Hydrologists Salary
In Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO, hydrologists earn $108,680 at the median, or about $52.25 an hour. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $202K for experienced workers.
Where the paycheck goes
What $109K actually covers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, month by month
About hydrologists
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for hydrologists in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $90K | $87K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level hydrologists (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $109K. Top earners bring in $202K or more, a $118K 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 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 hydrologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Yes — at the median salary of $109K, rent takes 20% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,337/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for hydrologists in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hydrologists typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,285/month.
Is hydrologist a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $109K here vs. $97K nationally.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for hydrologists?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $109K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s +13%.
How much do hydrologists make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $108,680 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,440, and experienced hydrologists can clear $201,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $109K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,672/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,337/month, which eats 20% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median hydrologists salary is worth about $108,680 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.