Hydrologists Salary
In Boise City, ID, hydrologists earn $88,150 at the median, or about $42.38 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.39), that's roughly $89,592 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,655/month, or 29.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $88K get you in Boise City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boise City’s Regional Price Parity (98.39). 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 hydrologists
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What this looks like in Boise City
Hydrologists pay in Boise City tracks closely to the national median, $88K locally vs. $97K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,655/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. Cost of living (RPP 98.39) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for hydrologists in metros near Boise City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $93K | $90K |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $114K | $108K |
| Reno | $111K | $110K |
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $94K | $94K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boise City, ID
Entry-level hydrologists (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $88K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Hydrologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Hydrologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $143K | +48% | 90 |
| Virginia | $132K | +37% | 40 |
| New Jersey | $127K | +31% | N/A |
| California | $122K | +26% | 540 |
| Georgia | $122K | +26% | 30 |
| Massachusetts | $119K | +24% | 50 |
| Missouri | $116K | +20% | 50 |
| Alaska | $109K | +12% | 60 |
| Nevada | $108K | +12% | 170 |
| Washington | $106K | +9% | 350 |
| Louisiana | $105K | +8% | N/A |
| Michigan | $101K | +5% | 40 |
| Colorado | $101K | +4% | 360 |
| Ohio | $98K | +2% | 390 |
| New Mexico | $97K | +1% | 100 |
| Oklahoma | $97K | +1% | 40 |
| Minnesota | $95K | -2% | 300 |
| Wyoming | $95K | -2% | 40 |
| Utah | $94K | -2% | 80 |
| Oregon | $94K | -3% | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | $92K | -5% | 160 |
| New York | $88K | -9% | 160 |
| Arizona | $87K | -10% | 400 |
| Vermont | $86K | -11% | 50 |
| Montana | $85K | -13% | 190 |
| Illinois | $84K | -13% | 100 |
| North Carolina | $82K | -15% | 150 |
| Iowa | $81K | -16% | 50 |
| Texas | $81K | -16% | 220 |
| Indiana | $81K | -16% | 50 |
| Idaho | $79K | -18% | 160 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | -18% | 150 |
| Florida | $77K | -20% | 280 |
| South Carolina | $66K | -32% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 34 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track hydrologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Boise City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hydrologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boise City?
Yes — at the median salary of $88K, rent takes 29.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,655/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for hydrologists in Boise City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hydrologists typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,646/month. At HUD’s $1,655/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is hydrologist a high-paying job in Boise City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $88K locally vs. $97K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Boise City compare to the national average for hydrologists?
Boise City pays $88K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.39), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — below the national median.
How much do hydrologists make in Boise City, ID?
The median is $88,150 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,760, and experienced hydrologists can clear $135,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $88K enough to live in Boise City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,529/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,655/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 hydrologists salary go in Boise City?
Boise City has a Regional Price Parity of 98.39 (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 hydrologists salary is worth about $89,592 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do hydrologists 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.