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Senior water resources engineer salary
Average senior water resources engineer salary
$84,106
Understanding the Senior Water Resources Engineer Salary
The role of a Senior Water Resources Engineer encompasses a range of responsibilities, from designing water management systems to ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. As of October 2025, the average salary of a Senior Water Resources Engineer is $84,106 annually. This figure can vary based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific industry in which one works.
In terms of geographic location, states like California and Texas often offer higher salaries due to the demand for skilled engineers in large infrastructure projects. Additionally, engineers with more years of experience tend to command higher wages, reflecting their expertise and contributions to complex projects.
Career opportunities in this field are abundant, with positions available in government agencies, consulting firms, and non-profit organizations focused on environmental sustainability. Pursuing certifications and further education can enhance earning potential and career advancement opportunities, making this a rewarding path for those passionate about water resource management.
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Where can a Senior Water Resources Engineer earn more?
Senior water resources engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average senior water resources engineer salary by state
The highest-paying states for senior water resources engineers are Alaska, Nevada, and New York. The lowest average senior water resources engineer salary states are Indiana, South Carolina, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for senior water resources engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $102,155 | $49.11 |
| 2 | Delaware | $97,829 | $47.03 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $96,917 | $46.59 |
| 4 | Vermont | $96,498 | $46.39 |
| 5 | New York | $97,976 | $47.10 |
| 6 | Alaska | $104,953 | $50.46 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $97,328 | $46.79 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $91,834 | $44.15 |
| 9 | Utah | $92,329 | $44.39 |
| 10 | Ohio | $95,634 | $45.98 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $97,326 | $46.79 |
| 12 | California | $97,740 | $46.99 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $97,651 | $46.95 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $97,866 | $47.05 |
| 15 | Kansas | $93,305 | $44.86 |
| 16 | Iowa | $94,476 | $45.42 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $88,850 | $42.72 |
| 18 | Oregon | $86,732 | $41.70 |
| 19 | Washington | $89,349 | $42.96 |
| 20 | Virginia | $90,386 | $43.45 |
| 21 | Colorado | $85,666 | $41.19 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $91,935 | $44.20 |
| 23 | Mississippi | $90,003 | $43.27 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $81,438 | $39.15 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $81,225 | $39.05 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $78,848 | $37.91 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $80,654 | $38.78 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $80,650 | $38.77 |
| 29 | Maryland | $86,542 | $41.61 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $80,021 | $38.47 |
| 31 | Arizona | $73,326 | $35.25 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $81,812 | $39.33 |
| 33 | Idaho | $73,480 | $35.33 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $79,900 | $38.41 |
| 35 | Montana | $72,461 | $34.84 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $69,090 | $33.22 |
| 37 | Michigan | $71,324 | $34.29 |
| 38 | Illinois | $71,411 | $34.33 |
| 39 | Texas | $71,815 | $34.53 |
| 40 | Maine | $71,742 | $34.49 |
| 41 | Georgia | $69,572 | $33.45 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $69,176 | $33.26 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $70,522 | $33.90 |
| 44 | Florida | $72,842 | $35.02 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $72,287 | $34.75 |
| 46 | Indiana | $69,877 | $33.59 |
| 47 | Missouri | $71,351 | $34.30 |
| 48 | Alabama | $69,947 | $33.63 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $71,278 | $34.27 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $69,784 | $33.55 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $69,250 | $33.29 |
Highest paying cities for senior water resources engineers
The highest-paying cities for senior water resources engineers are Oakland, CA, New York, NY, and Milton, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $102,632 | $49.34 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $98,132 | $47.18 |
| 3 | Milton, MA | $97,413 | $46.83 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $95,366 | $45.85 |
| 5 | Overland Park, KS | $93,358 | $44.88 |
| 6 | Salt Lake City, UT | $92,246 | $44.35 |
| 7 | Minot, ND | $92,183 | $44.32 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $86,598 | $41.63 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $86,488 | $41.58 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $85,632 | $41.17 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $81,017 | $38.95 |
| 12 | Laramie, WY | $79,509 | $38.23 |
| 13 | Tampa, FL | $73,141 | $35.16 |
| 14 | San Antonio, TX | $72,174 | $34.70 |
| 15 | Portland, ME | $71,856 | $34.55 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $71,541 | $34.39 |
| 17 | Baton Rouge, LA | $71,388 | $34.32 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $71,383 | $34.32 |
| 19 | Kennesaw, GA | $69,404 | $33.37 |
Senior water resources engineer salary details
A senior water resources engineer's salary ranges from $67,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $105,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a senior water resources engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $105,000 | $8,750 | $50 |
| 75th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| Average | $84,106 | $7,009 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| 10th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
Highest paying senior water resources engineer jobs
The highest paying types of senior water resources engineers are senior hydrogeologist, water resource project manager, and research hydraulic engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Resource Project Manager | $88,678 | $7,390 | $42.63 | 51,322 |
Top companies hiring senior water resources engineers now:
Which companies pay senior water resources engineers the most?
Senior water resources engineer salaries at Berkshire Hathaway and Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior water resources engineer salary at companies like The Johnson Group and GSI Water Solutions are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkshire Hathaway | $97,135 | $46.70 |
| 2 | Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance | $93,103 | $44.76 |
| 3 | Chattanooga, TN | $90,067 | $43.30 |
| 4 | GSI Water Solutions | $88,701 | $42.64 |
| 5 | Amec Foster Wheeler | $88,613 | $42.60 |
| 6 | URS E&C Holdings Inc | $88,613 | $42.60 |
| 7 | Northwest Hydraulic Consultants | $88,549 | $42.57 |
| 8 | Woods Services | $88,339 | $42.47 |
| 9 | Sutron | $88,037 | $42.33 |
| 10 | Snc-lavalin Project Services, Inc. | $87,187 | $41.92 |
| 11 | Contech Engineered Solutions | $87,000 | $41.83 |
| 12 | System One | $85,390 | $41.05 |
| 13 | GRW Engineering | $84,545 | $40.65 |
| 14 | Geosyntec Consultants | $84,398 | $40.58 |
| 15 | Wsp USA Buildings Inc. | $83,310 | $40.05 |
| 16 | PRIME AE Group | $83,254 | $40.03 |
| 17 | Dewberry | $83,172 | $39.99 |
| 18 | Stantec | $83,087 | $39.95 |
| 19 | ms consultants | $82,868 | $39.84 |
| 20 | David Evans and Associates | $82,693 | $39.76 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Senior water resources engineer salary trends
The average senior water resources engineer salary has risen by $14,127 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior water resources engineer earned $69,979 annually, but today, they earn $84,106 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for senior water resources engineers over the last decade.
Compare senior water resources engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average senior water resources engineer salary over time
Compare senior water resources engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Senior water resources engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $84,100 | $40.44 | +6.4% |
| 2024 | $78,700 | $37.84 | +4.1% |
| 2023 | $75,500 | $36.31 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | $72,500 | $34.87 | -0.7% |
| 2021 | $73,100 | $35.13 | -0.3% |
Recently added senior water resources engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barr Systems | Water Resources Engineer-Senior Level (Hybrid) | Salt Lake City, UT | 06/30/2025 | $100,000 |
| Barr Systems | Civil/Water Resources Engineer-Senior Level-Mining Focus (Hybrid) | Minneapolis, MN | 06/30/2025 | $110,000 |
| Wsp USA Buildings Inc. | Senior Water Resources Engineer | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $90,000 |
| Isthmus Engineering | Senior Water Resources Engineer | Saint Paul, MN | 06/29/2025 | $100,000 |
| Landau Associates Inc. | Senior Water Resources Engineer or Hydrogeologist/Geologist | Olympia, WA | 06/29/2025 | $145,000 |
| TJG Civil Engineers and Land Planners | Senior Civil Engineer/Water Resources Engineer | Argenta, IL | 06/29/2025 | $90,000 |
| Isthmusengineering | Senior Water Resources Engineer | Saint Paul, MN | 06/29/2025 | $100,000 |
| Apex Engineering Group | SR. Engineer-Water Resources | Minnetonka, MN | 06/27/2025 | $125,000 |
| Hirenow Medical Solutions | Senior Water Resources Engineer/Project Manager | Austin, TX | 06/26/2025 | $145,000 |
| Stantec Inc. | Senior Water Resources Engineer | Denver, CO | 06/24/2025 | $112,300 |
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