Hydrologic technicians spend much of their work time in the great outdoors.
Hydrologic technicians play a major role in maintaining the cleanliness and safety of public water supplies. These professionals perform both chemical and physical tests to evaluate the quality and flow of water for drinking, recreation and environmental purposes. Hydrologic technicians often work under the direction of a hydrologist or other geological professional, with many employed by the U.S. Geological Survey.
USGS Hydrologic Technicians
The U.S. Geological Survey pays hydrologic technicians based on different pay grades of the federal employee salary scale. Technicians with a high school diploma and three months of experience fall within Grade 2 of the pay scale, which indicates a median annual salary of $22,284 as of July 2011. Those with at least 6 months of experience or 1 year of college fall within Grade 3 of the pay scale and receive a median salary of $25,116. To qualify for the $31,544 median salary of Grade 5, hydrologic technicians must hold a bachelor's degree, while those with graduate-level degrees or significant experience earn a median salary of $35,162 at Grade 6 of the pay scale.
Average Salary
Hydrologic technicians who work for organizations other than the U.S. Geological Survey may earn a higher salary. Technicians in Arizona could earn an average wage of $21.86 per hour, or $45,470 annually, as of 2011, according to Gateway Community College estimates. An April 2011 job posting by Texas A&M University reveals an annual salary of $38,790 for a hydrologic technician with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
Hydrologist Salaries
All hydrologists, as of May 2010, earned an average salary of $38.11 per hour, or $79,280 annually, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These professionals generally have more experience or education than technicians, and may supervise a team of one or more technicians or assistants. The median wage for this position was $36.39 per hour, or $75,690 per year over the same period. The highest 10 percent of earners received $112,490, while the lowest 10 percent earned $48,280.
Salary by Specialization
Hydrologists earn different average salaries depending on the field in which they work. For example, hydrologists employed in colleges and other educational organizations earned an average of $74,730 as of May 2010. Those employed by architectural or engineering firms earned $81,760, while hydrologists working as consultants earned an average of $82,300. Hydrologists working for the federal government received an average annual salary of $82,900 as of May 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Tags: Hydrologic technicians, annual salary, earned average, Geological Survey, Grade scale, median salary, according Bureau
