Best Careers: Hydrologist

The rundown:

Hydrologists study bodies of water, often with an eye toward properties of quality or quantity. You'll likely specialize in underground or surface water. You'll study rain (or sleet or snow), and all the stages of the water cycle, with the aid of increasingly sophisticated technology. Your work will often be problem solving, whether it's checking out contaminated rivers, working with municipalities on water supply problems, or helping employers comply with environmental policies.

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The outlook:

Job opportunities should be plentiful for environmental scientists and especially for hydrologists. There were 8,100 hydrologist jobs in 2008, and the Labor Department projects that employment will grow more than 18 percent by 2018. The government has stepped up environmental regulations and has begun cleaning up contaminated and hazardous waste sites—all efforts that increase the need for hydrological research. Competition for openings is limited by the small number of universities and colleges that offer degrees in hydrology.

Money:

Median annual earnings were $73,670 in 2009, but the pay range is broad. Entry-level hydrologists could make closer to $46,000, while the highest-paid can earn more than $110,000.

Upward mobility:

Over time, you can likely work your way up from basic field research to more complex projects. You may also move into a management or supervisory position, or launch your own consulting business.

Activity level:

Variable. Some hydrologists spend plenty of time in the field—even at sea, if you're an oceanographer—while others spend more time at the office or in a lab.

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Stress level:

Fairly low, although finding funding for your research can be stressful. Sometimes the hours are long.

Education and preparation:

On occasion, employers will accept a bachelor's degree when hiring for an entry-level position, but by and large, a master's degree is necessary to land a research job. Hydrology degrees are rare, so the more common choice is to study environmental science, geoscience, or engineering and concentrate in hydrology. A Ph.D. is often required for a college teaching job.

Real advice from real people about landing a job as a hydrologist:

Take all the math, science, and especially physics courses that you can. Be prepared to work with a team of other scientists, analyze field measurements, and fill in data gaps using computer modeling. "You have to explain your work at public meetings or in court rooms. Hydrology does not stop at political boundaries. You have to follow the rivers and groundwater as it goes from one political boundary to another." —Miguel Medina, Duke University professor and president of the American Institute of Hydrology

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