Hydrology Faculty Jobs & Academic Careers in Water Science

Explore academic careers in Hydrology within Geoscience. Opportunities include faculty positions at universities, research roles at institutes, and specialized jobs in water resource management, offering a pathway to contribute to environmental sustainability and scientific advancement.

Unlock Your Future in Hydrology: Thrilling Opportunities in Water Science!

Hydrology faculty jobs are booming amid global water crises, from droughts to floods. AcademicJobs.com lists premier positions for lecturers, researchers, and professors specializing in groundwater, surface water, and climate modeling. Students dreaming of academia should pursue a BS in geoscience or environmental science, advancing to MS or PhD in hydrology—essential for tenure-track roles.

Key skills include hydrologic modeling, remote sensing, and fieldwork. Rate inspiring instructors on Rate My Professor to guide your studies. Graduates enter paths like university faculty, USGS hydrologists, or EPA consultants, with academia offering prestige and impact.

Experienced academics, discover faculty jobs, professor jobs, and lecturer jobs. Salaries shine: assistant professors average $105,000, scaling to $160,000+ for full professors per 2023 AAUP data—details at professor salaries. Demand rises 5% through 2032 (BLS-adjusted for academia), especially in California water management and Colorado mountain hydrology.

Access higher ed career advice, free resume templates, and more. Job seekers, start at higher ed jobs.

Student Pathways to Hydrology Expertise

Build foundations in math, physics, and geology. Programs emphasize labs on isotope tracing and watershed analysis. Funding via scholarships; parents, review SAT scores for admissions.

Degree Progression

  • Bachelor's: Core hydrology or earth science (4 years)
  • Master's: Specialized water quality/resources (2 years)
  • PhD: Research-focused, publish on real-world cases (4-6 years)

Discover professors via Rate My Professor.

Explore University Programs

Professor Roles, Salaries & Prestige

Tenure-track hydrology positions prioritize grants from NSF and publications in Water Resources Research. Prestige peaks at R1 universities tackling IPCC models.

2023 Salary Benchmarks

RankMedian Base SalaryHigh-Cost Areas (e.g., CA)
Assistant Professor$105,000$120,000+
Associate Professor<$130,000$150,000
Full Professor$160,000$190,000+

View full data including university salaries at professor salaries. Fringe perk: fieldwork in remote locales like Alaskan tundra.

Network on Rate My Professor; apply via research jobs.

Leading Hydrology Programs

University of Arizona: Pioneer in dryland hydrology, studying ancient aquifers for modern shortages.
Colorado State University: Masters snow hydrology; quirky focus on ski resort water forecasting.
Texas A&M University: Gulf Coast flood modeling expertise post-Harvey.
Princeton University: Theoretical groundwater flow models influencing policy.

Rate faculty at these via Rate My Professor. International: UK jobs, UniJobs.

Trends, Quirks & Fringe Cases

Rising stars: AI in flood prediction, urban stormwater in megacities. Quirks include Florida's karst sinkholes risking contamination, or Nevada's Pleistocene lake reconstructions for water rights battles. Space angle: NASA's exo-hydrology for Europa missions.

Staff roles in admin jobs; postdocs at postdoc jobs. Track calendars via academic calendar.

Post a Hydrology Job

Associations for Hydrology

  • International Association of Hydrological Sciences

    A global organization dedicated to advancing the science of hydrology and facilitating international cooperation in hydrological research.

  • American Geophysical Union

    A United States-based society that promotes discovery in Earth and space science, including hydrology, through research, education, and outreach.

  • European Geosciences Union

    A European association fostering research and collaboration in geosciences, with a dedicated division for hydrological sciences.

  • British Hydrological Society

    A United Kingdom society aimed at promoting hydrology as a science and profession through events, publications, and networking.

  • Canadian Water Resources Association

    A Canadian organization focused on advancing water resource management and hydrological research through education, policy, and professional development.

  • Australian Water Association

    An Australian association dedicated to promoting sustainable water management, including hydrological practices, through industry collaboration and innovation.

Frequently Asked Questions

💧What Exactly is Hydrology in Academia?

Hydrology examines water cycles, from rainfall to rivers, vital for climate adaptation. Professors lead research on sustainable management; rate experts on Rate My Professor.

💰Hydrology Professor Salaries by Rank?

Assistants: $105k median; full profs: $160k+. Varies by state—check professor salaries for California premiums.

🎓Best Degrees for Hydrology Faculty Careers?

PhD required; start with BS in geoscience. Scholarships at scholarships; career tips via career advice.

🏆Top Hydrology University Programs?

Arizona, Colorado State, UC Berkeley lead. Quirky: Arizona's monsoon studies. Faculty ratings on Rate My Professor.

📈Job Growth for Hydrology Academics?

5% projected rise by 2032, climate-driven. Faculty openings in faculty jobs; postdocs at postdoc.

🌊Fringe Hydrology Research Areas?

Permafrost melt in Alaska, Mars water analogs, sinkhole risks in Florida. Impacts global policy; see research jobs.

How to Rate Hydrology Professors?

Share experiences on Rate My Professor to aid peers. Also rate courses at Rate My Course.

💼Advice for Landing Hydrology Jobs?

Highlight publications, fieldwork. Use cover letter templates; browse professor jobs.
12 Jobs Found

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

1 Cyclotron Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Academic / Faculty
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Closes: Feb 1, 2026
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