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Senior Water Resources Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Senior Water Resources Engineer make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Water Resources Engineer in the United States is $126,597 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $61.

However, a Senior Water Resources Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $144,704
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $117,261 to $136,075
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $108,761
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $117,261 10% $108,761 90% $144,704 75% $136,075 $126,597 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Senior Water Resources Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $136,075 $11,340 $2,617 $65
Average $126,597 $10,550 $2,435 $61
25th Percentile $117,261 $9,772 $2,255 $56
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Key Factors That Influence Senior Water Resources Engineer Salaries

A Senior Water Resources Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Senior Water Resources Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Senior Water Resources Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $92,686
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $108,637
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $127,245
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $151,974
  • Expert (over 8 years): $197,884
Levels Salary
Civil Eng... Level Senior Water Resources Engineer$92,686
Civil Eng... Level Senior Water Resources Engineer$108,637
Senior Wa... Level Senior Water Resources Engineer$127,245
Civil Eng... Level Senior Water Resources Engineer$151,974
Civil Eng... Level Senior Water Resources Engineer$197,884
$92,686 0 yr
$108,637 < 2 yrs
$127,245 2-4 yrs
$151,974 5-8 yrs
$197,884 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Senior Water Resources Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Senior Water Resources Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $140,168.
  • California: $139,636.
  • Massachusetts: $137,776.

Top Paying Cities for Senior Water Resources Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $159,677
  • San Francisco: $157,928
  • Oakland: $154,600

What Skills Can Increase a Senior Water Resources Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.06% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • AutoCAD (Mentioned in 3.41% Job Postings): AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design and drafting software application. Developed and marketed by Autodesk, AutoCAD was first released in December 1982 as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.32% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.06%
AutoCAD 3.41%
Microsoft Office 1.32%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Senior Water Resources Engineer's salary.
  • AWS: Can increase your salary by up to 28%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Carpentry: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
AWS
 $162,044
28%
Insight
 $145,587
15%
Carpentry
 $140,523
11%
Computer Science
 $139,257
10%
Java
 $136,725
8%
Python
 $136,725
8%
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Senior Water Resources Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Senior Water Resources Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 79% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 38% above the average. In contrast, Senior Water Resources Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Senior Water Resources Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Senior Water Resources Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$174,704$84.038%
Financial Services$151,916$73.020%
Telecom$151,916$73.020%
Pharmaceuticals$149,384$72.018%
Energy & Utilities$141,789$68.012%

How Education impacts a Senior Water Resources Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Senior Water Resources Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Senior Water Resources Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $129,739 and $138,650).

Senior Water Resources Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Senior Water Resources Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 0.3%
Associates 0.7%
Bachelors 59.9%
Masters 34.1%
Doctorate 4.5%
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Senior Water Resources Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Senior Water Resources Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$117,261
Average $126,597/year
$136,075
$9,772
Average $10,550/month
$11,340
$2,255
Average $2,435/week
$2,617
$56
Average $61/hour
$65
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $136,075 $11,340 $2,617 $65
Average $126,597 $10,550 $2,435 $61
25th Percentile $117,261 $9,772 $2,255 $56

Salaries of jobs related to Senior Water Resources Engineer

Salary Trends for Senior Water Resources Engineer

Salaries for a Senior Water Resources Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $125,780 in 2023 to around $119,641 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Senior Water Resources Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Senior Water Resources Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$125,780
2024
$122,328
2025
$119,641
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $125,780
2024 $122,328
2025 $119,641
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Senior Water Resources Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Senior Water Resources Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Senior Water Resources Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Senior Water Resources Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Senior Water Resources Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States

  • MD Staff, LLC

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    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President Brand&External Communications

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Brand & External Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare indust... more

    17 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    Local CDL

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    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    18 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

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    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    18 Days Ago

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FAQ about Senior Water Resources Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Senior Water Resources Engineer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Senior Water Resources Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 38% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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