Hydrologists pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $105,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $209,060 or more. The middle half of hydrologists in Washington earn between $122,670 and $188,710.
- $106K10th
- $123K25th
- $153KMedian
- $189K75th
- $209K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $153,030 | $12,752 | $73.57 |
| Median | $152,730 | $12,728 | $73.43 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $122,670 | $10,222 | $58.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $188,710 | $15,726 | $90.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Hydrologists salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $153,030, a single filer in Washington takes home about $105,823 a year, or $8,819 a month and $4,070 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $109,742 | $9,145 |
| Working in MD | $108,619 | $9,052 |
| Working in VA | $107,877 | $8,990 |
| Working in DC | $105,823 | $8,819 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for hydrologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $153,030 buys what about $140,544 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Hydrologists salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$139,870
- Philadelphia, PA$103,010
- Trenton, NJ$120,090
- New York, NY$103,800
- Akron, OH$93,170
- Columbus, OH$97,050
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 Washington: questions
How much do hydrologists make an hour in Washington?
$73.57 an hour on average, and $73.43 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level hydrologists salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $105,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $122,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the hydrologists take-home pay in Washington?
About $105,823 a year ($8,819 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $153,030.
Do hydrologists earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 47% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($104,261).
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.41, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.41).
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