Hydrologists pay range in Olympia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $71,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $105,600 or more. The middle half of hydrologists in Olympia earn between $84,500 and $103,000.
- $71K10th
- $84K25th
- $93KMedian
- $103K75th
- $106K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $93,460 | $7,788 | $44.93 |
| Median | $93,340 | $7,778 | $44.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $84,500 | $7,042 | $40.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $103,000 | $8,583 | $49.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Hydrologists pay in Olympia vs. Washington and the U.S.
Hydrologists in Olympia earn 24% less than the Washington average ($123,510) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($103,600). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $96,600.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia | $93,460 | $93,340 | $71,140 | $105,600 | 80 |
| Washington | $123,510 | $105,600 | $80,450 | $194,900 | 350 |
| United States | $103,600 | $96,600 | $64,020 | $153,130 | 5,850 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Hydrologists salary after taxes in Olympia
On the average salary of $93,460, a single filer in Olympia takes home about $74,579 a year, or $6,215 a month and $2,868 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Olympia a good place for hydrologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Olympia area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.7), so the average $93,460 buys what about $90,151 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Olympia ($61,960). A typical home costs $533,918, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Hydrologists salary in nearby metro areas
- Portland, OR$118,810
- Bend, OR$95,630
- Boise, ID$95,230
- Reno, NV$124,880
- Helena, MT$92,390
- Sacramento, CA$112,230
Highest-paying cities for hydrologists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($153,030).
- Washington, DC$153,030
- San Jose, CA$149,180
- San Francisco, CA$142,450
- Baltimore, MD$139,870
- Los Angeles, CA$130,070
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Hydrologists salary in Olympia: questions
How much do hydrologists make an hour in Olympia?
$44.93 an hour on average, and $44.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level hydrologists salary in Olympia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $71,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $84,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the hydrologists take-home pay in Olympia?
About $74,579 a year ($6,215 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $93,460. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do hydrologists earn more in Olympia than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($103,600).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2043; area Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA (36500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 15.71, this job is 15.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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