SOC 19-2043 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Hydrologists — New Jersey
New Jersey · 1 metro areas compared
In New Jersey the median wage for Hydrologists reaches $126,680 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to decline
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- -0.1%
- Openings per year
- 500
- Typical entry-level education
- Bachelor's degree
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for New Jersey.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
In New Jersey the median wage for Hydrologists reaches $126,680 a year. That is 31.1% more than the national median of $96,600. Pay ranges from under $76,810 at the tenth percentile to more than $176,480 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $109,990 to $148,380.
New Jersey ranks number 3rd out of 34 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Trenton records the highest median at $128,320. Of the 736 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 84th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $76,810 | −20.5% |
| 25th | $109,990 | +13.9% |
| Median (50th) | $126,680 | +31.1% |
| 75th | $148,380 | +53.6% |
| 90th | $176,480 | +82.7% |
| Mean | $127,450 | +31.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in New Jersey
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trenton | $128,320 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New Jersey run 8.8% above the national average, so the median of $126,680 buys what $116,434 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 20.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$126,680as reported by BLSLocal price level
108.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$116,434US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $126,680 a year, 31.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $76,810 to $176,480 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 3rd of 34 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Trenton, at $128,320.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Hydrologists in New Jersey?
The median annual wage is $126,680, or $60.90 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $96,600, so pay in New Jersey is 31.1% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in New Jersey earns more than $176,480 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $76,810 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Trenton, at $128,320 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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