Hydrologists Salary
In Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN, hydrologists earn $80,700 at the median, or about $38.8 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.7), that's roughly $84,326 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,473/month, or 28.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $81K get you in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood’s Regional Price Parity (95.7). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood
Pay for hydrologists in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $97K. Rent runs $1,473/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 95.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for hydrologists in metros near Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, adjusted for local cost of living.
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN
Entry-level hydrologists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $54K 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
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 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a hydrologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 28.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,473/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for hydrologists in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hydrologists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,757/month. At HUD’s $1,473/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $81K here vs. $97K nationally.
How does Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood compare to the national average for hydrologists?
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 95.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — below the national median.
How much do hydrologists make in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN?
The median is $80,700 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,620, and experienced hydrologists can clear $116,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,225/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,473/month, which eats 28.2% 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 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood?
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood has a Regional Price Parity of 95.7 (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 $84,326 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.