Hydrologic Technicians Salary
In Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD, hydrologic technicians earn $62,450 at the median, or about $30.02 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.49), that's roughly $59,766 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,857/month, about 45.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $62K get you in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baltimore-Columbia-Towson’s Regional Price Parity (104.49). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About hydrologic technicians
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What this looks like in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Hydrologic technicians pay in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,857/month, which is 45.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 104.49) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Entry-level hydrologic technicians (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Hydrologic Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Hydrologic Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $88K | +36% | 270 |
| Washington | $85K | +32% | 70 |
| New Mexico | $80K | +23% | 50 |
| Missouri | $79K | +23% | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $74K | +14% | 60 |
| California | $71K | +9% | 300 |
| Nevada | $69K | +6% | 30 |
| Maryland | $68K | +4% | 50 |
| Georgia | $67K | +3% | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $65K | +1% | 100 |
| New Jersey | $65K | +1% | 40 |
| New York | $65K | +1% | 50 |
| Arizona | $65K | +1% | 50 |
| Kentucky | $65K | +1% | 30 |
| Louisiana | $65K | +1% | 40 |
| New Hampshire | $65K | +0% | 50 |
| Oregon | $63K | -4% | 80 |
| Florida | $62K | -5% | 240 |
| Wisconsin | $60K | -7% | 50 |
| North Carolina | $60K | -8% | 110 |
| Colorado | $57K | -12% | N/A |
| Idaho | $55K | -15% | 50 |
| Montana | $54K | -17% | 70 |
| Illinois | $53K | -18% | N/A |
| Virginia | $52K | -19% | 40 |
| Ohio | $52K | -20% | 80 |
| West Virginia | $48K | -26% | N/A |
| Tennessee | $31K | -52% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 28 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track hydrologic technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Baltimore-Columbia-Towson numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hydrologic technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 45.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,857/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for hydrologic technicians in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hydrologic technicians typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,768/month. At HUD’s $1,857/month FMR, rent would take 67% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is hydrologic technician a high-paying job in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Baltimore-Columbia-Towson compare to the national average for hydrologic technicians?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — below the national median.
How much do hydrologic technicians make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median is $62,450 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,130, and experienced hydrologic technicians can clear $98,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,119/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,857/month, which eats 45.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a hydrologic technicians salary go in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson has a Regional Price Parity of 104.49 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median hydrologic technicians salary is worth about $59,766 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do hydrologic technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.