending alternatives, or preparing legal documents.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most geological and hydrologic technicians work full time. Technicians generally work standard hours in laboratories and offices but may have irregular schedules in the field.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition.
Where hydrologic technicians work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Architectural, engineering, and related services43%
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction31%
- Management, scientific, and technical consulting services5%
- Educational services; state, local, and private2%
- Manufacturing2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Architectural, engineering, and related services | 43% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 31% |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | 5% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 2% |
| Manufacturing | 2% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Hydrologic Technician?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Hydrologic Technician |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic5.5
- Conventional5.3
- Investigative4.9
- Social1.7
- Enterprising1.5
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Hydrologic Technician
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Architecture and Engineering
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
Geological Technician, Except Hydrologic Technicians
$53,350median a year
Most earn $36K to $100K
+3.6%Associate's - Management
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health
$82,220median a year
Most earn $53K to $140K
+6.1%Bachelor's
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with hydrologic technicians highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Hydrologic Technician$64,790
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Hydrologic Technician | $64,790 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Hydrologic Technician appears on
Questions
Hydrologic Technician: frequently asked questions
How much do Hydrologic Technicians make?
Hydrologic Technicians earn a median of $64,790 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 27% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $31.15/hr. The middle half earn between $52,040 and $84,680. The top 10% earn $100,480 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Hydrologic Technician?
Usually a two-year degree rather than a four-year one. BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry-level education for Hydrologic Technicians. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
Is Hydrologic Technician a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 1.3% over 2025–2035, a loss of 0 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Hydrologic Technician do?
Geological and hydrologic technicians support scientists and engineers in exploring, extracting, and monitoring natural resources, such as soil, natural gas, and water. A core O*NET task: analyze ecological data about the impact of pollution, erosion, floods, and other environmental problems on bodies of water. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Document management software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Hydrologic Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Hydrologic Technicians are Texas ($88,400), Washington ($85,240), New Mexico ($79,710) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Hydrologic Technician?
O*NET scores Hydrologic Technicians highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.