Hydrologists pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $101,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $205,320 or more. The middle half of hydrologists in San Jose earn between $122,110 and $171,010.
- $101K10th
- $122K25th
- $143KMedian
- $171K75th
- $205K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $149,180 | $12,432 | $71.72 |
| Median | $142,640 | $11,887 | $68.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $122,110 | $10,176 | $58.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $171,010 | $14,251 | $82.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Hydrologists pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Hydrologists in San Jose earn 21% more than the California average ($122,940) and 44% more than the U.S. average ($103,600). At the median the gap is +48% against the U.S. median of $96,600.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $149,180 | $142,640 | $101,440 | $205,320 | 30 |
| California | $122,940 | $122,110 | $76,110 | $181,360 | 540 |
| United States | $103,600 | $96,600 | $64,020 | $153,130 | 5,850 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Hydrologists salary after taxes in San Jose
On the average salary of $149,180, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $103,449 a year, or $8,621 a month and $3,979 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Jose a good place for hydrologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $149,180 buys what about $135,099 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 10.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Hydrologists salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 1st of 5 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Jose$149,180
- San Francisco$142,450
- Los Angeles$130,070
- Riverside$112,990
- Sacramento$112,230
Highest-paying cities for hydrologists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($153,030).
- Washington, DC$153,030
- San Jose, CA$149,180
- San Francisco, CA$142,450
- Baltimore, MD$139,870
- Los Angeles, CA$130,070
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Hydrologists salary in San Jose: questions
How much do hydrologists make an hour in San Jose?
$71.72 an hour on average, and $68.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level hydrologists salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $101,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $122,110, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the hydrologists take-home pay in San Jose?
About $103,449 a year ($8,621 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $149,180. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do hydrologists earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 44% more than the U.S. average for this job ($103,600).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2043; area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.72, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.72).
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