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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023

19-4044 Hydrologic Technicians

Collect and organize data concerning the distribution and circulation of ground and surface water, and data on its physical, chemical, and biological properties. Measure and report on flow rates and ground water levels, maintain field equipment, collect water samples, install and collect sampling equipment, and process samples for shipment to testing laboratories. May collect data on behalf of hydrologists, engineers, developers, government agencies, or agriculture. Excludes “Hydrologists” (19-2043).

National estimates for Hydrologic Technicians
Industry profile for Hydrologic Technicians
Geographic profile for Hydrologic Technicians

National estimates for Hydrologic Technicians:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Hydrologic Technicians:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
3,000 4.2 % $ 29.57 $ 61,500 1.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for Hydrologic Technicians:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 18.12 $ 21.56 $ 26.87 $ 36.54 $ 44.04
Annual Wage (2) $ 37,690 $ 44,840 $ 55,890 $ 76,000 $ 91,610

Industry profile for Hydrologic Technicians:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Hydrologic Technicians are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Hydrologic Technicians, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Hydrologic Technicians:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) 1,720 0.08 $ 30.77 $ 64,010
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) 320 0.01 $ 28.47 $ 59,220
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 310 0.02 $ 22.20 $ 46,170
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 100 0.01 $ 31.43 $ 65,370
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 80 0.00 $ 25.72 $ 53,490

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Hydrologic Technicians:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) 1,720 0.08 $ 30.77 $ 64,010
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 70 0.02 $ 49.93 $ 103,850
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 310 0.02 $ 22.20 $ 46,170
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 100 0.01 $ 31.43 $ 65,370
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) 320 0.01 $ 28.47 $ 59,220

Top paying industries for Hydrologic Technicians:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 70 0.02 $ 49.93 $ 103,850
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 100 0.01 $ 31.43 $ 65,370
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) 1,720 0.08 $ 30.77 $ 64,010
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) 320 0.01 $ 28.47 $ 59,220
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 80 (7) $ 25.72 $ 53,490

Geographic profile for Hydrologic Technicians:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Hydrologic Technicians are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Hydrologic Technicians, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of hydrologic technicians by state, May 2023


States with the highest employment level in Hydrologic Technicians:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 330 0.02 0.93 $ 33.63 $ 69,950
Texas 290 0.02 1.09 $ 29.31 $ 60,950
Pennsylvania 130 0.02 1.15 $ 29.88 $ 62,160
North Carolina 130 0.03 1.41 $ 26.17 $ 54,430
Florida 120 0.01 0.64 $ 28.91 $ 60,140


Map of location quotient of hydrologic technicians by state, May 2023


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Hydrologic Technicians:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Idaho 90 0.11 5.68 $ 34.03 $ 70,770
South Dakota 40 0.10 4.83 $ 26.17 $ 54,430
Hawaii 30 0.05 2.69 $ 36.40 $ 75,710
Oregon 80 0.04 2.04 $ 30.13 $ 62,670
Colorado 100 0.04 1.83 $ 29.57 $ 61,500


Map of annual mean wages of hydrologic technicians by state, May 2023


Top paying states for Hydrologic Technicians:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Hawaii 30 0.05 2.69 $ 36.40 $ 75,710
Idaho 90 0.11 5.68 $ 34.03 $ 70,770
Washington 80 0.02 1.16 $ 34.02 $ 70,770
California 330 0.02 0.93 $ 33.63 $ 69,950
Arizona 80 0.02 1.22 $ 32.77 $ 68,150



Map of employment of hydrologic technicians by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Hydrologic Technicians:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 70 0.06 3.24 $ 33.38 $ 69,430
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 50 0.02 0.86 $ 29.22 $ 60,780
Raleigh, NC 50 0.07 3.39 $ 26.72 $ 55,580
Pittsburgh, PA 50 0.04 2.20 $ 26.95 $ 56,060
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 40 0.00 0.21 $ 30.71 $ 63,880
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 40 0.03 1.52 $ 31.70 $ 65,930
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 40 0.01 0.72 $ 28.74 $ 59,770
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 40 0.02 1.23 $ 30.28 $ 62,970
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 40 0.03 1.55 $ 37.74 $ 78,490
Columbus, OH 30 0.03 1.54 $ 26.29 $ 54,690


Map of location quotient of hydrologic technicians by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Hydrologic Technicians:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Boise City, ID 30 0.08 4.23 $ 31.09 $ 64,660
Raleigh, NC 50 0.07 3.39 $ 26.72 $ 55,580
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 70 0.06 3.24 $ 33.38 $ 69,430
Pittsburgh, PA 50 0.04 2.20 $ 26.95 $ 56,060
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 40 0.03 1.55 $ 37.74 $ 78,490
Columbus, OH 30 0.03 1.54 $ 26.29 $ 54,690
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 40 0.03 1.52 $ 31.70 $ 65,930
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 40 0.02 1.23 $ 30.28 $ 62,970
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 30 0.02 0.91 $ 38.69 $ 80,480
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 50 0.02 0.86 $ 29.22 $ 60,780


Map of annual mean wages of hydrologic technicians by area, May 2023


Top paying metropolitan areas for Hydrologic Technicians:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 30 0.02 0.91 $ 38.69 $ 80,480
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 40 0.03 1.55 $ 37.74 $ 78,490
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 70 0.06 3.24 $ 33.38 $ 69,430
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 40 0.03 1.52 $ 31.70 $ 65,930
Boise City, ID 30 0.08 4.23 $ 31.09 $ 64,660
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 40 0.00 0.21 $ 30.71 $ 63,880
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 40 0.02 1.23 $ 30.28 $ 62,970
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 50 0.02 0.86 $ 29.22 $ 60,780
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 40 0.01 0.72 $ 28.74 $ 59,770
Pittsburgh, PA 50 0.04 2.20 $ 26.95 $ 56,060

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Hydrologic Technicians:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 70 0.44 22.16 $ 25.50 $ 53,040

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Hydrologic Technicians:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 70 0.44 22.16 $ 25.50 $ 53,040

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Hydrologic Technicians:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 70 0.44 22.16 $ 25.50 $ 53,040
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 20.32 $ 42,260

About May 2023 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.

Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024