How to Become a Hydrologist
Track how water moves through the earth and atmosphere, protecting supplies and predicting floods. It typically requires a master's degree, with a median salary of $96,600 per year and slower than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$96,600/yr
Middle half
$77,210 to $122,830
Job growth
Slower than average
Openings / yr
500
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Hydrologic Modeling
- Field Sampling
- GIS Mapping
- Science
- Mathematics
Helpful certifications
- PH (AIH Professional Hydrologist)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
58/100
Work-life balance
52/100
Stress level
38/100
Related careers
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- Biochemist$127,410 median
- Biostatistician$105,650 median
- Statistician$105,650 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Hydrologist make?
The median pay for a Hydrologist is $96,600 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $77,210 and $122,830 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Hydrologist?
The usual entry point is a master's degree. Common majors are Earth Science, Environmental Science, Geology, and Civil Engineering.
Is Hydrologist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is slower than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 500 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Hydrologist use most?
Common skills for this role are Hydrologic Modeling, Field Sampling, GIS Mapping, Science, and Mathematics.
Planning to become a Hydrologist?
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).