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Hydrographer salary
Average hydrographer salary
$52,359
Average Hydrographer Salary
The average salary for hydrographers stands at $52,359 per year. This figure reflects the earnings for hydrographers in various industries, including environmental consulting, government agencies, and marine research. Salaries typically range from $40,000 to $70,000, depending on experience and specialization.
Factors Influencing Salary
Several factors can affect a hydrographer's salary, including:
- Location: States like California and Alaska often offer higher wages due to demand and cost of living.
- Experience: Entry-level positions may start lower, while seasoned hydrographers command higher salaries.
- Industry: Working for private companies may yield different compensation compared to government roles.
Job Opportunities
Hydrographers can find a range of job opportunities in academia, public service, and private industry. By exploring these paths, prospective candidates can identify potential earnings and growth areas within the field of hydrography.
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Where can a Hydrographer earn more?
Hydrographer salary estimates from across the web
Average hydrographer salary by state
The average hydrographer salary in Alaska, California, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average hydrographer salary states are Kentucky, Tennessee, and Hawaii.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for hydrographers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $67,332 | $32.37 |
| 2 | New York | $68,018 | $32.70 |
| 3 | Delaware | $60,646 | $29.16 |
| 4 | Alaska | $74,831 | $35.98 |
| 5 | California | $68,187 | $32.78 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $65,435 | $31.46 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $58,353 | $28.05 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $60,899 | $29.28 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $62,902 | $30.24 |
| 10 | Mississippi | $55,320 | $26.60 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $57,890 | $27.83 |
| 12 | Maine | $58,733 | $28.24 |
| 13 | Washington | $57,753 | $27.77 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $55,817 | $26.84 |
| 15 | Vermont | $58,539 | $28.14 |
| 16 | Indiana | $54,624 | $26.26 |
| 17 | Utah | $55,611 | $26.74 |
| 18 | Maryland | $58,934 | $28.33 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $57,383 | $27.59 |
| 20 | Virginia | $58,049 | $27.91 |
| 21 | Idaho | $52,631 | $25.30 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $52,785 | $25.38 |
| 23 | Nevada | $55,175 | $26.53 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $54,158 | $26.04 |
| 25 | Arizona | $52,708 | $25.34 |
| 26 | Oregon | $53,143 | $25.55 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $58,985 | $28.36 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $51,364 | $24.69 |
| 29 | Ohio | $51,801 | $24.90 |
| 30 | Michigan | $51,876 | $24.94 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $51,785 | $24.90 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $50,168 | $24.12 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $47,492 | $22.83 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $45,808 | $22.02 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $46,040 | $22.13 |
| 36 | Florida | $49,675 | $23.88 |
| 37 | Missouri | $47,101 | $22.64 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $45,491 | $21.87 |
| 39 | Texas | $46,851 | $22.52 |
| 40 | Illinois | $47,832 | $23.00 |
| 41 | Iowa | $45,932 | $22.08 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $45,429 | $21.84 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $44,018 | $21.16 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $45,324 | $21.79 |
| 45 | Georgia | $46,245 | $22.23 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $44,289 | $21.29 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $44,504 | $21.40 |
| 48 | Montana | $44,673 | $21.48 |
| 49 | Alabama | $43,510 | $20.92 |
| 50 | Kansas | $43,321 | $20.83 |
| 51 | Colorado | $40,601 | $19.52 |
Highest paying cities for hydrographers
The highest-paying cities for hydrographers are Dartmouth, MA, Los Angeles, CA, and Newport, RI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dartmouth, MA | $67,265 | $32.34 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $66,994 | $32.21 |
| 3 | Newport, RI | $61,398 | $29.52 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $58,646 | $28.20 |
| 5 | Neenah, WI | $56,263 | $27.05 |
| 6 | Boca Raton, FL | $49,337 | $23.72 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $47,223 | $22.70 |
| 8 | Gillette, WY | $46,374 | $22.30 |
Hydrographer salary details
A hydrographer's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $85,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a hydrographer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| 75th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| Average | $52,359 | $4,363 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
Highest paying hydrographer jobs
The highest paying types of hydrographers are lead data technician, geophysical support specialist, and senior data technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Technician | $41,834 | $3,486 | $20.11 | 101,074 |
| Lead Data Technician | $124,928 | $10,411 | $60.06 | 83,455 |
Top companies hiring hydrographers now:
Which companies pay hydrographers the most?
Hydrographer salaries at Santa Clara Valley Water District and City of Los Angeles are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average hydrographer salary at companies like David Evans and Associates and Fugro are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Clara Valley Water District | $111,687 | $53.70 |
| 2 | City of Los Angeles | $73,482 | $35.33 |
| 3 | David Evans and Associates | $68,962 | $33.15 |
| 4 | Fugro | $64,302 | $30.91 |
| 5 | Leidos | $55,396 | $26.63 |
| 6 | APTIM | $52,282 | $25.14 |
| 7 | Traylor Bros | $50,418 | $24.24 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $40,234 | $19.34 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Hydrographer salary trends
The average hydrographer salary has risen by $5,259 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average hydrographer earned $47,100 annually, but today, they earn $52,359 a year. That works out to a -2% change in pay for hydrographers over the last decade.
Compare hydrographer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average hydrographer salary over time
Compare hydrographer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Hydrographer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $52,400 | $25.17 | +0.4% |
| 2025 | $52,100 | $25.06 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $50,500 | $24.29 | -1.7% |
| 2023 | $51,400 | $24.69 | -4.2% |
| 2022 | $53,500 | $25.73 | +1.5% |
Recently added hydrographer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Evans and Associates | Hydrographer | Vancouver, WA | 03/30/2025 | $83,480 |
| The City of Los Angeles (Ca | Hydrographer 7263 (A) | Los Angeles, CA | 03/15/2025 | $97,551 |
| Tetra Tech, Inc. | Hydrographer | Bothell, WA | 12/07/2024 | $90,000 |
| Leidos | Hydrographer | Newport, RI | 09/03/2024 | $55,250 |
| David Evans and Associates | Hydrographer | Vancouver, WA | 07/03/2024 | $83,480 |
| OARS Marine, LLC | Hydrographer | Houston, TX | 06/07/2024 | $75,000 |
| Tetra Tech, Inc. | Hydrographer | Bothell, WA | 04/09/2024 | $90,000 |
| Hamilton-Ryker | 30165-Hydrographer | Houston, TX | 02/27/2024 | $52,000 |
| Leidos | Hydrographer | Newport, RI | 09/13/2023 | $46,800 |
| State of Oregon | Hydrographer (Natural Resource Specialist 2) | Salem, OR | 08/31/2023 | $52,272 |
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