Hydrologic technicians

SOC Code: 19-4044
Also known as:
Field Technician (Field Tech), GIS Technician (Geographic Information System Technician), Groundwater Monitoring Technician, Hydro Operator, Hydrographer
Median Annual Salary
$58,570
-2.1% growth (2024-2034)
400
Openings/Year
3K
Current Jobs

What Hydrologic technicians Do

Collect and organize data concerning the distribution and circulation of ground and surface water, and data on its physical, chemical, and biological properties. Measure and report on flow rates and ground water levels, maintain field equipment, collect water samples, install and collect sampling equipment, and process samples for shipment to testing laboratories. May collect data on behalf of hydrologists, engineers, developers, government agencies, or agriculture.

💰 Salary

$58,570
Median annual wage (2024)

📈 Job Growth

-2.1%
Decline

🎓 Education

Associate's degree
Typical entry-level requirement

🚀 Annual Openings

400
Projected average per year

📚 On-the-Job Training

Moderate-term on-the-job training
Expected training period

Employment Projections (2024-2034)

Current Employment (2024)

3,100

Projected Employment (2034)

3,000

Related Careers

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$92,060 • -0.1% growth
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Geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians

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Technology & Tools

Adobe Acrobat ESRI ArcGIS software Microsoft Access Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word

📚 Entry-Level Education

Associate's degree
Most common requirement

Degree Programs for Hydrologic technicians

These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a hydrologic technicians:

Science Technologies/Technicians, Other

2,518 degrees awarded • 56 colleges offer this program
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Hydrology and Water Resources Science

220 degrees awarded • 37 colleges offer this program
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Science Technologies/Technicians, General

102 degrees awarded • 17 colleges offer this program
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Best Colleges for Becoming a Hydrologic technicians

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become hydrologic technicians.

# College Location Related Degrees Repit Grade
1 Northwestern University Evanston, IL 21 A
2 University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 5 A
3 Duke University Durham, NC 5 A
4 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 4 A
5 United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO 2 A
6 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN 34 B+
7 Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX 14 B+
8 North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC 9 B+
9 University of California-Davis Davis, CA 8 B+
10 Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH 7 B+
11 Kean University Union, NJ 58 B
12 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 43 B
13 Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ 39 B
14 Colorado School of Mines Golden, CO 12 B
15 Baylor University Waco, TX 11 B
16 New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, NM 10 B
17 University of Nevada-Reno Reno, NV 8 B
18 University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT 6 B
19 Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 6 B
20 Salisbury University Salisbury, MD 6 B

Want this ranking as a spreadsheet? Investor Pro+ members can export any Repit table to CSV. See plans →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do hydrologic technicians make?
The median annual salary for hydrologic technicians is $58,570.
What education do hydrologic technicians need?
Most hydrologic technicians positions require a associate's degree. Common degree programs include Science Technologies/Technicians, Other, Hydrology and Water Resources Science, Science Technologies/Technicians, General.
Is becoming hydrologic technicians a good career choice?
Hydrologic technicians is projected to see -2.1% job growth from 2024 to 2034, which reflects some decline in the field. With approximately 400 job openings expected annually, there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for hydrologic technicians?
Top colleges for aspiring hydrologic technicians include Northwestern University, University of California-Santa Barbara, Duke University, The University of Texas at Austin, United States Air Force Academy. These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to hydrologic technicians?
Hydrologic technicians may also be known as: Field Technician (Field Tech), GIS Technician (Geographic Information System Technician), Groundwater Monitoring Technician, Hydro Operator, Hydrographer, Hydrography Technician, Hydrologic Aid, Hydrologic Technician. These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.