Hydrologists Salary
In Madison, WI, hydrologists earn $81,310 at the median, or about $39.09 an hour. The range runs from $67K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.29), that's roughly $83,575 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,168/month, or 22.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $81K get you in Madison?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Madison’s Regional Price Parity (97.29). 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 Madison
Pay for hydrologists in Madison runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $97K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,168/month, 22.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.29) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Madison can be a reasonable trade-off for hydrologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for hydrologists in metros near Madison, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $78K | $81K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $95K | $90K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Madison, WI
Entry-level hydrologists (10th percentile) start around $67K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $49K 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 Madison numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hydrologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Madison?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 22.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,168/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for hydrologists in Madison?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hydrologists typically earn — is $67K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,032/month. At HUD’s $1,168/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is hydrologist a high-paying job in Madison?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $81K here vs. $97K nationally.
How does Madison compare to the national average for hydrologists?
Madison pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.29), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — below the national median.
How much do hydrologists make in Madison, WI?
The median is $81,310 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,200, and experienced hydrologists can clear $115,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Madison?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,194/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,168/month, which eats 22.5% 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 Madison?
Madison has a Regional Price Parity of 97.29 (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 $83,575 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.