What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Hydrologists in the U.S. earn more than $96,600 a year — the middle 80% land between $64,020 and $153,130. About 5,850 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Hydrologists”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$96,600typical pay / year
5,850people in this work
$153,130+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Analysing5
Record and analyze water resource data
+Compile the field logger CSVs, sensor maintenance notes and lab results for the Little Willow watershed,…
Record and analyze water resource data
+Compile the field logger CSVs, sensor maintenance notes and lab results for the Little Willow watershed, check station metadata and QA flags, run the trend decomposition, then produce a concise report of baseflow, peak flow and storage changes for the water resources team by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Manage drainage basin sustainability
+Assemble land use, soil, slope and stream network layers for the South Fork basin, run a resilience…
Manage drainage basin sustainability
+Assemble land use, soil, slope and stream network layers for the South Fork basin, run a resilience assessment to identify erosion and recharge hotspots, then write prioritized interventions for the watershed council with maps and expected impact scores by Friday.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Develop methods for water forecasting
+Prototype a runoff forecasting routine using recent hourly rainfall and soil moisture records, test alternate…
Develop methods for water forecasting
+Prototype a runoff forecasting routine using recent hourly rainfall and soil moisture records, test alternate parameter sets against the last two storm events, and deliver the validated routine with performance metrics and implementation notes to the modelling lead on Tuesday.
The tools that do the workC++job descriptionsWikipedia
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Forecast water supply levels
+Produce a four-week water supply outlook for the municipal supply, integrating reservoir levels, upstream…
Forecast water supply levels
+Produce a four-week water supply outlook for the municipal supply, integrating reservoir levels, upstream inflows and forecasted demand, quantify uncertainty bands, and circulate the outlook and recommended restrictions to the water utility director by Friday morning.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsWikipedia
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Use computer modeling for water systems
+Calibrate the groundwater flow model for Wellfield 7 using the latest observation borehole heads and pump…
Use computer modeling for water systems
+Calibrate the groundwater flow model for Wellfield 7 using the latest observation borehole heads and pump tests, run scenario runs for winter pumping and convey the model updates, assumptions and risk notes to the environmental impact review team within three days.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCAD Civil 3Djob descriptionsWikipedia
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Learning1
Study the water cycle and water resources
+Synthesize recent precipitation, evaporation and streamflow records for the county into a short narrative…
Study the water cycle and water resources
+Synthesize recent precipitation, evaporation and streamflow records for the county into a short narrative explaining seasonal storage shifts and recharge implications, flagging any gaps in the record and recommended additional monitoring for the regional water manager next Monday.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISMicrosoft WordESCOjob descriptionsWikipedia
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The daily work14
Supervise data collection activities
+Schedule and oversee this week's field crews mapping stream gauges and borehole locations, confirm each team…
Supervise data collection activities
+Schedule and oversee this week's field crews mapping stream gauges and borehole locations, confirm each team has the GPS log, chain of custody forms, and the data template completed before they leave, and call Jason at 07:00 if any sensor fails.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Estimate underground water volume
+Run the groundwater volume calculations for the North Pit aquifer using the latest cross‑section…
Estimate underground water volume
+Run the groundwater volume calculations for the North Pit aquifer using the latest cross‑section hydrostratigraphic model, produce a conservative and best‑estimate number with assumptions noted, and email the two figures and the calculation sheet to Marta by Wednesday noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESRI ArcGISjob descriptions
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Collect samples for contamination analysis
+Prepare the sample run for the contamination survey at Well Cluster B: list required bottles and…
Collect samples for contamination analysis
+Prepare the sample run for the contamination survey at Well Cluster B: list required bottles and preservatives, assign Tim and Aisha to morning shifts, generate the chain of custody forms, and confirm lab pickup for next business day before crews leave site.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESRI ArcGISjob descriptions
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Support environmental engineering projects
+Compile the groundwater inputs needed for the remediation design: extract monitoring well trends, prepare a…
Support environmental engineering projects
+Compile the groundwater inputs needed for the remediation design: extract monitoring well trends, prepare a one‑page summary of contaminant plumes and flow directions, attach the monitoring dataset and send to Priya and the design engineer with request for integration into the engineering model by Friday.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISMicrosoft WordWikipedia
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Keep mine workings free of nuisance water
+Set up a weekly dewatering check for the West Decline: review last 48 hours of pump logs and piezometer…
Keep mine workings free of nuisance water
+Set up a weekly dewatering check for the West Decline: review last 48 hours of pump logs and piezometer readings, adjust target pumping schedule with the mine foreman to keep workings dry overnight, and file the adjusted plan in the project folder.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCO
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Identify GIS issues
+Audit the regional GIS layers tagged for the remediation study: run a topology and attribute completeness…
Identify GIS issues
+Audit the regional GIS layers tagged for the remediation study: run a topology and attribute completeness check, flag any mismatched coordinate systems or missing metadata, and send a corrected layer list and notes to Sam and the GIS team by Tuesday afternoon.
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Oversee drilling of test wells
+Oversee drilling of the three test wells at Pine Ridge site tomorrow, confirm drill logs, lithology samples,…
Oversee drilling of test wells
+Oversee drilling of the three test wells at Pine Ridge site tomorrow, confirm drill logs, lithology samples, and well construction meet the site plan and permit conditions, stop work if artesian flow or contamination is detected.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISjob descriptionsO*NET
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Prepare written and oral reports describing research results, using illustrations, maps, appendices, and other information.
+Prepare the written and oral research report on the groundwater tracer study, include site maps,…
Prepare written and oral reports describing research results, using illustrations, maps, appendices, and other information.
+Prepare the written and oral research report on the groundwater tracer study, include site maps, cross-sections, sampling appendices, and a ten‑slide briefing for the county board next Tuesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft PowerPointO*NET
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Coordinate and supervise the work of professional and technical staff, including research assistants, technologists, and technicians.
+Coordinate and supervise Jane, Carlos, and two technicians on the contaminant plume study this week, assign…
Coordinate and supervise the work of professional and technical staff, including research assistants, technologists, and technicians.
+Coordinate and supervise Jane, Carlos, and two technicians on the contaminant plume study this week, assign field sampling, ensure QA/QC paperwork is completed, and hold the Friday check‑in to resolve equipment or permit issues.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Monitor the work of well contractors, exploratory borers, and engineers and enforce rules regarding their activities.
+Monitor McKenna Drilling and GeoProbe crews during well installation at Lakeview, review daily contractor…
Monitor the work of well contractors, exploratory borers, and engineers and enforce rules regarding their activities.
+Monitor McKenna Drilling and GeoProbe crews during well installation at Lakeview, review daily contractor reports against the drilling permit and our borehole log template, and enforce suspension if casing or annular seals are not installed as specified.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCAD Civil 3DO*NET
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Investigate properties, origins, and activities of glaciers, ice, snow, and permafrost.
+Investigate the Little Glacier field transect next week, collect ice and permafrost cores, document…
Investigate properties, origins, and activities of glaciers, ice, snow, and permafrost.
+Investigate the Little Glacier field transect next week, collect ice and permafrost cores, document stratigraphy and melt features, and produce a brief explaining origins and likely seasonal activity for the research archive.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Conduct short- and long-term climate assessments and study storm occurrences.
+Conduct the storm and climate assessment for the watershed, compile short‑ and long‑term precipitation and…
Conduct short- and long-term climate assessments and study storm occurrences.
+Conduct the storm and climate assessment for the watershed, compile short‑ and long‑term precipitation and streamflow trends, flag recent extreme events, and deliver a one‑page summary and dataset for the planning team by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Create GIS reports
+Produce the quarterly GIS assessment for the Little Creek watershed: compile the latest shapefiles, check…
Create GIS reports
+Produce the quarterly GIS assessment for the Little Creek watershed: compile the latest shapefiles, check layer projections and attribute consistency, map contaminated well sites, calculate contaminant plume extents, attach methodology notes, and export a print-ready report by next Tuesday.
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Geographic information systems
+Assemble the GIS dataset for the Upper Valley remediation project: validate coordinate systems, fix topology…
Geographic information systems
+Assemble the GIS dataset for the Upper Valley remediation project: validate coordinate systems, fix topology errors, digitise missing monitoring wells, derive groundwater elevation surfaces, produce QA notes and deliver the geodatabase and a one-page site map by Friday afternoon.
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