Best states for a hydrogeologist

Q: What is the best state for hydrogeologists?

The best state to be a hydrogeologist is West Virginia based on hydrogeologist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for hydrogeologists?

The highest paying state for hydrogeologists is Vermont based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for hydrogeologists?

The worst state for hydrogeologists is Nebraska, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

It seems like hydrogeologists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for hydrogeologists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that West Virginia is the best state in the country for hydrogeologists.

In order to get you the best states for hydrogeologists, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.West Virginia is the best state, and Pacifica is the city with the highest pay for hydrogeologists.

10 best states for hydrogeologists in 2026

1. West Virginia
Total hydrogeologist jobs: 34
Average annual salary: $79,622
Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000
Location Quotient:
2.1
Hydrogeologist jobs in West Virginia
2. California
Total hydrogeologist jobs: 484
Average annual salary: $91,546
Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000
Location Quotient:
1.56
Hydrogeologist jobs in California
3. Florida
Total hydrogeologist jobs: 278
Average annual salary: $78,600
Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000
Location Quotient:
1.68
Hydrogeologist jobs in Florida
4. Washington
Total hydrogeologist jobs: 123
Average annual salary: $76,912
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000
Location Quotient:
1.59
Hydrogeologist jobs in Washington
5. Ohio
Total hydrogeologist jobs: 89
Average annual salary: $77,811
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000
Location Quotient:
0.82
Hydrogeologist jobs in Ohio
6. New Mexico
Total hydrogeologist jobs: 23
Average annual salary: $75,930
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Hydrogeologist jobs in New Mexico
7. Kentucky
Total hydrogeologist jobs: 53
Average annual salary: $72,443
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000
Location Quotient:
1.36
Hydrogeologist jobs in Kentucky
8. Colorado
Total hydrogeologist jobs: 40
Average annual salary: $90,564
Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000
Location Quotient:
0.63
Hydrogeologist jobs in Colorado
9. Virginia
Total hydrogeologist jobs: 99
Average annual salary: $78,201
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000
Location Quotient:
0.99
Hydrogeologist jobs in Virginia
10. Massachusetts
Total hydrogeologist jobs: 47
Average annual salary: $90,469
Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000
Location Quotient:
0.48
Hydrogeologist jobs in Massachusetts

Hydrogeologist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a hydrogeologist

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a hydrogeologist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	West Virginia	$79,622	$50,000	1,815,857	34
2	California	$91,546	$59,000	39,536,653	484
3	Florida	$78,600	$52,000	20,984,400	278
4	Washington	$76,912	$49,000	7,405,743	123
5	Ohio	$77,811	$49,000	11,658,609	89
6	New Mexico	$75,930	$48,000	2,088,070	23
7	Kentucky	$72,443	$46,000	4,454,189	53
8	Colorado	$90,564	$59,000	5,607,154	40
9	Virginia	$78,201	$49,000	8,470,020	99
10	Massachusetts	$90,469	$60,000	6,859,819	47
11	Texas	$75,583	$49,000	28,304,596	171
12	Pennsylvania	$73,722	$47,000	12,805,537	100
13	Idaho	$70,938	$45,000	1,716,943	26
14	North Dakota	$65,832	$44,000	755,393	29
15	Arizona	$71,519	$46,000	7,016,270	60
16	Rhode Island	$69,663	$46,000	1,059,639	16
17	Oregon	$74,277	$47,000	4,142,776	35
18	Kansas	$69,280	$45,000	2,913,123	27
19	Illinois	$71,297	$46,000	12,802,023	118
20	Nevada	$68,308	$43,000	2,998,039	29
21	District of Columbia	$70,532	$44,000	693,972	34
22	Wyoming	$63,779	$42,000	579,315	12
23	North Carolina	$68,897	$44,000	10,273,419	79
24	Utah	$70,432	$44,000	3,101,833	10
25	Indiana	$65,013	$42,000	6,666,818	72
26	New Jersey	$72,807	$46,000	9,005,644	40
27	Alaska	$60,542	$47,000	739,795	35
28	Maine	$62,359	$43,000	1,335,907	50
29	Connecticut	$62,951	$41,000	3,588,184	87
30	Delaware	$71,568	$45,000	961,939	3
31	New York	$72,336	$46,000	19,849,399	57
32	Mississippi	$65,896	$42,000	2,984,100	15
33	Louisiana	$64,989	$42,000	4,684,333	27
34	Oklahoma	$61,150	$39,000	3,930,864	47
35	Montana	$60,861	$39,000	1,050,493	21
36	Arkansas	$59,695	$38,000	3,004,279	39
37	South Carolina	$62,639	$40,000	5,024,369	39
38	Alabama	$62,281	$40,000	4,874,747	18
39	Iowa	$57,088	$38,000	3,145,711	46
40	Michigan	$61,642	$39,000	9,962,311	38
41	South Dakota	$55,683	$37,000	869,666	12
42	Hawaii	$54,718	$40,000	1,427,538	11
43	Wisconsin	$55,756	$36,000	5,795,483	61
44	Tennessee	$58,269	$37,000	6,715,984	47
45	Vermont	$52,314	$35,000	623,657	13
46	Georgia	$59,823	$38,000	10,429,379	71
47	New Hampshire	$57,008	$38,000	1,342,795	15
48	Minnesota	$57,282	$38,000	5,576,606	51
49	Maryland	$59,410	$37,000	6,052,177	38
50	Missouri	$54,426	$35,000	6,113,532	45
51	Nebraska	$53,270	$35,000	1,920,076	16

Highest paying states for hydrogeologists

Rank	State	Avg. Hydrogeologist Salary
1	West Virginia	$79,622
2	California	$91,546
3	Florida	$78,600
4	Washington	$76,912
5	Ohio	$77,811
6	New Mexico	$75,930
7	Kentucky	$72,443
8	Colorado	$90,564
9	Virginia	$78,201
10	Massachusetts	$90,469
11	Texas	$75,583
12	Pennsylvania	$73,722
13	Idaho	$70,938
14	North Dakota	$65,832
15	Arizona	$71,519
16	Rhode Island	$69,663
17	Oregon	$74,277
18	Kansas	$69,280
19	Illinois	$71,297
20	Nevada	$68,308
21	District of Columbia	$70,532
22	Wyoming	$63,779
23	North Carolina	$68,897
24	Utah	$70,432
25	Indiana	$65,013
26	New Jersey	$72,807
27	Alaska	$60,542
28	Maine	$62,359
29	Connecticut	$62,951
30	Delaware	$71,568
31	New York	$72,336
32	Mississippi	$65,896
33	Louisiana	$64,989
34	Oklahoma	$61,150
35	Montana	$60,861
36	Arkansas	$59,695
37	South Carolina	$62,639
38	Alabama	$62,281
39	Iowa	$57,088
40	Michigan	$61,642
41	South Dakota	$55,683
42	Hawaii	$54,718
43	Wisconsin	$55,756
44	Tennessee	$58,269
45	Vermont	$52,314
46	Georgia	$59,823
47	New Hampshire	$57,008
48	Minnesota	$57,282
49	Maryland	$59,410
50	Missouri	$54,426
51	Nebraska	$53,270

Hydrogeologist best states FAQs

What is the best state for hydrogeologists?

What is the highest paying state for hydrogeologists?

What is the worst state for hydrogeologists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.

Search for hydrogeologist jobs

Zippia Careers
Life, Physical, and Social Science Industry
Hydrogeologist
Best states for Hydrogeologists

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse life, physical, and social science jobs

Total hydrogeologist jobs:	34
Average annual salary:	$79,622
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$50,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$125,000
Location Quotient:	2.1

Best states for a hydrogeologist

10 best states for hydrogeologists in 2026

1. West Virginia

2. California

3. Florida

4. Washington

5. Ohio

6. New Mexico

7. Kentucky

8. Colorado

9. Virginia

10. Massachusetts