Hydrologic Technicians Salary
In Champaign-Urbana, IL, hydrologic technicians earn $54,200 at the median, or about $26.06 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.7), which stretches that salary to about $58,468 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,122/month, about 31.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $54K get you in Champaign-Urbana?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Champaign-Urbana’s Regional Price Parity (92.7). 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 Champaign-Urbana
Pay for hydrologic technicians in Champaign-Urbana runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $65K. Rent runs $1,122/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Champaign-Urbana, IL
Entry-level hydrologic technicians (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $67K or more, a $17K 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 York | $65K | +1% | 50 |
| New Jersey | $65K | +1% | 40 |
| 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
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 Champaign-Urbana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hydrologic technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Champaign-Urbana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 31.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,122/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for hydrologic technicians in Champaign-Urbana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hydrologic technicians typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,996/month. At HUD’s $1,122/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Champaign-Urbana?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $54K here vs. $65K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Champaign-Urbana compare to the national average for hydrologic technicians?
Champaign-Urbana pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do hydrologic technicians make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The median is $54,200 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,940, and experienced hydrologic technicians can clear $67,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Champaign-Urbana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,575/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,122/month, which eats 31.4% 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 Champaign-Urbana?
Champaign-Urbana has a Regional Price Parity of 92.7 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median hydrologic technicians salary is worth about $58,468 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.