Hydrologists
Research the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters; and study the form and intensity of precipitation and its rate of infiltration into the soil, movement through the earth, and return to the ocean and atmosphere.
5,850 people do this job in the US. $96,600 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 76%
- 3%
- 20%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 0%. Today's estimate: 0%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 25 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conduct research and communicate information to promote the conservation and preservation of water resources.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 7% | 3.3 work days6.7 h to 1.7 work weeks | 0%Half by Sep 2028 | |
| Apply research findings to help minimize the environmental impacts of pollution, waterborne diseases, erosion, and sedimentation.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 7% | 4.2 work days6.7 h to 2.5 work weeks | 0%Half by Jan 2029 | |
| Study public water supply issues, including flood and drought risks, water quality, wastewater, and impacts on wetland habitats.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 7% | 1.3 work weeks1.7 work days to 3.5 work weeks | 0%Half by Feb 2029 | |
| Study and analyze the physical aspects of the earth in terms of hydrological components, including atmosphere, hydrosphere, and interior structure.Done daily by most who do it. | 7% | 1.3 work weeks1.7 work days to 4.2 work weeks | 0%Half by Apr 2029 | |
| Prepare hydrogeologic evaluations of known or suspected hazardous waste sites and land treatment and feedlot facilities.Done yearly or less by most who do it. | 7% | 1.3 work weeks2.1 work days to 4.2 work weeks | 0%Half by Feb 2029 | |
| Study and document quantities, distribution, disposition, and development of underground and surface waters.Done daily by most who do it. | 7% | 1.7 work weeks2.1 work days to 3.5 work weeks | 0%Half by Apr 2029 | |
| Develop computer models for hydrologic predictions.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 7% | 3.3 work weeks4.2 work days to 2.3 work months | 0%Half by Dec 2029 | |
| Design and conduct scientific hydrogeological investigations to ensure that accurate and appropriate information is available for use in water resource management decisions.Done daily by most who do it. | 7% | 3.5 work weeks4.2 work days to 1.9 work months | Stays with people | |
| Measure and graph phenomena such as lake levels, stream flows, and changes in water volumes.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 7% | 5 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | Stays with people | |
| Conduct short- and long-term climate assessments and study storm occurrences.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 6% | 1.7 work weeks1.7 work days to 3.5 work weeks | 0%Half by May 2029 | |
| Evaluate data and provide recommendations regarding the feasibility of municipal projects, such as hydroelectric power plants, irrigation systems, flood warning systems, and waste treatment facilities.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 6% | 4.2 work days6.7 h to 3.3 work weeks | 0%Half by Apr 2029 | |
| Evaluate research data in terms of its impact on issues such as soil and water conservation, flood control planning, and water supply forecasting.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 5% | 2.5 work days6.7 h to 1.7 work weeks | 0%Half by Jun 2028 |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).