Hydrologists held about 6,700 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of hydrologists were as follows:
Federal government, excluding postal service | 27% |
State government, excluding education and hospitals | 24 |
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | 20 |
Engineering services | 11 |
Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 10 |
Hydrologists work in offices and in the field. In offices, hydrologists spend much their time using computers to analyze data and model their findings. In the field, hydrologists may have to wade into lakes and streams to collect samples or to read and inspect monitoring equipment. Hydrologists also need to write reports detailing the status of surface water and groundwater in specific regions. Many jobs require significant travel. Jobs in the private sector may require international travel.
Work Schedules
Most hydrologists work full time. However, the length of daily shifts may vary when hydrologists work in the field.
Hydrologists need at least a bachelor’s degree for entry-level positions; however, some workers begin their careers with a master’s degree.
Education
Hydrologists need at least a bachelor’s degree, and some begin their careers with a master’s degree. Applicants for advanced research and university faculty positions typically need a Ph.D.
Few universities offer undergraduate degrees in hydrology; instead, most universities offer hydrology concentrations in their geosciences, engineering, or earth science programs. Students interested in becoming hydrologists need to complete coursework in math, statistics, and physical, computer, and life sciences. Hydrologists may find it helpful to have a background in economics, environmental law, and other government policy related topics. Knowledge of these areas may help hydrologists communicate with and understand the goals of policymakers and other government workers.
Hydrologists typically have an interest in the Building and Thinking interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Building interest area indicates a focus on working with tools and machines, and making or fixing practical things. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws.
If you are not sure whether you have a Building or Thinking interest which might fit with a career as a hydrologist, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Hydrologists should also possess the following specific qualities:
Analytical skills. Hydrologists need to analyze data collected in the field and examine the results of laboratory tests.
Communication skills. Hydrologists prepare detailed reports that document their research methods and findings. They may have to present their findings to people who do not have a technical background, such as government officials or the general public.
Critical-thinking skills. Hydrologists assess the risks posed to the water supply by pollution, floods, droughts, and other threats. They develop water management plans to handle these threats.
Interpersonal skills. Most hydrologists work as part of a diverse team with engineers, technicians, and other scientists.
Physical stamina. When they are in the field, hydrologists may need to hike to remote locations while carrying testing and sampling equipment.
The median annual wage for hydrologists was $81,270 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $51,220, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $127,400.
In May 2019, the median annual wages for hydrologists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | $93,820 |
Engineering services | 91,810 |
Federal government, excluding postal service | 88,330 |
Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 77,960 |
State government, excluding education and hospitals | 68,690 |
Most hydrologists work full time. However, the length of daily shifts may vary when hydrologists work in the field.
Employment of hydrologists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for the services of hydrologists will stem from increases in human activities such as mining, construction, and hydraulic fracturing. Environmental concerns, especially global climate change and the possibility of sea-level rise in addition to local concerns such as flooding and drought, are likely to increase demand for hydrologists in the future.
Managing the nation’s water resources will be critical as the population grows and increased human activity changes the natural water cycle. Population expansion into areas that were previously uninhabited may increase the risk of flooding, and new communities may encounter water availability issues. These issues will all need the understanding and knowledge that hydrologists have to find sustainable solutions. However, as governments are the main consumers of hydrologic information, budget constraints will limit growth.
Hydrologists will be necessary to assess the threats that global climate change poses to local, state, and national water supplies. For example, changes in climate affect the severity and frequency of droughts and floods. Hydrologists are critical to developing comprehensive water management plans that address these and other problems linked to climate change.
For more information about hydrology and the work of hydrologists in the federal government, visit
For information on federal government requirements for hydrology positions, visit
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
To find job openings for hydrologists in the federal government, visit
For more information about careers in hydrology, visit
American Geosciences Institute
American Institute of Hydrology
American Water Resources Association
For information from universities about research in the water sciences, visit
Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, INC. (CUAHSI)
For informal education and training in hydrology and other geoscience topics, visit