Headline risk
3%
Very Low RiskHydrologists
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Research the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters; and study the form and intensity of precipitation and its rate of infiltration into the soil, movement through the earth, and return to the ocean and atmosphere.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 6% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 92,060
Employment 2024
6.3K
Projected Change (2024–34)
-0.1%
Openings (2024–34)
0.5K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of hydrologists is projected to decline 0 percent from 2024 to 2034.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Prepare written and oral reports describing research results, using illustrations, maps, appendices, and other information. AI use: 94%
- 2. Design and conduct scientific hydrogeological investigations to ensure that accurate and appropriate information is available for use in water resource management decisions. AI use: 0%
- 3. Measure and graph phenomena such as lake levels, stream flows, and changes in water volumes. AI use: 0%
- 4. Study public water supply issues, including flood and drought risks, water quality, wastewater, and impacts on wetland habitats. AI use: 0%
- 5. Conduct research and communicate information to promote the conservation and preservation of water resources. AI use: 0%
- 6. Coordinate and supervise the work of professional and technical staff, including research assistants, technologists, and technicians. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Related
Source coverage
10/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
title_match · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Hydrologists study water and how it moves across and through the Earth’s crust.
Hydrologists typically work in an office setting and in the field. They may need to travel to lakes, streams, and other locations and work outdoors in all types of weather. Most hydrologists work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week.
To enter the occupation, hydrologists typically need a bachelor’s degree in geology, hydrology, or a related field. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a master’s degree.
The median annual wage for hydrologists was $92,060 in May 2024.
Employment of hydrologists is projected to decline 0 percent from 2024 to 2034.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.