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.
- Median annual earnings
- $64,792
- Projected change
- +0.7%
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Employment
- 4.18K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
29.3% of the workforce
Growing to 4.21K by 2035
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Build the skills
ASU learning related to this career
These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
The work
What hydrologic technicians do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Analyze ecological data about the impact of pollution, erosion, floods, and other environmental problems on bodies of water.
- Answer technical questions from hydrologists, policymakers, or other customers developing water conservation plans.
- Apply research findings to minimize the environmental impacts of pollution, waterborne diseases, erosion, or sedimentation.
- Assist in designing programs to ensure the proper sealing of abandoned wells.
- Collect water and soil samples to test for physical, chemical, or biological properties, such as pH, oxygen level, temperature, and pollution.
- Develop computer models for hydrologic predictions.
- Estimate the costs and benefits of municipal projects, such as hydroelectric power plants, irrigation systems, and wastewater treatment facilities.
- Investigate complaints or conflicts related to the alteration of public waters by gathering information, recommending alternatives, or preparing legal documents.
- Investigate the properties, origins, or activities of glaciers, ice, snow, or permafrost.
- Locate and deliver information or data as requested by customers, such as contractors, government entities, and members of the public.
- Measure the properties of bodies of water, such as water levels, volume, and flow.
- Perform quality control checks on data to be used by hydrologists.
- Prepare, install, maintain, or repair equipment used for hydrologic study, such as water level recorders, stream flow gauges, and water analyzers.
- Provide real time data to emergency management and weather service personnel during flood events.
- Write groundwater contamination reports on known, suspected, or potential hazardous waste sites.
- Write materials for research publications, such as maps, tables, and reports, to disseminate findings.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $44,949
- 25th percentile
- $52,042
- 50th percentile
- $64,792
- 75th percentile
- $84,677
- 90th percentile
- $100,485
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $64,792 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
28 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Bachelor's degree
- 29.3%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 28.1%
- Associate degree
- 18.3%
- High school diploma or less
- 13.6%
- Certificate
- 5.8%
- Some college
- 4.9%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Hydrologic Technicians66 postings
- 02Field Technicians26 postings
- 03Hydrographers24 postings
- 04Technicians12 postings
- 05Asset Technicians11 postings
- 06Geotechnical Technicians9 postings
- 07Hydraulic Technicians9 postings
- 08Commissioners8 postings
- 09Subsurface Utility Engineering Technicians7 postings
- 10Hydraulic Mechanics6 postings
- 11Engineering Technicians5 postings
- 12Natural Resources Technicians4 postings
- 13Rodmen4 postings
- 14State Investigators4 postings
- 15Utility Locators4 postings
- 16Water Technicians4 postings
- 17Wildlife Technicians4 postings
- 18Environmental Technicians3 postings
- 19Grade Checkers3 postings
- 20Stormwater Inspectors3 postings
Top employers
- 01Actalent31 postings
- 02State of Wyoming17 postings
- 03U.S Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center17 postings
- 04Surveying And Mapping12 postings
- 05Mosaic9 postings
- 06State Of Colorado8 postings
- 07District Of Columbia Courts7 postings
- 08U.S National Park Service6 postings
- 09Geological Survey4 postings
- 10Great Basin Institute4 postings
- 11Hoodz International4 postings
- 12United States Department of the Interior4 postings
- 13Apple3 postings
- 14City County Honolulu3 postings
- 15David Evans And Associates3 postings
- 16King County3 postings
- 17North Wind Group3 postings
- 18R-2 Contractors3 postings
- 19T. Baker Smith3 postings
- 20Tetra Tech3 postings
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