How much does a hydrologist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $46.44 an hour or $8,050 a month.
- Hourly
- $46.44
- Average (mean)
- $103,600
- Jobs
- 5,850
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,020 | $30.78 | |
| 25th | $77,210 | $37.12 | |
| Median | $96,600 | $46.44 | |
| 75th | $122,800 | $59.05 | |
| 90th | $153,100 | $73.62 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Maryland | $143,000 |
| Virginia | $132,100 |
| New Jersey | $126,700 |
| California | $122,100 |
| Georgia | $121,800 |
| Massachusetts | $119,400 |
| Missouri | $116,100 |
| Alaska | $108,700 |
| Nevada | $107,900 |
| Washington | $105,600 |
| Louisiana | $104,500 |
| Michigan | $101,100 |
| Colorado | $100,800 |
| Ohio | $98,200 |
| New Mexico | $97,470 |
| Oklahoma | $97,470 |
| Minnesota | $94,580 |
| Wyoming | $94,520 |
| Utah | $94,190 |
| Oregon | $93,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,730 |
| New York | $88,100 |
| Arizona | $86,700 |
| Vermont | $86,140 |
| Montana | $84,500 |
| Illinois | $83,720 |
| North Carolina | $81,770 |
| Iowa | $81,150 |
| Texas | $81,080 |
| Indiana | $80,700 |
| Idaho | $78,850 |
| Wisconsin | $78,770 |
| Florida | $76,850 |
| South Carolina | $65,770 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Washington, DC | $152,700 |
| San Francisco, CA | $147,100 |
| San Jose, CA | $142,600 |
| Baltimore, MD | $138,000 |
| Trenton, NJ | $128,300 |
| Riverside, CA | $126,800 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $123,400 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $118,400 |
| Portland, OR | $113,600 |
| Reno, NV | $111,100 |
| Denver, CO | $108,700 |
| Sacramento, CA | $106,900 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $101,500 |
| Akron, OH | $99,470 |
| Houston, TX | $99,320 |
In other countries
Hydrologist belongs to the international group "Geologists and geophysicists".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Astronomer$128,800
- Physicist$172,300
- Atmospheric and Space Scientist$99,070
- Chemist$91,240
- Materials Scientist$117,800
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist$82,220
- Geoscientist$101,900
- Physical Scientist$122,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hydrologist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $46.44 ($96,600 a year).
How much does a hydrologist make a month?
About $8,050 a month before tax, based on a median of $96,600 a year.
How much does a hydrologist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $64,020 or less a year ($30.78 an hour); the top 10% make $153,100 or more.
Which state pays hydrologists the most?
Maryland, with a median of $143,000 a year, followed by Virginia ($132,100) and New Jersey ($126,700).
Which city pays hydrologists the most?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, with a median of $152,700 a year.
How many hydrologists are there in the United States?
About 5,850 people work as hydrologists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.