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The salary for a Hydrology Technician reflects the importance of water resource management in today's environment. As of October 2025, the average annual salary stands at $44,955, which breaks down to about $22 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on geographic location, years of experience, and specific job responsibilities.
Experience plays a critical role in determining pay. Entry-level technicians may start at lower salaries, while those with several years in the field can earn significantly more. Additionally, working in high-demand regions or urban centers often leads to higher compensation.
When exploring salary potential, consider that Hydrology Technicians in states like California and New York typically earn more than their counterparts in less populated areas. Cities with strong environmental policies often provide better pay and more job opportunities.
As water resource issues become increasingly urgent, the demand for skilled Technicians is expected to grow. This presents an excellent opportunity for career growth and salary advancement.
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The highest-paying states for hydrology technicians are New York, Alaska, and Virginia. The lowest average hydrology technician salary states are Indiana, Kansas, and Nebraska.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $57,004 | $27.41 |
| 2 | New York | $57,322 | $27.56 |
| 3 | Nevada | $53,815 | $25.87 |
| 4 | Virginia | $56,399 | $27.11 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $55,259 | $26.57 |
| 6 | Delaware | $56,349 | $27.09 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $46,657 | $22.43 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $53,776 | $25.85 |
| 9 | Vermont | $46,390 | $22.30 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $53,203 | $25.58 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $51,317 | $24.67 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $43,345 | $20.84 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $42,458 | $20.41 |
| 14 | Oregon | $52,041 | $25.02 |
| 15 | California | $55,048 | $26.47 |
| 16 | Washington | $49,066 | $23.59 |
| 17 | Colorado | $45,923 | $22.08 |
| 18 | Maryland | $51,875 | $24.94 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $45,920 | $22.08 |
| 20 | Arizona | $43,233 | $20.79 |
| 21 | Utah | $43,460 | $20.89 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $45,810 | $22.02 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $54,918 | $26.40 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $45,338 | $21.80 |
| 25 | Texas | $43,646 | $20.98 |
| 26 | Michigan | $45,002 | $21.64 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $40,159 | $19.31 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $42,261 | $20.32 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $43,814 | $21.06 |
| 30 | Iowa | $40,369 | $19.41 |
| 31 | Montana | $41,115 | $19.77 |
| 32 | Ohio | $41,924 | $20.16 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $42,235 | $20.31 |
| 34 | Maine | $39,142 | $18.82 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $41,981 | $20.18 |
| 36 | Illinois | $41,752 | $20.07 |
| 37 | Alabama | $39,726 | $19.10 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $40,569 | $19.50 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $39,806 | $19.14 |
| 40 | Missouri | $39,244 | $18.87 |
| 41 | Idaho | $41,910 | $20.15 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $39,796 | $19.13 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $41,456 | $19.93 |
| 44 | Florida | $33,846 | $16.27 |
| 45 | Georgia | $36,356 | $17.48 |
| 46 | Indiana | $36,345 | $17.47 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $37,294 | $17.93 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $34,743 | $16.70 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $35,303 | $16.97 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $33,335 | $16.03 |
| 51 | Kansas | $36,297 | $17.45 |
The highest-paying cities for hydrology technicians are Fairbanks, AK, Santa Barbara, CA, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairbanks, AK | $55,977 | $26.91 |
| 2 | Santa Barbara, CA | $54,419 | $26.16 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $51,979 | $24.99 |
| 4 | Pueblo, CO | $45,893 | $22.06 |
| 5 | San Angelo, TX | $44,644 | $21.46 |
| 6 | Baton Rouge, LA | $42,327 | $20.35 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $41,297 | $19.85 |
| 8 | Columbia, SC | $40,883 | $19.66 |
| 9 | Idaho Falls, ID | $40,526 | $19.48 |
| 10 | Little Rock, AR | $40,477 | $19.46 |
| 11 | Lawrence, KS | $36,426 | $17.51 |
| 12 | Fort Myers, FL | $33,592 | $16.15 |
A hydrology technician's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| Average | $44,955 | $3,746 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
The highest paying types of hydrology technicians are audit technician, ammunition technician, and senior field technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Services Supervisor | $40,163 | $3,347 | $19.31 | 67,959 |
| Laboratory Analyst | $44,024 | $3,669 | $21.17 | 44,074 |
| Field Installation Technician | $40,685 | $3,390 | $19.56 | 92,922 |
| Field Technician Engineer | $50,370 | $4,198 | $24.22 | 73,704 |
| Environmental Service Technician | $30,862 | $2,572 | $14.84 | 83,697 |
| Environmental Field Technician | $38,450 | $3,204 | $18.49 | 76,665 |
Top companies hiring hydrology technicians now:
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley | $51,463 | $24.74 |
| 2 | Forest Manufacturing Co | $39,700 | $19.09 |
The average hydrology technician salary has risen by $5,242 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average hydrology technician earned $39,713 annually, but today, they earn $44,955 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for hydrology technicians over the last decade.
Compare hydrology technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare hydrology technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $45,000 | $21.61 | +0.4% |
| 2025 | $44,800 | $21.52 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $43,400 | $20.85 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $42,700 | $20.55 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $41,500 | $19.96 | +2.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Basin Institute | Hydrology Technician | Reno, NV | 03/25/2025 | $39,131 |
| Salt Lake City, Ut | Hydrology Technician-Public Utilities-Seasonal | Salt Lake City, UT | 02/21/2025 | $35,479 |
| Department of The Interior | Seasonal Hydrologic Technician | Gunnison, CO | 02/20/2025 | $44,117 |
| Coloradomtn | Hydrologic Technician | Ione, CA | 02/16/2025 | $39,688 |
| Geological Survey | Hydrologic Technician | Idaho Falls, ID | 12/14/2024 | $44,117 |
| Department of Agriculture | Hydrologic Technician | Washington, DC | 12/13/2024 | $49,835 |
| Department of The Interior | Hydrologic Technician | Idaho Falls, ID | 12/13/2024 | $44,117 |
| Not Found for 'Americorps | Hydrologic Technician | Enon, OH | 12/11/2024 | $54,728 |
| Not Found for 'Americorps | Hydrologic Technician | Ione, OR | 12/10/2024 | $39,956 |
| Department of Agriculture | Hydrologic Technician | Columbus, OH | 12/09/2024 | $45,998 |
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