Hydrologists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for hydrologists is $96,600, or $46.44 per hour. About 5,850 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $143,010 in Maryland to $65,770 in South Carolina.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 34 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $143,010 | $68.75 | 90 | 0.83 |
| 2 | Virginia | $132,080 | $63.50 | 40 | 0.25 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $126,680 | $60.90 | — | — |
| 4 | California | $122,110 | $58.71 | 540 | 0.79 |
| 5 | Georgia | $121,830 | $58.57 | 30 | 0.18 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $119,350 | $57.38 | 50 | 0.38 |
| 7 | Missouri | $116,100 | $55.82 | 50 | 0.43 |
| 8 | Alaska | $108,660 | $52.24 | 60 | 4.55 |
| 9 | Nevada | $107,930 | $51.89 | 170 | 2.94 |
| 10 | Washington | $105,600 | $50.77 | 350 | 2.62 |
| 11 | Louisiana | $104,520 | $50.25 | — | — |
| 12 | Michigan | $101,060 | $48.59 | 40 | 0.21 |
| 13 | Colorado | $100,840 | $48.48 | 360 | 3.37 |
| 14 | Ohio | $98,200 | $47.21 | 390 | 1.89 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | $97,470 | $46.86 | 40 | 0.55 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $97,470 | $46.86 | 100 | 2.96 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $94,580 | $45.47 | 300 | 2.70 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $94,520 | $45.44 | 40 | 4.10 |
| 19 | Utah | $94,190 | $45.28 | 80 | 1.27 |
| 20 | Oregon | $93,690 | $45.04 | 300 | 4.06 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $91,730 | $44.10 | 160 | 0.70 |
| 22 | New York | $88,100 | $42.36 | 160 | 0.44 |
| 23 | Arizona | $86,700 | $41.68 | 400 | 3.28 |
| 24 | Vermont | $86,140 | $41.42 | 50 | 4.10 |
| 25 | Montana | $84,500 | $40.62 | 190 | 9.79 |
| 26 | Illinois | $83,720 | $40.25 | 100 | 0.45 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $81,770 | $39.31 | 150 | 0.80 |
| 28 | Iowa | $81,150 | $39.02 | 50 | 0.91 |
| 29 | Texas | $81,080 | $38.98 | 220 | 0.42 |
| 30 | Indiana | $80,700 | $38.80 | 50 | 0.42 |
| 31 | Idaho | $78,850 | $37.91 | 160 | 4.88 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $78,770 | $37.87 | 150 | 1.37 |
| 33 | Florida | $76,850 | $36.95 | 280 | 0.74 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $65,770 | $31.62 | 100 | 1.17 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do hydrologists make?
The median annual wage for hydrologists in the United States is $96,600, or $46.44 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $64,020, and the top 10% earn $153,130.
How many hydrologists are employed in the U.S.?
About 5,850 people work as hydrologists nationwide.
Which state pays hydrologists the most?
Maryland pays the most at a median of $143,010, followed by Virginia ($132,080) and New Jersey ($126,680).
Which state pays hydrologists the least?
South Carolina has the lowest median at $65,770.
Where are hydrologists jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Montana at 9.79×.