# Water Resource Specialists

> Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-resource-specialists
- SOC code: 11-9121.02
- Career family: Management
- Median annual pay: $167,220 (10th percentile $79,710, 90th percentile $316,850)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +8.2%
- Openings a year: 9,200
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Natural sciences managers".

## Interest profile (code IRC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 58 |
| Investigative (I) | 80 |
| Artistic (A) | 13 |
| Social (S) | 26 |
| Enterprising (E) | 42 |
| Conventional (C) | 53 |

## What you'd do

- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 89/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 88/100)
- Getting Information (importance 86/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 83/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 82/100)
- Processing Information (importance 76/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 75/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 75/100)
- Developing Objectives and Strategies (importance 73/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 72/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation

## Knowledge

Engineering and Technology, Mathematics, Design, Physics, Computers and Electronics, English Language, Geography, Building and Construction, Law and Government, Chemistry

## Also called

Community Resource Consultant, Environmental Resource Specialist, Hydrotechnical Specialist, Hydrotechnician, Power Supply Engineer, Resource Specialist, Water Quality Specialist, Water Resource Agent, Water Resource Consultant, Water Resource Engineering Specialist

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

- [Business Administration, Management and Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5202) (CIP 5202, 2,372 colleges)
- [Biology, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2601) (CIP 2601, 1,703 colleges)
- [Mathematics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2701) (CIP 2701, 1,483 colleges)
- [History](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5401) (CIP 5401, 1,464 colleges)
- [Chemistry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4005) (CIP 4005, 1,371 colleges)
- [Physics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4008) (CIP 4008, 956 colleges)
- [Philosophy](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3801) (CIP 3801, 911 colleges)
- [Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2602) (CIP 2602, 756 colleges)
- [Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4006) (CIP 4006, 593 colleges)
- [Applied Mathematics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2703) (CIP 2703, 426 colleges)
- [Biological and Physical Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3001) (CIP 3001, 379 colleges)
- [Neurobiology and Neurosciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2615) (CIP 2615, 363 colleges)
- [Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2613) (CIP 2613, 353 colleges)
- [Data Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3070) (CIP 3070, 323 colleges)
- [Statistics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2705) (CIP 2705, 290 colleges)
- [Sustainability Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3033) (CIP 3033, 279 colleges)
- [Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2609) (CIP 2609, 269 colleges)
- [Biotechnology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2612) (CIP 2612, 234 colleges)
- [Physical Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4001) (CIP 4001, 224 colleges)
- [Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2611) (CIP 2611, 200 colleges)
- [Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2604) (CIP 2604, 182 colleges)
- [Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5120) (CIP 5120, 175 colleges)
- [Microbiological Sciences and Immunology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2605) (CIP 2605, 169 colleges)
- [Nutrition Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3019) (CIP 3019, 167 colleges)
- [Astronomy and Astrophysics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4002) (CIP 4002, 164 colleges)
- [Natural Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3018) (CIP 3018, 153 colleges)
- [Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2699) (CIP 2699, 152 colleges)
- [Engineering Physics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1412) (CIP 1412, 145 colleges)
- [Zoology/Animal Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2607) (CIP 2607, 125 colleges)
- [Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4004) (CIP 4004, 114 colleges)
- [Mathematics and Computer Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3008) (CIP 3008, 113 colleges)
- [Computational Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3030) (CIP 3030, 109 colleges)
- [Pharmacology and Toxicology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2610) (CIP 2610, 109 colleges)
- [Genetics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2608) (CIP 2608, 91 colleges)
- [Cognitive Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3025) (CIP 3025, 84 colleges)
- [Botany/Plant Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2603) (CIP 2603, 80 colleges)
- [Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5114) (CIP 5114, 79 colleges)
- [Science, Technology and Society](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3015) (CIP 3015, 74 colleges)
- [Materials Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4010) (CIP 4010, 69 colleges)
- [Geography and Environmental Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3044) (CIP 3044, 67 colleges)
- [Mathematics and Statistics, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2799) (CIP 2799, 59 colleges)
- [Physical Sciences, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4099) (CIP 4099, 56 colleges)
- [Operations Research](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1437) (CIP 1437, 44 colleges)
- [Human Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3027) (CIP 3027, 42 colleges)
- Marine Sciences (CIP 3032, 40 colleges)
- Applied Statistics (CIP 2706, 39 colleges)
- [Biopsychology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3010) (CIP 3010, 28 colleges)
- Environmental Geosciences (CIP 3041, 17 colleges)
- Climate Science (CIP 3035, 13 colleges)
- Mathematical Economics (CIP 3049, 13 colleges)
- Molecular Medicine (CIP 2614, 10 colleges)
- Earth Systems Science (CIP 3038, 9 colleges)
- Anthrozoology (CIP 3034, 5 colleges)
- Physics and Astronomy (CIP 4011, 5 colleges)
- Geobiology (CIP 3043, 1 college)

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

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Mathematics | $130,467 | $297,029 | $13,875 |
| [Harvard University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/harvard-university-1157) | Statistics | not reported | $230,876 | not reported |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Mathematics | $141,075 | $174,951 | not reported |
| [University of Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-chicago-2895) | Mathematics | not reported | $172,826 | $12,000 |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Mathematics | $93,979 | $168,580 | $12,500 |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | Operations Research | $125,285 | $167,572 | not reported |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Cognitive Science | not reported | $162,106 | not reported |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Applied Mathematics | $135,449 | $157,822 | $8,125 |

## Related careers

- [Water/Wastewater Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-wastewater-engineers): $100,840 median pay
- [Industrial Ecologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-ecologists): $82,220 median pay
- [Conservation Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/conservation-scientists): $73,010 median pay
- [Environmental Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-engineers): $107,110 median pay
- [Hydrologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hydrologists): $96,600 median pay
- [Environmental Restoration Planners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-restoration-planners): $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.