Water Resource Specialists Career, Salary and Skills
Water Resource Specialists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $167,220 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 108,690. Wage data is published for 259 locations.
Occupation description
Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.
O*NET code
11-9121.02
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$167,220
Hourly median
$80.39
Employment
108,690
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$79,710
10th
$119,430
25th
$167,220
Median
$221,540
75th
$316,850
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Speaking | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Writing | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Time Management | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.62 | 4.00 |
Typical tasks
- Analyze storm water systems to identify opportunities for water resource improvements.
- Conduct, or oversee the conduct of, investigations on matters such as water storage, wastewater discharge, pollutants, permits, or other compliance and regulatory issues.
- Develop strategies for watershed operations to meet water supply and conservation goals or to ensure regulatory compliance with clean water laws or regulations.
- Conduct technical studies for water resources on topics such as pollutants and water treatment options.
- Review or evaluate designs for water detention facilities, storm drains, flood control facilities, or other hydraulic structures.
- Present water resource proposals to government, public interest groups, or community groups.
- Develop plans to protect watershed health or rehabilitate watersheds.
- Perform hydrologic, hydraulic, or water quality modeling.
Technology
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Database software
- DHI MIKE URBAN
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- ESRI ArcGIS Spatial Analyst
- ESRI ArcInfo
- ESRI ArcPad
- ESRI ArcView
- ESRI ArcView 3D Analyst
- FishXing
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Google Earth Pro
Water Resource Specialists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Water Resource Specialists Salary in CAMedian $210,230 · Employment 14,950
- Water Resource Specialists Salary in MAMedian $267,290 · Employment 10,590
- Water Resource Specialists Salary in New York, NYMedian $180,460 · Employment 10,100
- Water Resource Specialists Salary in NJMedian $207,030 · Employment 10,040
- Water Resource Specialists Salary in Boston, MAMedian $291,000 · Employment 9,570
- Water Resource Specialists Salary in PAMedian $137,900 · Employment 7,980
- Water Resource Specialists Salary in TXMedian $129,960 · Employment 7,470
- Water Resource Specialists Salary in NCMedian $173,870 · Employment 6,010
- Water Resource Specialists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $169,060 · Employment 5,890
- Water Resource Specialists Salary in NYMedian $134,680 · Employment 5,690
- Water Resource Specialists Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $225,230 · Employment 5,530
- Water Resource Specialists Salary in Philadelphia, PAMedian $172,900 · Employment 5,510
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.