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Water quality specialist salary
Average water quality specialist salary
$53,609
Average Water Quality Specialist Salary
The average salary for a Water Quality Specialist in the United States is approximately $53,609 per year, which translates to about $26 per hour. This figure provides a solid baseline for those considering a career in this essential field.
Salary Variability by Location
Salary levels can vary significantly depending on the state and local demand for water quality professionals. For instance, specialists in states with stricter environmental regulations or higher living costs may earn more. States like California and New York typically offer higher salaries.
Opportunities for Growth
In addition to competitive salaries, Water Quality Specialists often find opportunities for advancement within their roles. Gaining experience and specialized certifications can lead to higher-paying positions, such as management roles in environmental consulting firms or governmental agencies.
Industries and Job Roles
Water Quality Specialists are employed in various sectors, including government, consulting, and non-profit organizations. Exploring these diverse industries can help you identify the most lucrative and fulfilling opportunities in your area.
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Where can a Water Quality Specialist earn more?
Water quality specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average water quality specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for water quality specialists are Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The lowest average water quality specialist salary states are Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for water quality specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $72,099 | $34.66 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $73,934 | $35.55 |
| 3 | Vermont | $72,065 | $34.65 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $74,031 | $35.59 |
| 5 | Iowa | $64,341 | $30.93 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $62,138 | $29.87 |
| 7 | Utah | $60,221 | $28.95 |
| 8 | New York | $73,428 | $35.30 |
| 9 | California | $64,345 | $30.94 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $68,692 | $33.02 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $73,273 | $35.23 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| 13 | Ohio | $67,431 | $32.42 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $73,823 | $35.49 |
| 15 | Nevada | $65,669 | $31.57 |
| 16 | Kansas | $61,250 | $29.45 |
| 17 | Alaska | $61,786 | $29.70 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $54,260 | $26.09 |
| 19 | Maryland | $59,268 | $28.49 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $70,855 | $34.06 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $59,973 | $28.83 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $55,566 | $26.71 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $54,342 | $26.13 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $55,008 | $26.45 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $52,193 | $25.09 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $58,004 | $27.89 |
| 27 | Washington | $56,531 | $27.18 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $57,218 | $27.51 |
| 29 | Oregon | $54,866 | $26.38 |
| 30 | Maine | $52,661 | $25.32 |
| 31 | Indiana | $48,249 | $23.20 |
| 32 | Michigan | $50,642 | $24.35 |
| 33 | Virginia | $52,995 | $25.48 |
| 34 | Idaho | $47,873 | $23.02 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $52,893 | $25.43 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $43,069 | $20.71 |
| 37 | Arizona | $46,660 | $22.43 |
| 38 | Illinois | $49,533 | $23.81 |
| 39 | Colorado | $48,185 | $23.17 |
| 40 | Missouri | $47,351 | $22.76 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $47,464 | $22.82 |
| 42 | Montana | $47,368 | $22.77 |
| 43 | Alabama | $45,208 | $21.73 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $45,422 | $21.84 |
| 45 | Texas | $46,125 | $22.18 |
| 46 | Florida | $44,921 | $21.60 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $46,396 | $22.31 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $45,480 | $21.87 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $44,762 | $21.52 |
| 50 | Georgia | $45,066 | $21.67 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $45,708 | $21.98 |
Highest paying cities for water quality specialists
The highest-paying cities for water quality specialists are Newark, DE, Washington, DC, and Mount Laurel, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark, DE | $72,135 | $34.68 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $70,812 | $34.04 |
| 3 | Mount Laurel, NJ | $68,138 | $32.76 |
| 4 | Los Altos, CA | $67,212 | $32.31 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $59,489 | $28.60 |
| 6 | Olympia, WA | $56,710 | $27.26 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $54,800 | $26.35 |
| 8 | Sterling, VA | $54,280 | $26.10 |
| 9 | Tulsa, OK | $52,438 | $25.21 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $48,199 | $23.17 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $48,168 | $23.16 |
| 12 | Meridian, ID | $48,166 | $23.16 |
| 13 | Scottsdale, AZ | $46,699 | $22.45 |
| 14 | Albuquerque, NM | $46,340 | $22.28 |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $46,167 | $22.20 |
| 16 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $43,050 | $20.70 |
Water quality specialist salary details
A water quality specialist's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $80,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a water quality specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| Average | $53,609 | $4,467 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying water quality specialist jobs
The highest paying types of water quality specialists 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 water quality specialists now:
Which companies pay water quality specialists the most?
Water quality specialist salaries at DC Water and City of Scottsdale are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average water quality specialist salary at companies like HDR and The Research Corporation of the University of Hawai'i are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DC Water | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| 2 | City of Scottsdale | $76,134 | $36.60 |
| 3 | HDR | $72,924 | $35.06 |
| 4 | The Research Corporation of the University of Hawai'i | $69,255 | $33.30 |
| 5 | Stantec | $69,250 | $33.29 |
| 6 | BELFOR Property Restoration | $63,195 | $30.38 |
| 7 | American Water | $62,967 | $30.27 |
| 8 | Washington State University | $61,438 | $29.54 |
| 9 | Anheuser-Busch | $56,546 | $27.19 |
| 10 | Michael & Son Services | $55,624 | $26.74 |
| 11 | Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania | $54,552 | $26.23 |
| 12 | American Leak Detection | $54,377 | $26.14 |
| 13 | City of Meridian, Idaho - Government | $54,171 | $26.04 |
| 14 | Serco | $54,125 | $26.02 |
| 15 | Colorado State Express | $54,125 | $26.02 |
| 16 | E C O | $54,076 | $26.00 |
| 17 | Americorps | $54,024 | $25.97 |
| 18 | State of West Virginia | $53,461 | $25.70 |
| 19 | California Water Service Group | $51,671 | $24.84 |
| 20 | Navarro Group | $51,216 | $24.62 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Water Quality Specialist salary by industry
The average water quality specialist salary varies across industries:
- The average water quality specialist salary in the technology industry is $60,197, the highest of any industry.
- The average water quality specialist salary in the finance industry is $58,645.
- Water quality specialists in the manufacturing industry earn an average salary of $54,316, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for water quality specialists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $60,197 | $28.94 |
| 2 | Utilities | $58,645 | $28.19 |
| 3 | Government | $56,600 | $27.21 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $54,316 | $26.11 |
High paying water quality specialist jobs
Water quality specialist salary trends
The average water quality specialist salary has risen by $9,004 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average water quality specialist earned $44,605 annually, but today, they earn $53,609 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for water quality specialists over the last decade.
Compare water quality specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average water quality specialist salary over time
Compare water quality specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Water quality specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $53,600 | $25.77 | +6.4% |
| 2024 | $50,200 | $24.12 | +4.1% |
| 2023 | $48,100 | $23.14 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | $46,200 | $22.23 | -0.7% |
| 2021 | $46,600 | $22.39 | -0.3% |
Recently added water quality specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Chattanooga | Water Quality Specialist 1 | Chattanooga, TN | 06/27/2025 | $55,264 |
| Monterey Bay Aquarium | Water Quality Specialist I, Microbiology (Term Assignment) | Monterey, CA | 06/26/2025 | $47,458 |
| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | Water Quality Specialist Trainee (Environmental Trainee) | Washington, PA | 06/25/2025 | $45,907 |
| Ignitec Inc. | Water Sampling Specialist | Gig Harbor, WA | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| State of Pennsylvania | Water Quality Specialist Trainee (Environmental Trainee)-Storage Tanks | Harrisburg, PA | 06/17/2025 | $45,907 |
| Expertwaterremoval | Water Damage Specialist | Cleveland, OH | 06/16/2025 | $37,566 |
| City of Charlotte | Water Quality Program Specialist-Field Operations | Charlotte, NC | 06/12/2025 | $78,890 |
| Department of Environmental Quality | Water Quality Monitoring Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 1)-Two Openings | Hillsboro, OR | 02/26/2025 | $52,908 |
| State of Oregon | Water Quality Monitoring Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 1)-Two Openings | Hillsboro, OR | 02/21/2025 | $52,908 |
| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | Water Quality Specialist Trainee (Environmental Trainee)-Storage Tanks | Kane, PA | 02/20/2025 | $44,890 |
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