Hydrologist
Water engineer, flood engineer, hydrology engineer
Hydrologists study the impact of rainfall, rivers and waterways on the environment. They also look at sustainable ways to use water.
Salary range: £22,500 to £46,000
How to become a hydrologist
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
University
You can start by doing a degree in:
- environmental science
- geography
- civil engineering
- environmental engineering
- Earth sciences
- ecology
After finishing your degree, you could go on to complete a postgraduate course in water engineering, flood risk management or hydrogeology.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
More information
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
Apprenticeship
You can do an environmental practitioner degree apprenticeship before specialising in hydrology.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More information
Work
You could start as an assistant hydrologist if you have a relevant degree. Your employer may encourage you to study for a postgraduate qualification, like a master’s or PhD in hydrology, while you’re working.
More information
Career tips
You can get information about hydrology, including work on water pollution, flooding and drought, from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the British Hydrological Society or Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management for industry news, advice on professional development and networking opportunities.
Further information
You can discover more about careers in hydrology from the British Hydrological Society and The Geological Society.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- maths knowledge
- knowledge of engineering science and technology
- analytical thinking skills
- knowledge of geography
- science skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of physics
- excellent written communication skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
Restrictions and requirements
You’ll need to:
- have a full driving licence
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day duties may include:
- measuring river flows and the amount of water above and below ground
- investigating the causes and impact of flooding and drought
- modelling rainfall patterns under different climate conditions
- studying snowfall, glaciers and ice formation
- analysing water samples for chemicals and pollutants
- assessing water use in agriculture and industry
- working on engineering projects like dams, drainage and flood defences
- advising policy makers on sustainable water use
- collecting data from flood events to improve forecasting and risk management
Working environment
You could work in an office, in a laboratory or in the countryside.
Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.
Career path and progression
You could become a senior hydrologist, co-ordinating a team of researchers, hydrologists and engineers.
You might also work as a consultant, advising government departments and businesses on sustainable water use, civil hydro-engineering projects or flood risk management.
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