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Job outlook for water resource project managers in the United States
Are water resource project manager jobs in demand?
Water resource project manager job and salary trends over time
Water resource project manager jobs over time
Water resource project manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 34 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 30 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 27 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 25 | 0.00% |
Average water resource project manager salary over time
Water resource project manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $88,678 | $42.63 | +6.8% |
| 2024 | $82,995 | $39.90 | +4.2% |
| 2023 | $79,626 | $38.28 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $76,483 | $36.77 | --0.7% |
| 2021 | $77,048 | $37.04 | --0.3% |
Water resource project manager jobs by state
Most common states for water resource project managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 280 | 40% |
| 2 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 169 | 22% |
| 3 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,146 | 21% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 268 | 20% |
| 5 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 354 | 18% |
| 6 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,724 | 17% |
| 7 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 346 | 17% |
| 8 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 269 | 16% |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 856 | 15% |
| 10 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 458 | 15% |
| 11 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 449 | 15% |
| 12 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 3,834 | 14% |
| 13 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,640 | 14% |
| 14 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 929 | 14% |
| 15 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 866 | 14% |
| 16 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 185 | 14% |
| 17 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 123 | 14% |
| 18 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 384 | 13% |
| 19 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 819 | 12% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 63 | 11% |
Most common cities for water resource project managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herndon | 1 | 4% | $95,996 |
| 2 | Silver Spring | 2 | 3% | $91,672 |
| 3 | Englewood | 1 | 3% | $81,762 |
| 4 | Ankeny | 1 | 2% | $92,911 |
| 5 | Harrisburg | 1 | 2% | $86,281 |
| 6 | Noblesville | 1 | 2% | $70,542 |
| 7 | Tampa | 2 | 1% | $75,474 |
| 8 | Bismarck | 1 | 1% | $89,781 |
| 9 | Grand Rapids | 1 | 1% | $71,310 |
| 10 | Quincy | 1 | 1% | $105,143 |
| 11 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $76,041 |
| 12 | Cincinnati | 1 | 0% | $95,928 |
| 13 | Dallas | 1 | 0% | $74,770 |
| 14 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $81,673 |
| 15 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $70,487 |
| 16 | Irvine | 1 | 0% | $103,258 |
| 17 | Philadelphia | 1 | 0% | $87,054 |
| 18 | Raleigh | 1 | 0% | $84,166 |
| 19 | Sacramento | 1 | 0% | $111,275 |
| 20 | San Diego | 1 | 0% | $102,088 |
Water Resource Project Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of water resource project manager experts
Kansas State University
Hawaii Pacific University
University of Kansas
What Water Resource Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Lincoln Larson Ph.D.: Natural resource management is an applied field, so gaining real-world experience is critical. Try out a few temporary jobs or internships to get a better sense of what you enjoy doing. Whether it's field work, analysis and reporting, outreach and engagement, or something else, you might not discover your strengths and preferences until you get your feet wet or get your boots muddy. Be flexible. Your dream job is unlikely to emerge right away, but gaining experience in a variety of places/contexts and building a professional network of connections will ultimately help you find it. Embrace the unexpected, as that's one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of working outdoors.
What will help Water Resource Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Lincoln Larson Ph.D.: Few people enter the field of natural resource management for the money, but if you want to earn more in this field, it's important to think about when/how to pursue an advanced degree (e.g., MS or PhD). That increases your potential for upward mobility within an agency or organization. Building leadership skills, including communication, is also important. Many natural resource professionals are not trained to interact with and lead people, but those are the skills required in a managerial role. Taking courses or adding a minor in a field like parks, recreation and tourism management can help build skills in these areas.
What general advice would you give to a Water Resource Project Manager?
Nathan Hendricks: Look for a position that has opportunities for upward mobility.
What Water Resource Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nathan Hendricks: Data analytics and interdisciplinary training will become increasingly important. Decisions are increasingly being informed by data and natural resource management requires knowledge across a broad range of disciplines.
What will help Water Resource Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Nathan Hendricks: This field is constantly evolving, so keep looking for opportunities to learn and grow.
What general advice would you give to a Water Resource Project Manager?
Charles Martin PhD: A career in Natural Resources Management can seem like a daunting task at first, but preparation is key. Our MS program at the University of South Alabama in Marine Conservation and Resource Management emphasizes relevant coursework, the development of technical and applied skills, and networking opportunities through internships and professional meetings. We’ve found this to dramatically enhance a student's success in joining a workforce immediately out of a graduate degree and have a near-100% placement after graduating from our program.
What Water Resource Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Brenden Holland: Professional Resource Managers can enjoy a sense of gratification that accompanies careers that focus on 'making a difference'. Namely, striving for the overarching objectives of understanding causes of environmental challenges, and doing something about this damage, by improving and restoring our natural ecosystems for future generations. There is a somewhat pervasive feeling of helplessness in our society in the face of many large-scale challenges that are incessantly portrayed in the media. But the sense of satisfaction that comes from engaging in work that seeks positive change is a definite perk. The only associated negative aspect I am aware of in this field is two-fold, on the one hand, the lack of public awareness of the dire consequences of 'business as usual' in terms of environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity; and the lack of sufficient resources and available funding for science-based solutions to address these challenges can be frustrating!
What will help Water Resource Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Brenden Holland: This is an industry that is undergoing massive growth, and there is an unprecedented need for expansion of this workforce. There is broad consensus that environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity on a global scale has reached a crisis point. One term used for the era we are living in is the Anthropocene, defining our current geological age as an era where human activity is having an unprecedented, massive impact on climate and the environment. Now is the best time in history to enter this field!
Dr. Melissa Price
Associate ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to a Water Resource Project Manager?
Dr. Melissa Price: If you can identify a need and start a nonprofit or for profit business to fill that need, there is huge salary potential. For example, in natural resource management much of the work is contracted out to various sectors. If you live in a rural or remote island area such as Hawai'i, many of these contractors need to be flown in from outside the area, dramatically increasing costs. If you can develop a local business model to meet these needs, you essentially will have a corner on the market. Examples include heavy machinery, genetic analysis services, water testing services, certification training, decision analysis and facilitation, native plant nurseries, biosecurity, and helicopter services for transportation and materials delivery to remote work sites. Any preparation that demonstrates capacity for leadership positions will help you obtain positions beyond entry level technicians. Specialized skills will also help you negotiate salaries. While a solid understanding of the scientific aspects of the job are important, many higher level positions require an understanding of project management. Coursework or internships that include use of spreadsheets, preparation of reports, or team management will demonstrate that you can quickly move into project management positions.
What Water Resource Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Melissa Price: Basic field skills will always be in high demand and will help you obtain entry level positions. For example, bird banding, herbicide, chainsaw, and wildfire certifications are often items that employers need to train you in immediately after hire. Thus, candidates who already have these certifications save employers time and money up front. Further, if you develop these skills to a level where you are certified to train others, you will be in particularly high demand. 'Soft skill' development such as writing skills, verbal communication, visual presentations, graphics, team-building, and networking are critical to solving the challenging problems we face in natural resource management. In particular, seek out training in the field of 'Decision Analysis', to prepare you for making challenging decisions in the face of uncertainty.
What will help Water Resource Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Melissa Price: As the human population grows from 8 billion to 12 billion people during your lifetime, your choice of working in the natural resource management sector will be in high demand and critical to thriving communities. Given the high needs in this area, creative integration of your passions and skills will be particularly helpful in driving innovation in this field. More than ever, we need people with strong communication and engagement skills, alongside technical and social innovation. While in school, seek out diverse internships that help you develop skills and networks. While maximizing salary potential is important, as you begin your career choose positions that build skills and/or make a difference on issues you care about. Even with a good salary, solving real problems can be emotionally and mentally challenging. Development of healthy life skills, time management, and social networks are as important to your success as skills developed in the academic sector.
What soft skills should all Water Resource Project Managers possess?
Milena Stanislavova Ph.D.: Working and collaborating in groups, presenting to different audiences, writing technical reports, grant applications and researching new topics are all essential soft skills. Much of today's world relies on data, so collecting, summarizing, organizing and presenting data is also an important soft skill that is becoming quite fundamental.