Hydrologist salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Hydrologists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median of $147,080 a year ($70.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $87,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $188,300 for the top 10%. That is 52% higher than the national median of $96,600. Pay here is 20% higher than the California statewide median of $122,110. There are 0.02 hydrologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $142,450, close to the median.
Pay range for hydrologists in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $87,980 | $42.30 |
| 25th percentile | $111,540 | $53.63 |
| Median | $147,080 | $70.71 |
| 75th percentile | $165,000 | $79.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $188,300 | $90.53 |
| Average (mean) | $142,450 | $68.49 |
Half of hydrologists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $12,256.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,128.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,656.92 |
| Weekly | $2,828.46 |
| Hourly | $70.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $147,080 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Hydrologist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $142,640 | 30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $126,820 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $123,420 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $106,860 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for hydrologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $143,010 |
| Virginia | $132,080 |
| New Jersey | $126,680 |
| California | $122,110 |
| Georgia | $121,830 |
| Massachusetts | $119,350 |
| Missouri | $116,100 |
| Alaska | $108,660 |
| Nevada | $107,930 |
| Washington | $105,600 |
See Hydrologist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $127,790 | $61.44 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $127,210 | $61.16 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $122,310 | $58.80 |
| Materials Scientist | $231,710 | $111.40 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $151,000 | $72.60 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $128,720 | $61.88 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $160,180 | $77.01 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $138,160 | $66.42 |
| Biological Technician | $95,220 | $45.78 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $126,860 | $60.99 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $77,670 | $37.34 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $166,400 | $80.00 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $165,050 | $79.35 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $136,250 | $65.50 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-2043. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hydrologist make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median salary for hydrologists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $147,080 a year, or $70.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $87,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $188,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid hydrologists make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The top 10% of hydrologists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn at least $188,300 a year. The top 25% earn $165,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for hydrologists in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $87,980 a year, and a quarter of hydrologists earn $111,540 or less.
How many hydrologists work in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
About 50 hydrologists are employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.