Occupations · Life, Physical, and Social Science

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.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 19-4044.00

$58,570median annual wage, May 2024

2,940people employed, United States

▼ 2.1%projected change, 2024→2034

400openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up -6% between 2021 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA	$68,490	70
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$60,580	60
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	$51,230	60
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$56,420	50
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$83,710	40
Raleigh, NC	$51,170	40
San Juan-Carolina-Caguas, PR	$29,370	40
Bozeman, MT	$38,320	40
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$76,940	40
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$56,370	40
Pittsburgh, PA	$48,370	30
Trenton, NJ	$71,700	30

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: Associate's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Adobe Acrobat●ESRI ArcGIS software●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Windows●Microsoft Word●Datasurge GEOPRODelft GeoSystems MStabESRI ArcInfoESRI ArcViewEmail softwareGEO-SLOPE SEEP/WGeographic information system GIS softwareGeographic information system GIS systemsMitre Software GSLOPESalix Applied Earthcare Erosion DrawState Soil Geographic STATSGO Database

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

3 / 5Medium preparation — vocational training or an associate degree, plus 1–2 years of work.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Realistic5.5

Conventional5.3

Investigative4.9

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

HydrographerHydro OperatorHydrologic AidHydrologic TechnicianHydrography TechnicianField Technician (Field Tech)Groundwater Monitoring TechnicianGIS Technician (Geographic Information System Technician)

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2022

Comparing O*NET release 27.1 (2022-11-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 1 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 2

+Adobe Acrobat+Geographic information system GIS systems

No longer listed 1

−Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
hydrologist	2114.1.5	close
hydrogeologist	2114.1.4	close

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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