Hydrologists Salary
In Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA, hydrologists earn $126,820 at the median, or about $60.97 an hour. The range runs from $80K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.44), so that salary is closer to $119,147 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,201/month, or 29.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $127K get you in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario’s Regional Price Parity (106.44). 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario sits well above the national pay line for hydrologists, local pay runs about 31% higher than the U.S. median of $97K. Rent runs $2,201/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.44), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for hydrologists in metros near Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $107K | $100K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $123K | $109K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $147K | $127K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $143K | $129K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Entry-level hydrologists (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $53K 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hydrologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
Yes — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 29.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,201/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for hydrologists in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hydrologists typically earn — is $80K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,828/month. At HUD’s $2,201/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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $127K here vs. $97K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario compare to the national average for hydrologists?
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario pays $127K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $119K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do hydrologists make in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
The median is $126,820 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,460, and experienced hydrologists can clear $133,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,459/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,201/month, which eats 29.5% 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario has a Regional Price Parity of 106.44 (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 $119,147 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.