Hydrologic Technicians Salary
In Tennessee, hydrologic technicians earn $30,780 at the median, or about $14.8 an hour. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $49K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $34,284 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 54.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Tennessee. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $31K get you in Tennessee?
About hydrologic technicians
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for hydrologic technicians in Tennessee runs about 52% below the U.S. median of $65K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 54.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for hydrologic technicianss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level hydrologic technicians (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $31K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track hydrologic technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hydrologic technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $31K, rent takes 54.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for hydrologic technicians in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hydrologic technicians typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,664/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 73% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 52% below the national median — $31K here vs. $65K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for hydrologic technicians?
Tennessee pays $31K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -52%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $34K — below the national median.
How much do hydrologic technicians make in Tennessee?
The median is $30,780 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,730, and experienced hydrologic technicians can clear $86,260. The mean (average) is $48,770, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $31K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,231/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 54.5% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $34,284 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.