Career
Hydrologic technicians
Measure rivers, groundwater and water quality.
Here's what you actually need to know.
The work
What people in this job 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.
The outlook
How the forecast changed this year
Paths in
Degrees that lead here
- Geology and Earth SciencesSee the degree →
- Hydrology and Water Resources ScienceCIP 40.0605
- Science Technologies/Technicians, GeneralCIP 41.0000
- Physical Science Technologies/Technicians, OtherCIP 41.0399
- Science Technologies/Technicians, OtherCIP 41.9999
Paths across
Careers that use similar skills
- Hydrologists$96,600 · +1.5%
- Water/Wastewater Engineers
- Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians$53,350 · +3.6%
- Water Resource Specialists
- Conservation Scientists$73,010 · +5.3%
Ask anything about this career.
“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.
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Sources
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.