Hydrologists vs Materials Scientists: $97K vs $118K Median Pay

Hydrologists vs Materials Scientists: what changes?

Consider Hydrologists if you want to research the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters; and study the form and intensity of precipitation and its rate of infiltration into the soil, movement through…. Consider Materials Scientists if you would rather research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Hydrologists and Materials Scientists. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Hydrologists

National median pay (2025): $96,600
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Prepare written and oral reports describing research results, using illustrations, maps, appendices, and other information.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 400

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (6,300 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Hydrologists brief

Materials Scientists

National median pay (2025): $117,790
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Conduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 600

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (8,600 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Materials Scientists brief

How the national numbers differ

Materials Scientists has the edge on projected growth

Materials Scientists is at 8.3% projected growth, compared with 1.5% projected growth for Hydrologists.

Typical preparation differs.

Hydrologists: Bachelor's degree Materials Scientists: Bachelor's degree Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Materials Scientists has the edge on median pay

Materials Scientists is at $117,790, compared with $96,600 for Hydrologists.

Materials Scientists has the edge on annual openings

Materials Scientists is at 600 annual openings, compared with 400 annual openings for Hydrologists.

36.6/ 100

Hydrologists

56/ 100

Materials Scientists

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence