Hydrologists Salary
In Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA, hydrologists earn $93,340 at the median, or about $44.87 an hour. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.67), that's roughly $90,036 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,960/month, about 31.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $93K get you in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater’s Regional Price Parity (103.67). 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 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater
Hydrologists pay in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater tracks closely to the national median, $93K locally vs. $97K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,960/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.67) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for hydrologists in metros near Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $88K | $90K |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $114K | $108K |
| Bend | $91K | $88K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA
Entry-level hydrologists (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $34K 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 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hydrologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $93K, rent takes 31.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,960/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for hydrologists in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hydrologists typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,268/month. At HUD’s $1,960/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $93K locally vs. $97K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater compare to the national average for hydrologists?
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater pays $93K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.67), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — below the national median.
How much do hydrologists make in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA?
The median is $93,340 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,140, and experienced hydrologists can clear $105,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,171/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,960/month, which eats 31.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a hydrologists salary go in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater?
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater has a Regional Price Parity of 103.67 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median hydrologists salary is worth about $90,036 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.