Jobs Similar to Hydrologists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to hydrologists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers), Atmospheric and Space Scientists and Soil and Plant Scientists.
Hydrologists: $96,600 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Hydrologists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersSame group | 84% | $101,920+6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Atmospheric and Space ScientistsSame group | 81% | $99,070+3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Soil and Plant Scientists | 81% | $78,850−18% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Water Resource Specialists | 80% | $167,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Materials ScientistsSame group | 80% | $117,790+22% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Industrial EcologistsSame group | 79% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Geodetic Surveyors | 79% | $75,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Remote Sensing Scientists and TechnologistsSame group | 79% | $122,570Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Agricultural Engineers | 78% | $98,590+2% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Biochemists and Biophysicists | 78% | $127,410+32% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | AstronomersSame group | 78% | $128,820+33% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Conservation Scientists | 78% | $73,010−24% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Environmental Engineers | 77% | $107,110+11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | PhysicistsSame group | 77% | $172,250+78% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Microsystems Engineers | 77% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Nuclear Engineers | 77% | $133,970+39% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Petroleum Engineers | 76% | $144,910+50% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Nanosystems Engineers | 76% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthSame group | 76% | $82,220−15% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Environmental Restoration PlannersSame group | 76% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
- 1Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
84% similar · $101,920 (+6%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Atmospheric and Space Scientists
81% similar · $99,070 (+3%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Soil and Plant Scientists
81% similar · $78,850 (−18%) · Graduate degree
- 4Water Resource Specialists
80% similar · $167,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Materials Scientists
80% similar · $117,790 (+22%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Industrial Ecologists
79% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Geodetic Surveyors
79% similar · $75,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
79% similar · $122,570 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Agricultural Engineers
78% similar · $98,590 (+2%) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Biochemists and Biophysicists
78% similar · $127,410 (+32%) · Graduate degree
- 11Astronomers
78% similar · $128,820 (+33%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 12Conservation Scientists
78% similar · $73,010 (−24%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Environmental Engineers
77% similar · $107,110 (+11%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Physicists
77% similar · $172,250 (+78%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 15Microsystems Engineers
77% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 16Nuclear Engineers
77% similar · $133,970 (+39%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Petroleum Engineers
76% similar · $144,910 (+50%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Nanosystems Engineers
76% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 19Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
76% similar · $82,220 (−15%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Environmental Restoration Planners
76% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than hydrologists.
- Petroleum Engineers76% similar · $144,910 (+50%)
- Nuclear Engineers77% similar · $133,970 (+39%)
- Materials Scientists80% similar · $117,790 (+22%)
- Environmental Engineers77% similar · $107,110 (+11%)
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers84% similar · $101,920 (+6%)
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists81% similar · $99,070 (+3%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for hydrologists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where hydrologists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Water Resource Specialists (90)
- Geodetic Surveyors (86)
- Conservation Scientists (85)
- Soil and Plant Scientists (85)
- Environmental Engineers (81)
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (80)
- Agricultural Engineers (78)
- Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians (78)
- Water/Wastewater Engineers (78)
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (77)
Questions about jobs like hydrologists
What jobs are most similar to hydrologists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers) (84% similar), Atmospheric and Space Scientists (81% similar), Soil and Plant Scientists (81% similar), Water Resource Specialists (80% similar) and Materials Scientists (80% similar).
Which jobs like hydrologists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Physicists ($172,250, +78%; usually a graduate degree), Petroleum Engineers ($144,910, +50%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Nuclear Engineers ($133,970, +39%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with hydrologists ($96,600). Without more preparation than hydrologists usually need: Petroleum Engineers, Nuclear Engineers and Materials Scientists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.