Hydrologists Salary
In Colorado, hydrologists earn $100,840 at the median, or about $48.48 an hour. The range runs from $82K at the entry level to $202K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $97,233 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,832/month, or 28.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $101K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
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What this looks like in Colorado
Hydrologists pay in Colorado tracks closely to the national median, $101K locally vs. $97K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,832/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level hydrologists (10th percentile) start around $82K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $202K or more, a $119K spread from bottom to top.
Hydrologists salary by metro in Colorado
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $109K | +8% | 140 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a hydrologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 29.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for hydrologists in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hydrologists typically earn — is $82K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,229/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Colorado?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $101K locally vs. $97K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for hydrologists?
Colorado pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $97K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do hydrologists make in Colorado?
The median is $100,840 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $82,430, and experienced hydrologists can clear $201,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,241/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 29.4% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (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 hydrologists salary is worth about $97,233 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.