Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (occupation group), with detailed role definition from O*NET, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
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About this role
Water Resource Specialist is a professional role within the function in the Management job family.
Typical experience: 3 to 6 years at the Specialist / Intermediate level, per widely used corporate career-level norms (Radford, Mercer, and SHRM career-level frameworks). Actual expectations vary by function, industry, and company size.
Perform hydrologic, hydraulic, or water quality modeling.
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.
Top skills:WritingSpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningTime Management
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Water Resource Specialist pay by experience level
Entry level$82,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$123,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$173,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$229,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$328,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+3.7%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
8,500
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Water Resource Specialist salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
52,240 workers
$215,000
Scientific Research and Development Services
44,430 workers
$222,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
19,320 workers
$140,000
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
12,010 workers
$152,000
Chemical Manufacturing
6,750 workers
$211,000
Educational Services
5,890 workers
$98,000
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
5,800 workers
$97,500
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
5,430 workers
$214,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises
5,080 workers
$222,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
5,080 workers
$222,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2020 to 2025: $137,940 to $167,220.
+21.2% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$82,500
Early career25th percentile
$123,500
Median50th percentile
$173,000
Experienced75th percentile
$229,500
Top earners90th percentile
$328,000
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Perform hydrologic, hydraulic, or water quality modeling.
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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional or Administrative exemption
Individual contributor roles at this level typically qualify for the Professional exemption (requiring advanced knowledge in a field of science or learning) or the Administrative exemption (office work related to management or general business operations with discretion on significant matters). Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$186,500
2027$193,000
2028$200,000
2029$207,000
2030$214,000
2031$221,500
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a Water Resource Specialist make?
The median market pay for a Water Resource Specialist in the United States is about $186,500 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Water Resource Specialist?
Most Water Resource Specialist pay falls between about $123,500 (25th percentile) and $229,500 (75th percentile), with top earners above $328,000.
What does a Water Resource Specialist do?
Core responsibilities include: perform hydrologic, hydraulic, or water quality modeling; and analyze storm water systems to identify opportunities for water resource improvements.
Is pay for Water Resource Specialist roles growing?
Yes. The national median wage for this occupation moved from $137,940 in 2020 to $167,220 in 2025, a change of +21.2% in nominal dollars.
How this role compares
Water Resource Specialist pays 30% above the average across 58 roles in the Management job family (family average $144,000).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Water Resource Specialist make?
The average base salary for a Water Resource Specialist in the United States is $186,500 per year, or about $89.66 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $123,500 and $229,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Management roles?
The Management job family averages $144,000 across 58 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Water Resource Specialist pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
