Hydrologists Salary
In Ohio, hydrologists earn $98,200 at the median, or about $47.21 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $107,381 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 19.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $98K actually covers in Ohio, month by month
About hydrologists
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What this looks like in Ohio
Hydrologists pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $98K locally vs. $97K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 18.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level hydrologists (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $70K spread from bottom to top.
Hydrologists salary by metro in Ohio
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $99K | +1% | N/A |
| Columbus | $98K | +0% | 170 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Ohio 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 Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 18.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for hydrologists in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hydrologists typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,160/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is hydrologist a high-paying job in Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $98K locally vs. $97K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for hydrologists?
Ohio pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do hydrologists make in Ohio?
The median is $98,200 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,800, and experienced hydrologists can clear $131,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,288/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 18.9% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $107,381 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.