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Hydrologic technician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$64,790median pay per year, or $31.15 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $44,950lowest 10% earn less
  2. $52,04025th percentile
  3. $64,790median
  4. $84,68075th percentile
  5. $100,480top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

A hydrologic technician earned a median of $64,790 a year in May 2025[1], which is above the $50,980 median for all occupations[2]. Employment is projected to shrink slightly, by 1.3% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-1.3%[3]
Openings per year
400[5]
Typical entry education
Associate's degree[6]

How much do hydrologic technicians make?

The median wage for Hydrologic Technicians was $64,790 a year, or $31.15 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean wage was $69,530 a year, or $33.43 an hour[7].

Pay varies a lot. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,950, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $100,480[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[8]. By the hour, the 25th percentile was $25.02 and the 75th percentile was $40.71[9].

Measure Annual wage Source
10th percentile[4] $44,950
25th percentile[4] $52,040
Median[1] $64,790
75th percentile[4] $84,680
90th percentile[4] $100,480

The all-occupations median was $50,980[2]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

Among the 28 states with published data, Texas had the highest median at $88,400, followed by Washington at $85,240 and New Mexico at $79,710[11]. Tennessee had the lowest listed median at $30,780[11].

The most jobs were in California (300), Texas (270) and Florida (240)[12]. This is a small occupation, so many state counts are in the tens[11].

For metro areas with at least 100 jobs, only Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL is listed for pay, with a median of $64,750[13]. It also had the most jobs of any metro area, at 110[14].

Show median pay in 28 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Texas[11]$88,400270
Washington$85,24070
New Mexico$79,71050
Missouri$79,44040
Massachusetts$73,82060
California$70,790300
Nevada$68,66030
Maryland$67,52050
Georgia$66,77060
Pennsylvania$65,420100
New Jersey$65,19040
New York$65,19050
Arizona$65,17050
Kentucky$65,17030
Louisiana$65,17040
New Hampshire$64,79050
Oregon$62,51080
Florida$61,820240
Wisconsin$60,10050
North Carolina$59,590110
Colorado$56,780n/a
Idaho$54,95050
Montana$53,55070
Illinois$52,870n/a
Virginia$52,19040
Ohio$52,12080
West Virginia$48,230n/a
Tennessee$30,780n/a

How to become a hydrologic technician

The Occupational Outlook Handbook profile used for training details covers a wider group of geological and hydrologic technicians[15]. The steps below come from that profile and from BLS projections data.

Programs at community colleges and technical institutes may cover geosciences, mining or a related field such as geographic information systems. Some schools also offer internships and co-op programs[19].

Some technicians may need HAZWOPER certification, which covers health hazards, protective equipment, site safety and decontamination[20]. Other certifications are not required but may show expertise[21].

What hydrologic technicians do

These workers gather and organize data on how ground and surface water moves, and on its physical, chemical and biological properties[22]. Typical tasks include:

Where they work

For the wider group, the work happens in the field, in laboratories or in offices[25]. Fieldwork is outdoors in all weather, sometimes in remote places, and technicians may stay on location for days or weeks[25]. Office-based technicians spend most of their time on computers[25].

Most work full time. Hours are generally standard in labs and offices but can be irregular in the field[26]. The largest employer group was architectural, engineering and related services, at 43%[27].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of hydrologic technicians to decline 1.3% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[3][28]. Those counts include self-employed workers[3].

Even so, about 400 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 1.9% of workers leave the labor force and 11.6% move to a different occupation[29].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest a job that pays above the all-occupations median[1][2] and typically asks for an associate's degree rather than a bachelor's[6]. Fieldwork can mean remote sites and long stays away[25]. Employment is small and projected to shrink slightly[30][3], so openings come mostly from turnover[5][29]. Pay differs widely between states[11].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[31].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a hydrologic technician make an hour?
The median was $31.15 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $33.43[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a hydrologic technician?
BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry education[6]. Some employers require a bachelor's degree[16].
What is the highest paying state for hydrologic technicians?
Texas, with a median of $88,400, followed by Washington at $85,240[11].
Is hydrologic technician a growing field?
No. Employment is projected to decline 1.3% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% growth for all occupations[3][28]. About 400 openings a year are still projected[5].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Hydrologic Technicians in the US was $64,790 per year and $31.15 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Hydrologic Technicians is projected to decline 1.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 3,000 to 3,000 jobs (a change of +0). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Hydrologic Technicians: 10th percentile $44,950, 25th percentile $52,040, 75th percentile $84,680, 90th percentile $100,480. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 400 openings for Hydrologic Technicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Hydrologic Technicians: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Hydrologic Technicians was $69,530 per year and $33.43 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Hydrologic Technicians: 10th percentile $21.61, 25th percentile $25.02, 75th percentile $40.71, 90th percentile $48.31. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Hydrologic Technicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Hydrologic Technicians jobs: California 300; Texas 270; Florida 240; North Carolina 110; Pennsylvania 100. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Hydrologic Technicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $64,750. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Hydrologic Technicians jobs: Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 110 (median $64,750); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 100; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 60 (median $70,510); Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 40 (median $62,450); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 40 (median $64,570); Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 40 (median $82,360). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Geological and Hydrologic Technicians" covers Hydrologic Technicians together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET description of Hydrologic Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Hydrologic Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of geological and hydrologic technicians in 2025: Architectural, engineering, and related services 43%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  29. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Hydrologic Technicians: 1.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 11.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 2,840 people were employed as Hydrologic Technicians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  31. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the 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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.