US
Madison, WI
Wisconsin salary market
$87.8K
Avg / Year
-5% vs U.S.
vs National
70
Employment
$7.3K
Monthly Avg
Updated for 2026

Hydrologist Salary in Madison, WI (2026)

The Hydrologist salary in Madison, WI for 2026 is presented as a modeled salary benchmark built from the latest official BLS wage baseline, then extended with wage trend history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available. This guide compares the Madison, WI market with the U.S. baseline and breaks projected pay down by experience, skills, industry, and nearby markets.

Official BLS baseline: 2024Madison, WI city pageModeled salary guide10 min read
City Average
$87.8K
per year
Entry Level
$73.0K
starting range
Senior Level
$102K
upper local band
Remote / Hybrid
$89.5K
modeled local premium
Monthly
$7.3K
avg before tax
Hourly Rate
$38
median equivalent
Salary figures projected to 2026  from May 2024BLS OEWS baseline  ·  Projections use wage history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available
Advertisement
Advertisement

Hydrologist Salary Overview in Madison, WI

Careerclev's modeled 2026 benchmark places Hydrologist pay in Madison, WI at about $87,759.0 per year. On the latest official BLS baseline for this market, the lower local range starts near $66,050.0, while the strongest-paid professionals can reach about $113,730.

Salary estimates are based on data from the Madison, Wi metropolitan area.

If you’re comparing Hydrologist salaries in Madison, WI, the real story isn’t just the headline number. Local employer mix, seniority, specialization, and whether the role is remote, hybrid, or onsite can push compensation well above or below the local median.

Madison, WI vs. U.S. National Average

Madison, WI pays -5% vs u.s. for Hydrologist roles. The difference is driven by local employer demand, industry mix, cost pressures, and how concentrated this role is in the underlying metro labor market.

United States National Average
$92.1K
all U.S. markets combined
-5%
Madison, WI Premium
Madison, WI City Average
$87.8K
Hydrologist
MarketProjected Salaryvs Madison, WIMarket Maturity
Madison, WI (this guide)$87,759.0BaselineLocal market
United States$92,060.0+5% vs U.S.National baseline
Milwaukee, WI$76,460.0-13% vs U.S.Comparable city
Milwaukee, WI$72,050.0-18% vs U.S.Comparable city
Milwaukee, WI$67,640.0-23% vs U.S.Comparable city
Why Madison, WI pay differsThe strongest city salary premiums usually appear where employers compete for specialized talent, where the role is concentrated, and where local costs make compensation harder to hold down.

Hydrologist Salary by Experience Level in Madison, WI

Experience changes the local salary picture quickly because employers usually pay for independence, specialization, and broader scope, not just years on paper. In Madison, WI, this breakdown shows how aHydrologist can move from early-career pay into stronger bands as the role becomes more self-directed.

Entry-Level
0-2 years
$80.1K
$42/hr median equivalent
$73.0K - $87.8K
Mid-Level
3-5 years
$87.8K
$42/hr median equivalent
$80.1K - $102K
Senior
6-10 years
$102K
$42/hr median equivalent
$87.8K - $126K
Lead / Principal
10+ years
$126K
$42/hr median equivalent
$102K - $153K
LevelExperienceProjected SalaryProjected RangeMarket Signal
Entry-Level Hydrologist0-2 years$80,147.0$72,967.0 - $87,759.0-13% vs U.S.
Mid-Level Hydrologist3-5 years$87,759.0$80,147.0 - $101,513-5% vs U.S.
Senior Hydrologist6-10 years$101,513$87,759.0 - $125,640+10% vs U.S.
Lead / Principal Hydrologist10+ years$125,640$101,513 - $153,281+36% vs U.S.
Advertisement

Best Salary Areas Near Madison, WI

Nearby metro areas help show how Hydrologist pay changes around Madison, WI. Each market reflects its own employer mix, local demand, and industry concentration, making these comparisons useful for candidates weighing their location options.

#1
Madison, WI
$87.8K
avg / year
Salary estimates are based on data from the Madison, Wi metropolitan area.
This guide
#2
Milwaukee, WI
$76.5K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Hydrologist salaries around Madison, WI.
-13% vs U.S.
#3
Milwaukee, WI
$72.1K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Hydrologist salaries around Madison, WI.
-18% vs U.S.
#4
Milwaukee, WI
$67.6K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Hydrologist salaries around Madison, WI.
-23% vs U.S.
#5
Milwaukee, WI
$65.8K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Hydrologist salaries around Madison, WI.
-25% vs U.S.

Hydrologist Salary by Industry in Madison, WI

Industry premiums in Madison, WI usually come from employers that place the Hydrologist role close to revenue, infrastructure, compliance, product delivery, or other high-value work. National industry data gives the best available benchmark until local industry slices are available.

IndustryModeled SalaryReference RangeSignal
Utilities$165,480$93,370.0 - $219,870Stronger salary
Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services$111,750$73,330.0 - $154,350Stronger salary
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services$96,170.0$53,890.0 - $167,730Stronger salary
Government Excluding Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$90,690.0$61,340.0 - $130,290Competitive
Government, Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$89,860.0$61,290.0 - $129,750Competitive
Other Services Except Public Administration$83,630.0$50,860.0 - $128,240Competitive
Educational Services$80,690.0$51,140.0 - $139,400Competitive

Entry-Level Hydrologist Salary in Madison, WI

Entry-level Hydrologist jobs in Madison, WI are modeled around the lower local wage percentiles. Candidates who can show practical projects, job-ready tools, and strong fundamentals usually have a better path into the middle of the local salary range.

For a broader starting-pay benchmark beyond this city market, see the entry-level Hydrologist salary guide.

Entry estimateA reasonable entry-level salary benchmark for Hydrologist roles in Madison, WI is about $80,147.0.
Preparation pathJob Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Typical education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). Training signal: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Remote vs Onsite Hydrologist Pay in Madison, WI

Remote work can widen the employer pool for Hydrologist candidates in Madison, WI. Onsite and hybrid roles may still pay more when employers need local availability, local clients, regulated work, or team coverage.

Local Onsite Role
$87,759.0
avg local employer
Hybrid Role
$89,514.2
modeled local premium
+2% local avg
Work TypeEstimated SalaryExperienceBest FitFlexibility
Remote$86,003.8Market dependentNational hiring poolsHigh
Hybrid$89,514.2Metro dependentMadison, WI employersMedium
Onsite$87,759.0Location dependentLocal teams and operationsLower

Cost of Living vs Salary in Madison, WI

A salary in Madison, WI should be read alongside housing, commuting, tax, and everyday costs. The same annual pay can feel very different at entry, mid-level, and senior levels.

Monthly Expense
Entry
Mid
Senior
Housing / rent
$1.2K
$1.6K
$2.0K
Transport / commute
$256.0
$292.5
$329.1
Food and groceries
$548.5
$585.1
$658.2
Utilities and internet
$256.0
$292.5
$329.1
Estimated remainder
$2.5K
$3.8K
$4.7K
Advertisement

Top Employers Hiring Hydrologists in Madison, WI

Employer mix is one of the biggest city-level salary drivers. The industries below highlight where Hydrologist pay tends to be strongest in Madison, WI, based on the sectors that create the most hiring demand for this role.

1
Utilities employers
$165K
Industry benchmark for Hydrologist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
2
Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services employers
$112K
Industry benchmark for Hydrologist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
3
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employers
$96.2K
Industry benchmark for Hydrologist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
4
Government Excluding Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service employers
$90.7K
Industry benchmark for Hydrologist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
5
Government, Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service employers
$89.9K
Industry benchmark for Hydrologist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
6
Other Services Except Public Administration employers
$83.6K
Industry benchmark for Hydrologist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.

Madison, WI Compared With Other U.S. Cities

This comparison is useful when one city salary number is not enough on its own. It shows whetherMadison, WI is genuinely a stronger-paying market for Hydrologist work or whether the local benchmark sits closer to the broader national middle.

Madison, WI
This guide
$87.8K
Baseline
Milwaukee, WI
Nearby U.S. market
$76.5K
-13% vs U.S.
Milwaukee, WI
Nearby U.S. market
$72.1K
-18% vs U.S.
Milwaukee, WI
Nearby U.S. market
$67.6K
-23% vs U.S.
Milwaukee, WI
Nearby U.S. market
$65.8K
-25% vs U.S.
Milwaukee, WI
Nearby U.S. market
$67.9K
-23% vs U.S.

Career Growth Opportunities in Madison, WI

Local career growth is strongest when it is read through both the city salary ladder and the broader national demand outlook. The city salary benchmark shows what this market currently pays, while the career path and BLS demand data show how that benchmark can expand with scope and responsibility.

1
Intern / Trainee
$53.4K - $71.8K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
2
Junior
$66.3K - $87.5K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
3
Mid Level
$82.9K - $103K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
4
Senior
$99.4K - $129K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
5
Lead
$118K - $149K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
6
Principal / Architect
$138K - $189K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
BLS Demand SignalEmployment is projected to change by -0.1% from 2024 to 2034.
Little or no changeAnnual openings: 0.5 thousand.
Metric2026 Outlook
Projected employment6.3k → 6.3k
Typical educationMost of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Related experienceExtensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Local market anchor70 jobs with a median of $87,759.0

Factors Affecting Hydrologist Salary in Madison, WI

Local pay rarely moves for one reason alone. In city markets, the biggest differences usually come from employer concentration, industry mix, seniority, and whether the role is tied to business-critical work that is harder to staff.

Years of Experience
Salary usually rises as the role moves from entry-level execution to independent ownership, mentoring, and broader decision-making.
Location and Cost of Living
Local salary ranges vary by labor market, employer density, and household-income context.
Industry
Industry pay can vary when employers in higher-margin or harder-to-staff sectors compete for the same occupation.
Specialized Skills
O*NET marks high-demand role-specific skills as relevant skills for this role, making them useful anchors for specialization and salary-growth content.

How to Increase Your Hydrologist Salary in Madison, WI

In city markets, salary growth often comes from better positioning as much as from patience. These moves are most useful when you already understand the local benchmark and want a clearer path beyond it.

1
Benchmark against stronger markets
Compare national, metro, and industry salary facts before negotiating so your target range is grounded in current wage data.
1-3 months timeline
2
Build a visible specialization
Prioritize skills such as high-demand role-specific skills; O*NET relevance scores make these good first candidates for portfolio and resume positioning.
3-9 months timeline
3
Target higher-paying industries
Use industry salary facts to identify sectors that already pay above the occupation baseline.
2-6 months timeline
Advertisement

Hydrologist Salary in Madison, WI: FAQs

These questions usually come up after readers compare the city benchmark, the statewide picture, and the local experience ladder. They help clarify how to read the market and what matters most when you compare this city with other options.

These FAQs focus on how readers searching for "Hydrologist" usually compare local pay, employer mix, and market differences in this city.

What is the average Hydrologist in Madison, WIs salary?
The latest national baseline for Hydrologists is about $92,100 per year, based on the current BLS-derived salary facts in CareerClev.
What is the entry-level Hydrologist in Madison, WIs salary?
Entry-level estimates for Hydrologists are modeled around the lower BLS percentile range, currently about $60,000 per year nationally.
How much can senior Hydrologist in Madison, WIs professionals earn?
Senior Hydrologists estimates are modeled from upper percentile wage bands and currently sit around $114,900 per year nationally.
Does location affect Hydrologist in Madison, WIs salary?
Yes. CareerClev stores salary facts by national, state, and metro locations, so location-specific pages should use the closest available geography instead of a single national number.
Which skills matter for Hydrologist in Madison, WIs salary growth?
CareerClev uses O*NET skill importance and level scores to identify role-relevant skills. These are useful for recommendations, but should not be presented as measured salary premiums unless enriched compensation data exists.
Data
Data Sources & MethodologyUpdated using 2024 BLS OEWS salary facts, O*NET occupation-skill data, Census location context where available, ILOSTAT country benchmarks where mapped, BLS Employment Projections where imported, and Stack Overflow Developer Survey enrichment for mapped tech roles.
Salary figures use BLS OEWS wage facts for 2024. City pages use the BLS metropolitan area as the salary dataset, display the largest city as the public page name, and model experience bands from local wage percentiles.
Salary Anchor Ad
Salary Anchor Ad