Hydrologists Salary
In North Carolina, hydrologists earn $81,770 at the median, or about $39.31 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $111K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $88,247 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 24.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $82K get you in North Carolina?
About hydrologists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for hydrologists in North Carolina runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $97K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 24.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, North Carolina can be a reasonable trade-off for hydrologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level hydrologists (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $111K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track hydrologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a hydrologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 24.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for hydrologists in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hydrologists typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,859/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $82K here vs. $97K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for hydrologists?
North Carolina pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — below the national median.
How much do hydrologists make in North Carolina?
The median is $81,770 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,320, and experienced hydrologists can clear $111,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,186/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 24.8% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $88,247 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.