How to hire a water resources engineer

How to hire a water resources engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step water resources engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a water resources engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new water resources engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a water resources engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a water resources engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

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   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a water resources engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a water resources engineer that fits the bill.

   This list presents water resources engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Water Resources Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Water Resources Engineer	Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. They are involved in efforts to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water and air pollution control.	$27-53
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62
   Water/Wastewater Engineer	Water/wastewater engineers are professionals who are responsible for designing treatment facilities that dispose of wastewater and sewage to prevent flood-related damage and provide portable water. These engineers are required to perform hydraulic modeling and pipeline design as well as map out the water distribution system using AutoCAD... Show more	$27-60

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hec Ras
   • Hydrologic
   • Civil Engineering
   • GIS
   • HEC-RAS
   • Autocad
   • ArcGIS
   • Water Quality
   • SWMM
   • Stormwater Management
   • HEC-HMS
   • Project Management
   • Engineering Design
   • Cost Estimates

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage utilities and wastewater, infrastructure and cost savings projects from ideas to complete projects.
   • Develop interior drainage studies using HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS models for levee certifications and levee analysis for certification.
   • Perform QC activities on the data submit by subconsultant.
   • Insure all EPA require data warehousing and reports are maintain.
   • Design conveyance systems for potable, fire and recycle water.
   • Prepare engineering reports, specifications, datasheets, and AutoCAD design drawings.

   More water resources engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your water resources engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A water resources engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, water resources engineers' average salary in missouri is 38% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level water resources engineers earn 48% less than senior-level water resources engineers.
   • Certifications. A water resources engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a water resources engineer's salary.

   Average water resources engineer salary

   $80,432yearly

   $38.67 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level water resources engineer salary

   $58,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average water resources engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$104,694	$50
   2	Maine	$96,117	$46
   3	District of Columbia	$93,762	$45
   4	Washington	$88,051	$42
   5	Texas	$87,958	$42
   6	Louisiana	$87,572	$42
   7	Massachusetts	$86,275	$41
   8	Arizona	$85,254	$41
   9	Oregon	$84,482	$41
   10	New Jersey	$80,031	$38
   11	Colorado	$79,963	$38
   12	Maryland	$79,710	$38
   13	Virginia	$79,563	$38
   14	New York	$77,753	$37
   15	Pennsylvania	$76,455	$37
   16	Illinois	$75,685	$36
   17	Florida	$72,564	$35
   18	Montana	$71,921	$35
   19	Georgia	$71,159	$34
   20	Utah	$71,156	$34

   Average water resources engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Oak Ridge National Laboratory	$95,678	$46.00
   2	ERG	$91,050	$43.77	7
   3	Parsons	$90,519	$43.52	13
   4	Dynamics	$89,378	$42.97
   5	Northrop Grumman	$87,262	$41.95	11
   6	ATCS	$86,690	$41.68
   7	California Department of Technology	$85,870	$41.28
   8	Albemarle	$85,732	$41.22
   9	Ormat Technologies	$85,522	$41.12
   10	Parkhill	$84,554	$40.65	12
   11	Rizzo Services	$82,852	$39.83
   12	Nolte & Associates Inc	$82,811	$39.81
   13	P B Holdings	$82,811	$39.81
   14	Colorado State Express	$82,811	$39.81
   15	CONSOR Engineers	$82,811	$39.81	6
   16	URS E&C Holdings Inc	$82,811	$39.81
   17	Amec Foster Wheeler	$82,811	$39.81
   18	Jacobs Enterprises	$82,801	$39.81	114
   19	The Davey Tree Expert Company	$82,616	$39.72	6
   20	CDM Smith	$82,506	$39.67	327

4. Writing a water resources engineer job description

   A job description for a water resources engineer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a water resources engineer job description:

   Water resources engineer job description example

   Qualifications: The successful candidate must have at least a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering, or a related engineering field with 0 to 4 years of experience in the water resources engineering field that includes hydrology and hydraulics (H&H) studies/design experience. The candidate must be an Engineer-In-Training and have experience in supporting engineering and design services. Additional qualifications include the following:

   • Excellent oral and written communication skills
   • Course work in hydrology and hydraulics
   • Practical application of the various H&H software, including HEC-RAS and CUHP/SWMM
   • Experience in drainage analysis, planning and design
   • Experience with civil design and site grading/layout
   • Experience with AutoCAD and GIS is preferred.

   We enjoy flexible work hours and have an open office environment to share ideas.

   Compensation: Typical salary range for this position is $62,000 to $70,000. Compensation for the role will depend on several factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience and may fall outside of the range shown. Salary depends on experience and expertise. Compensation includes a comprehensive fringe-benefits package that consists of medical, vision, dental, holidays, paid leave, 401(k) Plan, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), continuing education, and professional societies. RESPEC is a 100% employee-owned company and employees are eligible for participation in the ESOP after a qualifying period.

   Interviews: Interviews will be by appointment only.

   Compensation for the role will depend on several factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience and may fall outside of the range shown. Compensation includes a comprehensive fringe-benefits package that consists of medical, vision, dental, holidays, paid leave, 401(k) Plan, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), continuing education, and professional societies. RESPEC is a 100% employee-owned company and employees are eligible for participation in the ESOP after a qualifying period.

   Interviews: Interviews will be by appointment only. Recruiters, please do not contact this job poster. Please do not contact us with unsolicited services or offers.

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5. Post your job

   To find water resources engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any water resources engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level water resources engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your water resources engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit water resources engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit water resources engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new water resources engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the water resources engineer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new water resources engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a water resources engineer?