Hydrologist
Hydrologist
Career Overview
Hydrologists study how water moves through rivers, lakes, soil, groundwater, and the atmosphere. They collect and analyze water and environmental data to understand water quality, flooding, drought, groundwater supplies, and changing water conditions. They use computer models, monitoring equipment, and tools such as GIS to help communities and organizations manage water resources.
Education
A bachelor's degree in hydrology, geology, environmental science, earth science, or a related field is typically required. Some positions, particularly advanced research and specialized roles, require a master's degree or Ph.D. Professional registration may also be required for certain geoscience positions, depending on the location.
Work Environment
Hydrologists work in offices, laboratories, and outdoor field locations, where they may collect water samples, monitor rivers and groundwater, and operate scientific equipment. Fieldwork can involve travel, remote locations, and changing weather conditions, while office work often involves analyzing data and developing computer models.
Future Outlook
Water management will remain important as communities address flooding, drought, water quality, groundwater supplies, and changing environmental conditions. Hydrologists are increasingly using real-time monitoring, computer modeling, GIS, and data analysis to understand water systems and make better decisions.
Recommended High School Courses
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Computer Science
- Physics
- Environmental Science
- Mathematics
- Geography
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
- Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
- Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
- Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
- Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
- Research hydrologic features or processes.
- Plan environmental research.
- Record research or operational data.
- Measure environmental characteristics.
- Research impacts of environmental conservation initiatives.
- Communicate results of environmental research.
- Supervise scientific or technical personnel.
- Analyze environmental data.
- Apply knowledge or research findings to address environmental problems.
- Calibrate scientific or technical equipment.
- Maintain laboratory or technical equipment.
- Develop mathematical models of environmental conditions.
- Collect environmental data or samples.
- Assess compliance with environmental laws.
- Evaluate civic projects or public policies.
- Develop environmental research methods.
- Review environmental permits, plans, or reports.
- Direct natural resources extraction projects.
- Provide technical information or assistance to public.
- Conduct climatological research.
- Analyze geological or geographical data.
- Compile geographic or related data.
Schools
California State Universi...
Colorado School Of Mines
East Central University -...
Illinois State University
New Mexico Institute Of M...
New Mexico State Universi...
Portland State University
Rensselaer Polytechnic In...
Suny At Brockport
Tarleton State University
Texas A & M University- C...
University Of California-...
University Of California-...
University Of California-...
University Of Minnesota-...
University Of Nevada- Ren...
University Of New Hampshi...
University Of New Orleans
University Of Texas- Aust...
University Of Wyoming
Utah State University
Western Michigan Universi...
Lakehead University- O...
Lakehead University- T...
Mcmaster University
Trent University- Pete...
University Of Guelph
University Of Quebec-...
University Of Quebec-...
University Of Saskatch...
University Of Waterloo
Wilfred Laurier Univer...
Approx Salary Expectation
Low End:
$64,000.00 /yr
Avg/Med:
$97,000.00 /yr
High End:
$153,000.00 /yr
Related Careers
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.