ascx-begin clientid=ctl73 path=/Career/CareerProfile/CareerProfile.ascx
What They Do
About This Career
Researches the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters; and studies 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.
This career is part of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics cluster Science and Mathematics pathway.
A person in this career:
- Prepares written and oral reports describing research results, using illustrations, maps, appendices, and other information.
- Designs and conducts scientific hydrogeological investigations to ensure that accurate and appropriate information is available for use in water resource management decisions.
- Measures and graphs phenomena such as lake levels, stream flows, and changes in water volumes.
- Conducts research and communicates information to promote the conservation and preservation of water resources.
- Coordinates and supervises the work of professional and technical staff, including research assistants, technologists, and technicians.
- Studies public water supply issues, including flood and drought risks, water quality, wastewater, and impacts on wetland habitats.
- Applies research findings to help minimize the environmental impacts of pollution, waterborne diseases, erosion, and sedimentation.
- Studies and documents quantities, distribution, disposition, and development of underground and surface waters.
- Installs, maintains, and calibrates instruments such as those that monitor water levels, rainfall, and sediments.
- Develops computer models for hydrologic predictions.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
People who do this job report that:
- You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
- Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
- Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time
Working in this career involves (physical activities):
- Seeing clearly at a distance
- Seeing clearly up close
- Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
- Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
Work Hours and Travel
Specialty and Similar Careers
Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:
- Groundwater Consultant
- Hydrogeologist — Studies the flow, distribution and the quality of underground water.
- Physical Scientist — Specializes in sciences that do not deal with living organisms such as physics, chemistry, astronomy and geology.
- Research Hydrologist
- Scientist
- Source Water Protection Specialist
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts national surveys of wage data by occupation in every state and in all industry divisions. These surveys are conducted through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program.
The statistics collected for one year are published the next fall. For example, 2013 wage information was published in the fall of 2014.
There are over 800 occupations in the surveys, and these occupations cover the entire U.S. labor market. The surveys ask for reports in a scale of ranges for both hourly wages and annual wages.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics for a broad category, be aware that the salary data for a specific career may differ.
For more details about how wage information is collected and calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm.
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts a national survey of over 400,000
employers in every state and in all industry divisions. This survey is conducted
through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program. Every other year the
department publishes outlook information based on these surveys.
Each outlook period covers 10 years. For example, in 2003 the outlook information
was published for 2004-2014. Employers are asked to report the number of employees
in about 770 different occupations that cover the entire U.S. labor market.
From this information, staffing patterns for different industries are established.
Industry growth is projected into the future based on past trends and current economic
conditions. Industry staffing patterns are then applied to the industry projections
to obtain occupational projections.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties
of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational
category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics
for a broad category, be aware that the employment data for a specific field may
differ.
For more details about how employment information is collected and calculated by
the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.
ascx-end /Career/CareerProfile/CareerProfile.ascx