Hydrologist

Jared Nogee

1) __Job Description:__ . Hydrologists usually perform tests using their knowlege of the physical makeup of he earth, to protect the environment. Also to study the properties of underground and surface waters, locate water and energy resources, predict water-related geologic hazards, and provide environmental site assessments and advice on indoor air quality and hazardous-waste-site remediation. Hydrologists study the quantity, distribution, circulation, and physical properties of the bodies of water. Usually specialize in underground or surface water. A work day for a hydrologist, would usually be spent most of the day, gathering data, or testing waters.

2) __Personality Characters:__ There are two different types of personality, and you have to have both. If you have an entry level job as a hydrologist, you will need to work out in the field, probably with other people. So you will have to be very social and able to communicate, and get along with others. Also to be able to work together as a team. The second characteristic you will need will be independence, because when you get into a higher than entry level job, you will work in a lab, and you may not have a team to work with. You may have to analyze samples of waters, to check for pollutants by yourself.

3) __Working Conditions:__ Most entry-level environmental scientists and hydrologists spend the majority of their time in the field, while more experienced workers generally devote more time to office or laboratory work. **Entry level hydrologists** usually have a job in the field, they work in either hot or cold climates, and in all kinds of weather. They may have to do hard labor,like dig or chip with ahammer, scoop with a net, come in contact with water, and carry equipment. So they may be working in rugged terrain, and run the risk of falling on the rugged terrain, or drowning in rivers, or being stranded in the wilderness.
 * Lab Researchers** usually work in labs, pouring over datas, water samples, looking for pollutants and trying to discover problems in water sources, being surface water or underground water. Then they will send it to the field agents who will try and fix it. Their are no real dangers like there are in the field agents work, but the lab researchers have a lot of stress, finding funding to help them fund their research to try and identify pollutants, and cleanse them form the environment. The only complaint that employees might is being cramped into a small lab, maybe with other people,if they like being out in the field. Also that someone in the field, might not like having to do so much physical work, and wants to move into a lab research field.

4) __Places of Employment:__ Many places of employment for an environmental hydrologist might include working at consulting firsm, helping bussinesses and govenrment agencies comply with environments policy, mainly with regard to dealing with ground-water decontamination and flood control. There are two types of government jobs; large multidisciplinary engineering companies, the largest of which may employ thousands of workers, and small niche firms that may employ only a few workers. Hydrologists can find work in research positions with the Federal Government or in colleges and universities. Often they have to find funding for their work by writing grant proposals. Consultants face similar pressures to market their skills and write proposals so that they will have steady work. 5) __Job Outlook:__ The job outlook for a hydrologist is projected to go up 0.91 percent growth in jobs per year, from 2006-2016. The number of hydrologists employed in 2006 is 8,300 and is projected to go up to atleast 10,000 jobs in the year 2016. That is a 2,000 employment growth over the course of 10 years, so around .91 percent growth. So I would say that the job outlook is not that great, but it is a moderate outlook.

6) Salary Information: Median annual earnings of hydrologists were $66,260 in 2006, with the middle 50 percent earning between $51,370 and $82,140, the lowest 10 percent earning less than $42,080, and the highest 10 percent earning more than $98,320. In 2007, the Federal Government’s average salary for hydrologists was $82,217. Although the industries, employing larger amounts of workers, the salaries are as follow: Federal Executive Branch - $82,490 Local Government - $52,100 Engineering Services - $56,080 State Government - $50,590 Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services - $57,280

7) __Recommended Education and Training:__ A bachelor's degree in an earth science is adequate for a few entry-level positions, but environmental scientists increasingly need a master's degree in environmental science, hydrology, or a related natural science. A master's degree also is the minimum educational requirement for most entry-level applied research positions in a private industry, in State and Federal agencies, and at State geological surveys. A doctoral degree generally is necessary for college teaching and most research positions. Need a good foundation in Biology, Chemistry, and Geology. Students interested in working in the environmental or regulatory fields, either in environmental consulting firms or for Federal or State governments, should take courses in hydrology, hazardous-waste management, environmental legislation, chemistry, fluid mechanics, and geologic logging, which is the gathering of geologic data.

Citations:  1)  "Career Profile for Hydrologists - Education & Training - College Toolkit." __Free Scholarship Search, College Search, & Career Exploration - College Toolkit__. 06 Apr. 2009 .  2)   "NC Career Outlook: Hydrologists." __NC Career Outlook__. 06 Apr. 2009 .  3)  "Environmental Scientists and Hydrologists." __U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics__. 06 Apr. 2009 .  4)   "What is hydrology and what do hydrologists do?" __USGS Georgia Water Science Center__. 06 Apr. 2009 .   5)  Hydrologist Job Description, Career as a Hydrologist, Salary, Employment - Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job." __Job Descriptions and Careers, Career and Job Opportunities, Career Search, and Career Choices and Profiles__. 06 Apr. 2009  <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #262a2c; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">