# Hydrologic Technicians

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hydrologic-technicians
- SOC code: 19-4044.00
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $64,790 (10th percentile $44,950, 90th percentile $100,480)
- Projected growth: Decline, -1.3%
- Openings a year: 400
- Typical entry education: Associate's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 75 |
| Investigative (I) | 65 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 11 |
| Enterprising (E) | 8 |
| Conventional (C) | 71 |

## Also called

Field Technician (Field Tech), GIS Technician (Geographic Information System Technician), Groundwater Monitoring Technician, Hydro Operator, Hydrographer, Hydrography Technician, Hydrologic Aid, Hydrologic Technician

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4006) (CIP 4006, 593 colleges)
- [Physical Science Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4103) (CIP 4103, 97 colleges)
- [Science Technologies/Technicians, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4199) (CIP 4199, 90 colleges)
- Science Technologies/Technicians, General (CIP 4100, 28 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Alaska Anchorage](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-alaska-anchorage-2863) | Science Technologies/Technicians, Other | not reported | $90,046 | not reported |
| [University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-oklahoma-norman-campus-main-campus-3007) | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | not reported | $85,207 | $25,142 |
| [The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-main-campus-2764) | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $46,634 | $83,481 | $13,000 |
| [University of California-Los Angeles UCLA](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-los-angeles-ucla-2884) | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | not reported | $79,143 | not reported |
| [Arizona State University Campus Immersion](https://www.collegesref.com/college/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion-101) | Science Technologies/Technicians, Other | $68,500 | $76,495 | $19,683 |
| [Arizona State University Digital Immersion](https://www.collegesref.com/college/arizona-state-university-digital-immersion-102) | Science Technologies/Technicians, Other | $68,500 | $76,495 | $19,683 |
| [Campbell University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/campbell-university-388) | Science Technologies/Technicians, Other | $66,256 | $75,425 | $20,827 |
| [University of Wisconsin-Stout](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-wisconsin-stout-3091) | Science Technologies/Technicians, Other | $36,352 | $74,697 | $26,000 |

## Related careers

- [Hydrologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hydrologists): $96,600 median pay
- [Water/Wastewater Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-wastewater-engineers): $100,840 median pay
- [Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/geological-technicians-except-hydrologic-technicians): $53,350 median pay
- [Water Resource Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-resource-specialists): $167,220 median pay
- [Conservation Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/conservation-scientists): $73,010 median pay
- [Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-scientists-and-specialists-including-health): $82,220 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.