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Graduate Hydrologist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

SAMES, Inc

Graduate Engineer

Mcallen, TX · On-site

... hydrologic and hydraulic calculations. * Become knowledgeable with HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS software as ... Graduate Engineer is required to demonstrate computer literacy and proficiency with Microsoft ...

Intec Sea

Hydraulic & Hydrology Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$77K - $101K/yr

S. degree in Civil Engineering with an emphasis on hydrology, hydraulics, or fluid mechanics, and graduate coursework in fluid dynamics, engineering hydrology, open channel and pipeline hydraulics ...

Pennoni

Graduate Civil Engineer

Leesburg, VA

$70K - $90K/yr

Pennoni is seeking a Graduate Civil Engineer to join our Leesburg, VA office and support a wide ... Exposure to stormwater management design calculations and Hydrology and Hydraulics (H&H) modeling ...

Pennoni

Graduate Civil Engineer

Leesburg, VA · On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

Pennoni is seeking a Graduate Civil Engineer to join our Leesburg, VA office and support a wide ... Exposure to stormwater management design calculations and Hydrology and Hydraulics (H&H) modeling ...

City of Conroe

Graduate Engineer

Conroe, TX · On-site

$71K/yr

JOB SUMMARYThe Graduate Engineer will prepare the design of new public capital development projects ... Knowledge to perform all calculations for design, knowledge of hydrology and hydraulic models ...

City of Conroe

Graduate Engineer

Conroe, TX · On-site

$71K/yr

JOB SUMMARY The Graduate Engineer will prepare the design of new public capital development ... Knowledge to perform all calculations for design, knowledge of hydrology and hydraulic models ...

INTEC SEA

Hydraulic & Hydrology Engineer

Houston, TX

$77K - $101K/yr

S degree in Civil Engineering with an emphasis on hydrology, hydraulics, or fluid mechanics, and graduate coursework in fluid dynamics, engineering hydrology, open channel and pipeline hydraulics ...

City of Conroe

Graduate Engineer

Conroe, TX · On-site

$71K/yr

JOB SUMMARY The Graduate Engineer will prepare the design of new public capital development ... Knowledge to perform all calculations for design, knowledge of hydrology and hydraulic models ...

City of Conroe

Graduate Engineer

Conroe, TX · On-site

$65 - $79/hr

JOB SUMMARY The Graduate Engineer will prepare the design of new public capital development ... Knowledge to perform all calculations for design, knowledge of hydrology and hydraulic models ...

Pennoni

Graduate Highway Engineer

Newark, DE · On-site

Pennoni is hiring! Pennoni is looking for passionate Graduate Highway Engineers to join our ... Contribute to developing set of Transportation plans, including highway design, hydrology and ...

Pennoni

Graduate Civil Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

We are hiring for a Graduate Civil Engineer to join our team on a full-time, direct basis in the ... while utilizing Hydrology and Hydraulics (H&H) modeling tools, is a plus! * Proficiency with ...

Pennoni

Graduate Civil Engineer

Raleigh, NC

We are hiring for a Graduate Civil Engineer to join our team on a full-time, direct basis in the ... while utilizing Hydrology and Hydraulics (H&H) modeling tools, is a plus! * Proficiency with ...

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Graduate Hydrologist information

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$28K

$62.8K

$117K

How much do graduate hydrologist jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for graduate hydrologist in the United States is $62,774.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,000.00 and $88,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a graduate hydrologist?

Graduate hydrologists are entry-level professionals who have recently completed a degree in hydrology, environmental science, or a related field. They support the study and management of water resources, often assisting with data collection, analysis, and reporting on water cycles, quality, and distribution. Graduate hydrologists commonly work under the supervision of experienced hydrologists, contributing to environmental assessments, flood risk management, and water conservation projects. Their role is crucial in addressing water-related challenges and supporting sustainable resource management.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a graduate hydrologist?

To thrive as a Graduate Hydrologist, you need a solid background in hydrology, environmental science, or civil engineering, typically with a relevant degree. Familiarity with GIS software, hydrological modeling tools, and data analysis platforms is often required, along with knowledge of regulatory standards. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with teams and convey complex findings to stakeholders. These competencies enable accurate water resource assessments and support sound environmental decision-making.

What are some typical challenges a graduate hydrologist might face in their first year on the job?

As a Graduate Hydrologist, you may encounter challenges such as adapting to fieldwork in varied and sometimes remote environments, learning to use specialized hydrological software, and interpreting complex data sets. Balancing office-based analysis with on-site data collection can be demanding, especially when working within tight project deadlines or during adverse weather conditions. Additionally, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams—including engineers, environmental scientists, and government agencies—requires strong communication skills and a willingness to learn from others' expertise.

What is the difference between Graduate Hydrologist vs Hydrologist?

AspectGraduate HydrologistHydrologist
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in hydrology, environmental science, or related field; entry-level certificationBachelor's or master's degree; professional certification often preferred
Work EnvironmentFieldwork, data analysis, research projects, often supervisedMore independent research, project management, and data interpretation
Employer & Industry UsageGovernment agencies, environmental consultancies, research institutionsSimilar employers, with increased responsibilities and specialization

The main difference between a Graduate Hydrologist and a Hydrologist is experience level and responsibility. Graduate Hydrologists are typically entry-level professionals with relevant degrees, focusing on learning and supporting projects. Hydrologists usually have more experience, handle complex analyses, and take on greater responsibilities in water resource management and research.

Are graduate hydrologists in high demand?

Graduate hydrologists are in moderate demand, especially in environmental consulting, government agencies, and research institutions. Job opportunities often require skills in data analysis, modeling, and GIS tools, with demand influenced by environmental policies and climate change initiatives.

Is a graduate hydrologist degree worth it?

A graduate hydrologist degree can improve job prospects and earning potential in fields such as water resource management, environmental consulting, and research. It provides specialized knowledge, advanced skills, and often necessary credentials for higher-level positions, though practical experience and certifications also play important roles. The degree's value depends on career goals and industry demand.

What can I do with a master's in graduate hydrology?

A master's in hydrology prepares graduates for roles such as hydrologist, water resource analyst, or environmental consultant, involving data analysis, modeling, and fieldwork. These positions often require knowledge of GIS, hydrological software, and environmental regulations, and may lead to careers in government agencies, consulting firms, or research institutions.
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What job categories do people searching Graduate Hydrologist jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Graduate Hydrologist jobs are:

Graduate Hydrologist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Graduate Hydrologist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 74% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $62,774 per year, or $30.2 per hour.

Hydrologist

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Corvallis, OR • On-site

$61K/yr

Full-time

This job post has expired 4 days ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

USDA Forest Service rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 120 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

158th of 297 rated public sector bodies

Job description

This position is located on a Forest Service Research unit.
The incumbent performs professional work in the field of hydrology, participating as a member of a research team working to evaluate short-and long-term effects of forest management activities on erosion processes and stream functions.
For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Adam Price at Adam.Price@usda.gov.
Qualifications:In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.
Basic Requirement:
GS-1315 Series:
Degree: physical or natural science, or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in any combination of courses in hydrology, the physical sciences, geophysics, chemistry, engineering science, soils, mathematics, aquatic biology, atmospheric science, meteorology, geology, oceanography, or the management or conservation of water resources. The course work must have included at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics. Calculus and physics, as described above, are requirements for all grade levels.
OR
Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Evaluation of Experience: Acceptable experience must have included performance of scientific functions related to the study of water resources, based on and requiring a professional knowledge of related sciences and the consistent application of basic scientific principles to the solution of theoretical and practical hydrologic problems. The following is illustrative of acceptable experience: field or laboratory work that would require application of hydrologic theory and related sciences such as geology, geo-chemistry, geophysics, or civil engineering to making observations, taking samples, operating instruments, assembling data from source materials, analyzing and interpreting data, and reporting findings orally and in writing. In some cases, professional scientific experience that is not clearly water resource experience may be acceptable if such experience was preceded by appropriate education in hydrology or by professional hydrology experience.

Applicants with related experience in hydrology gained through earlier Federal Government employment might have gained that experience in one or more occupational series. Such series include Soil Conservation, GS-457; Forestry, GS-460; Soil Science, GS-470; Civil Engineering, GS-810; Chemistry, GS-1320; Meteorology, GS-1340; and Geology, GS-1350. Comparable non-Federal experience may be given similar credit.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.
Specialized Experience Requirement:
For the GS-09 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 in the Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as four or more of the following:
  • Assisting with creating complex databases including full metadata and flagging of questionable data.
  • Manipulating and assisting in analyzing large data sets from a variety of research areas such as forestry, atmospheric sciences, hydrology, socio-economics, wildlife, fisheries - analyses included graphical and text summaries across multiple timesteps, calculations of higher order statistical metrics.
  • Assisting in developing, designing and managing complex databases including data dictionaries, data models, quality assurance, and metadata for multi-disciplinary information and geospatial applications.
  • Presenting analysis of complex and large datasets at local or regional scientific meetings, assisted with national meeting presentations. Integrating datasets with different structural and disciplinary characteristics.
  • Documenting the multiple steps of data acquisition and management of streaming data, starting with raw data on field datalogger to final data available on the web.
OR
a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., directly related to the work of this Hydrologist position. Examples of directly related education are: watershed science, forest hydrology, hydrologic engineering, hydrogeology, hydrology, environmental engineering, civil engineering, agricultural engineering, and soil science.
OR
an appropriate combination of specialized experience and education. Only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.Education:See above for education that may be qualifying for the specific grade level.Employment Type: OTHER

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