Hydrologic Technicians Salary
In Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO, hydrologic technicians earn $52,300 at the median, or about $25.15 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.78), so that salary is closer to $49,442 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,169/month, about 61.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $52K actually covers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Denver-Aurora-Centennial’s Regional Price Parity (105.78). 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial
Pay for hydrologic technicians in Denver-Aurora-Centennial runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $65K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,169/month, which is 62.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.78), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for hydrologic technicians.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level hydrologic technicians (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $38K 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 annually. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a hydrologic technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 62.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,169/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for hydrologic technicians in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hydrologic technicians typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,480/month. At HUD’s $2,169/month FMR, rent would take 62% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $52K here vs. $65K nationally.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for hydrologic technicians?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — below the national median.
How much do hydrologic technicians make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $52,300 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,300, and experienced hydrologic technicians can clear $90,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,480/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,169/month, which eats 62.3% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 105.78 (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 $49,442 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.