Hydrologic Technicians Salary
In Wisconsin, hydrologic technicians earn $60,100 at the median, or about $28.89 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $63,712 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 30.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Wisconsin. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $60K get you in Wisconsin?
About hydrologic technicians
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Hydrologic technicians pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $60K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,202/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level hydrologic technicians (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track hydrologic technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hydrologic technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 29.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for hydrologic technicians in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hydrologic technicians typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,420/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $60K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for hydrologic technicians?
Wisconsin pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do hydrologic technicians make in Wisconsin?
The median is $60,100 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,330, and experienced hydrologic technicians can clear $91,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,016/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 29.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a hydrologic technicians salary go in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $63,712 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.