PublicPay

Hydrology federal salary series 1315

Full-time federal employees in the Hydrology series earned a median of $113,378 in annualized adjusted basic pay in September 2026, 3% above the all-federal median of $109,641. The middle half earned between $92,107 and $135,515.

Median pay
$113,378
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$92,107–$135,515
25th–75th percentile
Employees
1,518
in this series, all schedules
Change in median
+1%
vs. September 2025
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Hydrology
All federal (full-time)

What shapes hydrology pay

The most common grade with published pay is GS-12 (447 employees, median $107,411). The largest employer of this series with published pay is the Department of the Interior (941 employees). Among states with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay, the median is highest in Maryland ($170,301) and lowest in Idaho ($92,491), a gap that partly reflects locality pay differences. Federal pay depends mostly on grade and step, plus a locality adjustment for where the job is located; see the GS pay scale explainer.

Hydrology pay by grade

Grades with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay. GS grades are listed first; other pay plans follow.

Hydrology pay by grade
Pay plan–grade Employees Median pay Middle 50%
GS-9 97 $68,383 $64,512–$74,567
GS-11 332 $86,041 $80,494–$92,107
GS-12 447 $107,411 $101,443–$116,362
GS-13 372 $131,273 $122,242–$139,531
GS-14 140 $156,692 $144,384–$170,046
GS-15 82 $187,644 $177,536–$197,200

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Hydrology pay by agency

Hydrology pay by agency
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of the Interior 941 $113,092 $92,084–$134,829
Department of Agriculture 278 $97,087 $82,148–$115,179
Department of Commerce 232 $131,273 $113,448–$143,986

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Hydrology pay by state

The 10 states with the most employees in this series and published pay.

Hydrology pay by state
State Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Oregon 111 $101,443 $88,513–$122,330
California 109 $121,371 $102,526–$145,468
Colorado 106 $113,533 $91,850–$140,232
Arizona 61 $102,376 $82,148–$123,563
Texas 56 $111,601 $90,660–$129,432
Montana 52 $104,427 $85,260–$117,081
Nevada 49 $110,417 $95,475–$130,464
Utah 48 $101,443 $80,903–$124,177
Idaho 48 $92,491 $80,411–$111,180
New York 45 $117,493 $102,892–$143,650

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Compare hydrology pay across all states and agencies →

Change since September 2025

The median moved +1.0% from $112,258 in September 2025 to $113,378 in September 2026. Headcount went from 1,788 to 1,518 (−15.1%). A change in the median reflects both pay adjustments and who joined or left the workforce, so it is not the same as a pay raise.

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