USLouisiana salary guideStatewide BLS data
Updated for 2026

Hydrologist Salary in Louisiana (2026)

The Hydrologist salary in Louisiana for 2026 is shown as a modeled statewide benchmark built from the latest official BLS wage baseline, then extended with wage trend history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available. Each section helps readers understand where this career pays best across the state and how the projected benchmark compares with metro markets.

Official BLS baseline: 2024Modeled statewide salary guideN/A employment estimate12 min read
Average Salary
$109K
state median
Entry Level
$76.2K
starting range
Senior Level
$134K
upper band
Top Range
$180K
90th percentile
Hourly Rate
$46
median equivalent
Salary figures projected to 2026  from May 2024BLS OEWS baseline·   Projections use wage history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available
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Hydrologist Salary Overview in Louisiana

Careerclev's modeled 2026 benchmark places Hydrologist pay in Louisiana at about $109,090 per year. On the latest official statewide BLS baseline, the range runs from about $67,170.0 at the lower end to $180,170 for top earners.

This guide covers the full statewide Hydrologist salary picture first, then compares metro markets inside Louisiana where BLS data is available — making it useful for candidates who want a broader view beyond any single city.

Louisiana Hydrologist Salary vs the U.S. Average

The statewide median for Hydrologist roles in Louisiana is $109,090, compared with a U.S. median of $92,060.0. That gap of +18% helps readers see whether this state sits in a premium salary market, a near-national market, or a lower-cost salary market relative to the rest of the country.

BenchmarkLouisianaUnited StatesDifference
Projected annual salary$109,090$92,060.0+18% vs U.S.
Entry-level benchmark$84,613.0$68,054.0+24% vs U.S.
Senior-level benchmark$133,862$130,323+3% vs U.S.
Top baseline wage range$180,170$139,420+29% vs U.S.
Projected hourly equivalent$46$44N/A state jobs
How to read the state premium Baton Rouge, LA is currently the strongest-paying metro in this state, which helps explain how local employer concentration pushes the state average. Utilities is the strongest-paying industry benchmark currently available.

Hydrologist Salary by Experience Level in Louisiana

Statewide experience bands help show how much of the salary story comes from growing responsibility, not location alone. Even inside one state, the distance between entry-level and senior pay can be wide enough to change how attractive the long-term path looks.

Entry-Level
0-2 years
$84.6K
$52/hr median equivalent
$76.2K - $109K
Lower percentile wages modeled into early-career pay.
Mid-Level
3-5 years
$109K
$52/hr median equivalent
$84.6K - $134K
Independent delivery and broader scope become the norm.
Senior
6-10 years
$134K
$52/hr median equivalent
$109K - $204K
Higher salaries usually reflect stronger ownership and specialization.
Lead / Principal
10+ years
$204K
$52/hr median equivalent
$134K - $249K
Leadership pay reflects broader responsibility and top-end wage ranges.
LevelExperienceProjected SalaryProjected RangeVs U.S.
Entry-Level Hydrologist0-2 years$84,613.0$76,186.0 - $109,090-8% vs U.S.
Mid-Level Hydrologist3-5 years$109,090$84,613.0 - $133,862+18% vs U.S.
Senior Hydrologist6-10 years$133,862$109,090 - $204,354+45% vs U.S.
Lead / Principal Hydrologist10+ years$204,354$133,862 - $249,311+122% vs U.S.
State experience modelThese experience bands are modeled from local wage percentiles because BLS publishes wage distributions, not direct entry, mid, senior, or lead labels.
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Hydrologist Salary by City in Louisiana

City-level differences inside Louisiana can be large. Stronger salary metro areas often combine dense employers, specialized industries, and stronger competition for experienced Hydrologist talent.

City / MetroProjected SalaryProjected RangeVs StateMarket Signal
Baton Rouge, LA$89,860.0$72,550.0 - $193,480-18% vs U.S.Value market
Baton Rouge, LA$66,750.0$48,930.0 - $130,620-39% vs U.S.Value market
New Orleans, LA$66,500.0$42,120.0 - $113,630-39% vs U.S.Value market
Baton Rouge, LA$63,160.0$44,920.0 - $115,550-42% vs U.S.Value market

Hydrologist Salary by Industry in Louisiana

Industry mix is one of the strongest drivers behind pay differences inside a state. Stronger salary industry rows usually reflect employers that place the role closer to revenue, specialized operations, or hard-to-source talent.

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 Louisiana

Entry-level pay in Louisiana for hydrologist usually starts near the lower statewide wage band, then rises as candidates move from supervised work into independent delivery. The first major salary jump often comes from handling broader scope, changing employers, or moving into stronger local metro markets.

Starting benchmark
$84.6K
$76.2K - $109K
Typical early-career compensation in this state, modeled from the lower end of the local wage distribution.
Promotion target
$109K
+28.9% vs entry median
The move into reliable independent delivery is usually the first real comp inflection point.
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.
StageTypical SalaryTimelineKey Signal
Intern / trainee$64.8K - $83.8KPre-full-timeFoundational proof
Entry-level$84,613.00-2 yearsStructured support and learning
Promotion-ready junior$91.4K - $103K12-24 monthsIndependent delivery
Mid-level target$109,09018-30 monthsBroader ownership
Entry estimateEntry-level Hydrologist pay in Louisiana is modeled around $84,613.0using the lower state wage percentiles.
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Public vs Private-Sector Pay in Louisiana

The state salary dataset here does not label every wage row by public or private ownership, so this section models the comparison from statewide salary levels and the industry spread visible in the data. It is best read as pay guidance, not as a direct government-vs-private wage census.

Employer TypeEstimated SalaryBest MatchHow It Is Modeled
Public / institutional style$165,480UtilitiesAnchored to lower-variance industry rows and the statewide baseline
Private-market baseline$109,090Louisiana commercial employersUses the core statewide median as the middle market
Top private-sector path$111,750Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation ServicesAnchored to the strongest visible industry pay rows
Interpretation notePrivate-sector upside is usually strongest where Hydrologist work is closer to revenue, specialized operations, or employer competition. Institutional paths often trade some upside for steadier pay bands and clearer progression.

Remote vs Onsite Hydrologist Pay in Louisiana

Remote and hybrid work can change the salary story for a state page because the employer market may be broader than the worker’s home location. Where direct remote comp data is available, it is shown below; otherwise the fallback rows use the local salary benchmark as the base case.

Work TypeEstimated SalaryExperienceBest FitFlexibility
Remote$109,090Market dependentNational hiring poolsHigh
Hybrid$112,363Metro dependentLouisiana employersMedium
Onsite$110,181Location dependentLocal teams and officesLower

The best remote comparison is total pay after commute, housing pressure, and access to stronger employer markets. A lower-cost metro paired with national hiring access can outperform a higher nominal local salary.

Cost of Living for Hydrologist Salary in Louisiana

A state salary should be read alongside rent, taxes, commuting, and the mix of high-cost and lower-cost metro areas inside the state. The same Hydrologist salary can feel very different across Louisiana.

MarketProjected SalaryMonthlyVs StateModeled Cost Signal
Baton Rouge, LA$89,860.0$7.5K-18% vs U.S.Lower-cost signal
Baton Rouge, LA$66,750.0$5.6K-39% vs U.S.Lower-cost signal
New Orleans, LA$66,500.0$5.5K-39% vs U.S.Lower-cost signal
Baton Rouge, LA$63,160.0$5.3K-42% vs U.S.Lower-cost signal
Purchasing-power reminder Baton Rouge, LA sets the top in-state pay benchmark, while Baton Rouge, LA shows how lower salary markets may come with a lighter local cost burden.

Leading Salary Cities in Louisiana

Statewide averages flatten the most important local differences. This ranking brings those differences back into view by showing which cities and metros inside Louisiana create the strongest salary benchmarks for this role.

City / MetroProjected SalaryProjected RangeVs State
Baton Rouge, LA$89,860.0$72,550.0 - $193,480-18% vs U.S.
Baton Rouge, LA$66,750.0$48,930.0 - $130,620-39% vs U.S.
New Orleans, LA$66,500.0$42,120.0 - $113,630-39% vs U.S.
Baton Rouge, LA$63,160.0$44,920.0 - $115,550-42% vs U.S.

Hydrologist Demand Outlook in Louisiana

Career growth inside Louisiana is best read through two lenses: the local salary ladder and the broader national demand outlook. The salary ladder shows how compensation expands with responsibility, while the outlook data shows whether employers are likely to keep competing for talent.

1
Intern / Trainee
$53.4K - $71.8K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
2
Junior
$66.3K - $87.5K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
3
Mid Level
$82.9K - $103K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
4
Senior
$99.4K - $129K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
5
Lead
$118K - $149K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
6
Principal / Architect
$138K - $189K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
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.
State market anchorN/A jobs with a median of $109,090

Factors That Affect Hydrologist Salary in Louisiana

State salary is shaped by more than the job title. Metro concentration, local industry strength, training expectations, and the size of the in-state employer market all influence where pay ultimately settles.

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.
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How to Increase Your Hydrologist Salary in Louisiana

Salary growth tends to come fastest when candidates combine stronger proof of impact, better-paying market selection, and negotiation with current state and U.S. benchmarks in hand.

MoveWhy It HelpsTimelineAvg. Salary Impact
Benchmark against stronger marketsCompare national, metro, and industry salary facts before negotiating so your target range is grounded in current wage data.1-3 months+15-30%
Build a visible specializationPrioritize 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$13.1K - $30.5K
Target higher-paying industriesUse industry salary facts to identify sectors that already pay above the occupation baseline.2-6 months$8.7K - $19.6K
Fastest practical liftThe quickest salary gains often come from combining stronger proof, a better-paying metro or industry target, and a well-benchmarked negotiation conversation.

Hydrologist Salary in Louisiana: FAQs

These questions usually come up after readers compare the statewide benchmark with city differences, experience bands, and demand signals. They are here to clear up the parts of the salary picture that still feel uncertain after the main sections.

These FAQs focus on how readers searching for "Hydrologist" compare statewide salary levels, metro differences, and career progression across the state.

What is the average Hydrologist in Louisianas 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 Louisianas 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 Louisianas 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 Louisianas 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 Louisianas 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.
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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.
Career: medium · City: official · Compare: medium · Country: official
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