Principal Hydrogeologist Salary in the United States

How much does a Principal Hydrogeologist make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Hydrogeologist in the United States is $130,389 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $63.

However, a Principal Hydrogeologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $142,180
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $128,247 to $136,561
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $126,297
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View as table View as graph 25% $128,247 10% $126,297 90% $142,180 75% $136,561 $130,389 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Principal Hydrogeologist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $136,561 $11,380 $2,626 $66
Average $130,389 $10,866 $2,507 $63
25th Percentile $128,247 $10,687 $2,466 $62
Check out Principal Hydrogeologist Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Principal Hydrogeologist Salaries

A Principal Hydrogeologist'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 Principal Hydrogeologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Principal Hydrogeologist'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): $84,756
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $108,170
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $129,935
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $138,020
  • Expert (over 8 years): $273,097
Levels Salary
Geologist... Level Principal Hydrogeologist$84,756
Geologist... Level Principal Hydrogeologist$108,170
Principal... Level Principal Hydrogeologist$129,935
Geologist... Level Principal Hydrogeologist$138,020
VP of Geo... Level Principal Hydrogeologist$273,097
$84,756 0 yr
$108,170 < 2 yrs
$129,935 2-4 yrs
$138,020 5-8 yrs
$273,097 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Principal Hydrogeologist 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 Principal Hydrogeologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $144,367.
  • California: $143,819.
  • Massachusetts: $141,902.

Top Paying Cities for Principal Hydrogeologists

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: $164,460
  • San Francisco: $162,843
  • Oakland: $159,231

What Skills Can Increase a Principal Hydrogeologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Consulting (Mentioned in 5.52% Job Postings): Providing technical or business expertise and advice to internal or external clients.
  • Technical Writing (Mentioned in 2.06% Job Postings): Technical writing is writing or drafting technical communication used in technical and occupational fields, such as computer hardware and software, engineering, chemistry, aeronautics, robotics, finance, medical, consumer electronics, biotechnology and forestry. Technical writing encompasses the largest sub-field within technical communication. The Society for Technical Communication defines technical communication as any form of communication that exhibits one or more of the following characteristics: "(1) communicating about technical or specialized topics, such as computer applications, medical procedures, or environmental regulations; (2) communicating by using technology, such as web pages, help files, or social media sites; or (3) providing instructions about how to do something, regardless of how technical the task is".
  • Sample Collection (Mentioned in 1.35% Job Postings): Obtaining and isolating environmental samples to verify sources of contamination and assess their associated risks to public health.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Consulting 5.52%
Technical Writing 2.06%
Sample Collection 1.35%
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 Principal Hydrogeologist's salary.
  • PowerPoint: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Environmental Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
PowerPoint
 $162,986
25%
Environmental Consulting
 $159,075
22%
Coordination
 $151,251
16%
Flexibility
 $151,251
16%
Scheduling
 $148,643
14%
Civil Engineering
 $146,036
12%
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How Education impacts a Principal Hydrogeologist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Principal Hydrogeologists 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 Principal Hydrogeologist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $121,030 and $131,771).

Principal Hydrogeologist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Principal Hydrogeologist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 39.6%
High School 45.5%
Associates 14.9%
Bachelors 39.6%
Masters 45.5%
Doctorate 14.9%
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Principal Hydrogeologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Principal Hydrogeologist'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 January 01, 2026
$128,247
Average $130,389/year
$136,561
$10,687
Average $10,866/month
$11,380
$2,466
Average $2,507/week
$2,626
$62
Average $63/hour
$66
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $136,561 $11,380 $2,626 $66
Average $130,389 $10,866 $2,507 $63
25th Percentile $128,247 $10,687 $2,466 $62

Salaries of jobs related to Principal Hydrogeologist

Salary Trends for Principal Hydrogeologist

Salaries for a Principal Hydrogeologist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $164,296 in 2023 to around $138,706 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Principal Hydrogeologist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Principal Hydrogeologist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$164,296
2024
$148,576
2025
$138,706
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $164,296
2024 $148,576
2025 $138,706
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Principal Hydrogeologist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Principal Hydrogeologist

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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.)

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