What does a hydrographer do?
Hydrographer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real hydrographer resumes:
- Manage daily RCRA inspections and mechanical, electrical, and electronic equipment preventive/corrective maintenance procedures.
- Provide technical expertise in GIS and remote sensing software, hardware, data analysis & mapping
- Train personnel to improve ADCP measurements.
- Present to inter-agency climate change work group.
- Assist in the planning and mobilization of lidar and marine sensors and vessels.
- Navigate surveying vessels equip with GPS systems and fathometers used to conduct accurate and repeatable surveys.
- Survey operations including data acquisition, processing, GIS, geospatial analysis, resource management, and product delivery.
- Calibrate and verify lidar and marine sensors following mobilization.
- Assist HAZWOPER technicians with logistical support for operations on project operations including research of facilities and vendors need for project completion.
- Participate in decommission sampling of an entire automobile assembly plant for a variety of contaminants in preparation for demolition.
Hydrographer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 28% of Hydrographers are proficient in GPS, GIS, and Data Analysis. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Physical stamina, and Analytical skills.
We break down the percentage of Hydrographers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- GPS, 28%
Navigate surveying vessels equipped with GPS systems and fathometers used to conduct accurate and repeatable surveys.
- GIS, 21%
Provided subject matter expertise and technical guidance to agency management in the coordination of projects which utilized GIS software and data.
- Data Analysis, 16%
Identified potential concerns based on data analysis and generated documentation detailing results.
- Data Processing, 16%
Utilized advanced pre-stack 2D and 3D seismic data processing techniques for pre-migration and post-migration optimization (including high resolution/hazard surveys).
- LiDAR, 6%
Calibrated and verified lidar and marine sensors following mobilization.
- Side Scan, 5%
Experience includes Survey navigation line planning, Multibeam and Side Scan Sonar acquisition/review.
Most hydrographers use their skills in "gps," "gis," and "data analysis" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential hydrographer responsibilities here:
Interpersonal skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a hydrographer to have is interpersonal skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "geological and petroleum technicians need to be able to work well with others and as part of a team." Hydrographers often use interpersonal skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "used interpersonal and communication skills with patients. "
Physical stamina. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling hydrographer duties is physical stamina. The role rewards competence in this skill because "to do fieldwork, geological and petroleum technicians need to be in good physical shape in order to hike to remote locations while carrying testing and sampling equipment." According to a hydrographer resume, here's how hydrographers can utilize physical stamina in their job responsibilities: "worked as a physical science technician/student trainee with the usda. "
Analytical skills. This is an important skill for hydrographers to perform their duties. For an example of how hydrographer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "geological and petroleum technicians examine data and samples, using a variety of complex techniques, including laboratory experimentation and computer modeling." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a hydrographer: "provided technical expertise in gis and remote sensing software, hardware, data analysis & mapping".
Communication skills. hydrographer responsibilities often require "communication skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "geological and petroleum technicians explain their methods and findings through oral and written reports to scientists, engineers, managers, and other technicians." This resume example shows what hydrographers do with communication skills on a typical day: "installed cat5 and cat6 cable for data and voice communications. "
The three companies that hire the most hydrographers are:
- Fugro6 hydrographers jobs
- David Evans and Associates3 hydrographers jobs
- Leidos2 hydrographers jobs
Compare different hydrographers
Hydrographer vs. Sensitometrist
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a hydrographer are more likely to require skills like "gps," "gis," "data analysis," and "data processing." On the other hand, a job as a sensitometrist requires skills like "ekg," "patient care," "dexa," and "scheduling appointments." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Sensitometrists tend to reach lower levels of education than hydrographers. In fact, sensitometrists are 15.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 3.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Hydrographer vs. Geoscience technician
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, hydrographer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "gps," "data processing," "lidar," and "remote sensing." Meanwhile, a geoscience technician has duties that require skills in areas such as "data management," "spatial data," "petra," and "spotfire." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Geoscience technicians earn lower levels of education than hydrographers in general. They're 12.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 3.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Hydrographer vs. Data communications technician
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from hydrographer resumes include skills like "gps," "gis," "data analysis," and "data processing," whereas a data communications technician is more likely to list skills in "pos," "computer screens," "rf," and "test equipment. "
When it comes to education, data communications technicians tend to earn lower degree levels compared to hydrographers. In fact, they're 19.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 3.7% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Hydrographer vs. Seismic observer
Types of hydrographer
Updated January 8, 2025
