Hydrologists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Hydrologists fall under the Life, Physical, and Social Science category in the U.S. occupational classification. Hydrologists earn a median salary of $92,060 per year, ranking in the top 17% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -0.1% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do hydrologists earn?

The median annual wage for hydrologists is $92,060. That puts hydrologists at #142 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is hydrologists a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for hydrologists is -0.1%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 6K positions in 2024 to 6K in 2034, a net change of 0K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do hydrologists do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working hydrologists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Coordinate and supervise the work of professional and technical staff, including research assistants, technologists, and technicians.
2. 2.Study public water supply issues, including flood and drought risks, water quality, wastewater, and impacts on wetland habitats.
3. 3.Develop or modify methods for conducting hydrologic studies.
4. 4.Conduct short- and long-term climate assessments and study storm occurrences.
5. 5.Measure and graph phenomena such as lake levels, stream flows, and changes in water volumes.
6. 6.Apply research findings to help minimize the environmental impacts of pollution, waterborne diseases, erosion, and sedimentation.
7. 7.Evaluate research data in terms of its impact on issues such as soil and water conservation, flood control planning, and water supply forecasting.
8. 8.Investigate complaints or conflicts related to the alteration of public waters, gathering information, recommending alternatives, informing participants of progress, and preparing draft orders.

Top skills for hydrologists

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become hydrologist?

The standard path into hydrologists begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

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Common questions parents ask about hydrologists