How to hire a hydrogeologist

How to hire a hydrogeologist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step hydrogeologist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a hydrogeologist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new hydrogeologist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a hydrogeologist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the hydrogeologist you need to hire. Certain hydrogeologist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A hydrogeologist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, hydrogeologists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents hydrogeologist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Hydrogeologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Hydrogeologist	Hydrologists study how water moves across and through the Earth’s crust. They use their expertise to solve problems in the areas of water quality or availability.	$25-50
   Environmental Scientist	Environmental scientists are responsible for analyzing environmental issues and creating their solutions. They protect the environment together with human health by using their understanding of natural science... Show more	$20-40
   Geologist	A Geologist studies the composition, structure, and history of the earth's crust. They may work for private industries, the federal government, colleges and universities, or museums.	$30-94

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Surface Water
   • Oversight
   • Data Collection
   • GIS
   • Technical Reports
   • Water Resources
   • Water Samples
   • ArcGIS
   • Data Analysis
   • Water Quality
   • Project Management
   • Groundwater Flow
   • Well Design
   • Environmental Projects

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage a Superfund site remediation project in western Washington.
   • Manage projects involving assessment and remediation of soil and groundwater.
   • Manage assessment and early detection groundwater monitoring programs at several Ohio municipal landfills.
   • Increase the utility of commercial statistical analysis software by integrating it with USGS data systems and adding graphical analysis capabilities.
   • Work with ArcGIS and FlowMod for modeling.
   • Report preparation & review, & litigation support.

   More hydrogeologist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the hydrogeologist job description is a good way to get more applicants. A hydrogeologist salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a hydrogeologist in Wisconsin may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level hydrogeologist. Additionally, a hydrogeologist with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average hydrogeologist salary

   $74,733yearly

   $35.93 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level hydrogeologist salary

   $52,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average hydrogeologist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$95,171	$46
   2	Colorado	$90,773	$44
   3	Massachusetts	$90,130	$43
   4	Virginia	$78,652	$38
   5	Florida	$78,461	$38
   6	Washington	$78,054	$38
   7	Texas	$76,003	$37
   8	Oregon	$73,325	$35
   9	New Jersey	$72,874	$35
   10	Arizona	$71,716	$34
   11	Utah	$70,212	$34
   12	Nevada	$69,460	$33
   13	Idaho	$67,750	$33
   14	Connecticut	$63,237	$30
   15	Michigan	$61,704	$30
   16	Maryland	$59,774	$29
   17	Montana	$58,929	$28
   18	New Hampshire	$57,700	$28
   19	Minnesota	$57,303	$28
   20	Wisconsin	$55,073	$26

   Average hydrogeologist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Chevron	$134,316	$64.58
   2	Argonne National Laboratory	$106,329	$51.12
   3	Albemarle	$95,937	$46.12
   4	KIT Professionals	$90,056	$43.30
   5	Amec Foster Wheeler	$90,056	$43.30
   6	Jacobs Enterprises	$90,032	$43.28	9
   7	Woods Services	$89,443	$43.00
   8	WorleyParsons	$86,171	$41.43
   9	Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc.	$84,087	$40.43
   10	SRK Consulting	$78,847	$37.91
   11	Sanborn, Head & Associates	$78,048	$37.52
   12	Barrick Gold	$77,992	$37.50	1
   13	Jacobs Engineering Group	$77,925	$37.46
   14	Westaff	$77,050	$37.04
   15	Wsp USA Buildings Inc.	$75,371	$36.24	36
   16	Gsi Environmental Inc.	$74,874	$36.00	1
   17	Ch2M Hill	$71,439	$34.35
   18	INTERA Incorporated	$71,371	$34.31
   19	Rio Tinto	$70,147	$33.72
   20	Haley & Aldrich	$69,637	$33.48	6

4. Writing a hydrogeologist job description

   A job description for a hydrogeologist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a hydrogeologist job description:

   Hydrogeologist job description example

   McGinley & Associates (McGinley), a Universal Engineering Sciences Company (UES) is looking for a dynamic and experienced individual for our Environmental Department in our Reno, NV office. UES is a nationwide leader in Geotechnical Engineering, Construction Materials Testing and Inspection, Building Code Compliance, Environmental, Occupational Health & Safety, and Building Envelope.
   
   Job Responsibilities Conduct fieldwork and help with the preparation of various reports under the direction of a Professional Geologist/Hydrogeologist.Hydrogeologic evaluations, well drilling and pumping tests, baseline hydrology monitoring, environmental monitoring, geologic evaluations, field sampling plans, sampling and measurements of soils, groundwater, and surface water, mining plans of operation, and environmental assessments.May include exposure to other environmental services, including soil or groundwater assessment, remediation, air quality compliance, storm water management, and biological resource surveys, depending on the available workload and prior education and experience.
   
   Required QualificationsBS or MS in Geology, Hydrogeology, Hydrology, or relevant Environmental Studies.1-2 years professional experience preferred.
   Who We Are:
   
   UES provides essential engineering services for some of the most prominent and significant projects in the nation. Our team members, from our drillers to administrative staff, contribute directly to projects that transform communities. With some of the greatest talent in Geotechnical Engineering, Construction Materials Testing and Inspection, Code Compliance, Environmental, Occupational Health & Safety, and Building Envelope, we are committed to delivering groundbreaking solutions for our clients. At the core of our success is our team members who make it all possible. We know that the projects we deliver are only as good as our people, which is why we offer enriching opportunities for career growth at every level.
   
   Growing in Excellence
   As the #1 fastest growing AEC firm on The Zweig Group's Hot Firm list in 2021, UES is poised to lead our industry into the future. As we evolve from a one-man operation to a company spanning 60 branches and 2,500 employees, we're looking for enthusiastic talent to launch their careers and grow along with us.
   
   Why Work at UES?
   We value the individual contributions of our employees, and we show this through providing great benefits. Click here to see how we support our people in and out of the workplace. Please ask your recruiter what benefits plans apply to you.
   
   Check out our website: McGinley | UES
   Follow us on social media: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
   #GroundedInExcellence
   
   EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran Universal Engineering Sciences is a Drug-Free Workplace. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right hydrogeologist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with hydrogeologists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit hydrogeologists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your hydrogeologist job on Zippia to find and recruit hydrogeologist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with hydrogeologist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new hydrogeologist

   Once you've selected the best hydrogeologist candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new hydrogeologist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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