Hydrologist

A hydrologist works in a variety of settings, from local councils to large companies. They monitor human use of water, keeping check of our use of natural reserves like rainfall and rivers.

Hydrologists monitor natural and manmade waterways, advising on policies to manage them and assessing human impact. They work to ensure our use of water is sustainable, consulting on the best ways to protect this incredibly important resource.

Your work as a hydrologist incorporates both practical monitoring and consultancy. While hydrologists working on different forms of water will have varied responsibilities, some common duties include:

• Monitoring human water consumption in your local area, or on a more national scale, sharing ideas for limiting this or improving flow.
• Working with computer modelling software to predict water consumption and sharing these with stakeholders.
• Studying rainfall and snowfall levels, comparing this to previous years and assessing how this might impact resource levels.
• Studying floods, assessing their causes and their impact on local areas.
• Studying natural ice patterns like glaciers, observing their growth or loss, and analysing if this is due to human activity.
• Studying drought, providing potential causes and preventions of future issues.
• Providing advice on prevention of major incidents such as floods.
• Analysing potentially polluted water sources, and providing a plan for making the water safe.
• Supporting on large-scale industrial projects like dams.
• Providing consultancy on urban projects that involve large-scale water use, adding man-made water sources or adjusting natural resources like rerouting a river.

Hydrology jobs are highly skilled, so you should expect good salary progression. Junior hydrologist jobs and hydrogeologist jobs can expect to fetch around £17,000. As you progress through the ranks, a hydrologist salary could rise to £50,000 with the right experience and skills.

If you become a hydrologist through an apprenticeship, expect the apprenticeship wage while you're training. As of 2022, this is £4.81 for your first year and raises to minimum wage once you are over 19 and in your second year of training.

While working as a hydrologist does not require a degree, it can be an advantage when positions are competitive. Several different degree courses would align you well with hydrology work, including:

• Civil Engineering
• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Geography
• Geology

Some hydrologists begin their studies with a more generalised degree in a science subject. They then go on to specialise in hydrology to bolster their experience before applying for work. The British Hydrological Society (BHS) lists several accredited masters level courses that would give you specialisms including:

• Flood and Coast Engineering
• Flood Management
• Freshwater and Marine Ecology
• Hydrology and Water Resources Management
• Hydrogeology
• Water Engineering

Alternatively, you could study towards becoming a hydrologist through a degree apprenticeship. This would include a combination of work placements and academic study. Employers offering apprenticeships will set their own entry requirements, though you’re likely to need a breadth of work experience in a similar field or 2-3 A Levels in science subjects, and 5 GCSEs grades 9-4 (A*-C).

Once you’re employed, your training will happen on the job. You’ll shadow senior hydrologists while learning about the techniques specific to the job. You’ll likely be trained on any particular forms of software you’ll be expected to use, as well as information on related sectors, such as construction or domestic planning.

Many hydrologists choose to join accredited societies to keep up to date with their discipline. They’ll also use membership to develop their professional practice. You can join the British Hydrological Society or The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management for access to conferences, webinars and training.

Much of the skills required for hydrogeology jobs are covered in your degree. These include:

• A robust scientific knowledge based around hydrogeology.
• Knowledge of…