What are watershed scientists paid? How do salaries and benefits compare between State, federal, and local agencies, public utilities, and private firms? Here is a thumb-nail sketch and a few observations.
The supply of watershed scientists is getting tight. The other day, I got a call from an executive search firm in Seattle. They were trying to find experienced watershed hydrologists for their clients, and wanted to know if I knew of any who might be interested in a new job.
The California Region of the US Forest Service normally has 47 hydrologists practicing in the field, but currently they have 7 vacant positions. The State of California has been running through their water quality related hiring lists in search of qualified candidates in half the normal time. Several private concerns have lately expressed some difficulty in finding experienced watershed scientists to fill vacancies. The National Weather Service, one the largest federal employers of surface water hydrologists, has been getting some disappointingly short lists of qualified applicants (certs) to choose from.
All this may change if the economy takes a sudden down-turn, but it really is remarkable to reflect on how much things have changed in just the last five or six years. Professional head-hunters seeking experienced watershed scientists for the private-sector is an amazing turn-around from the early and middle 1980's.
Salaries for watershed scientists vary, as do the duties, but here are some
ranges at the journeymen level, as of December 1989:
Federal
USDA-Forest Service Hydrologist (GS-11) $29K to $38K
US Department of Commerce
NOAA-NWS Hydrologist (GS-12) $35K to $45K
State of California
Department of Fish and Game
Assoc. Water Quality Biologist $34K to $41K
State Water Resources Control Board
Environmental Specialist III $36K to $43K
Department of Water Resources
Assoc. Land & Water Use Analyst $36K to $43K
Department of Forestry & Fire Protection
Research Program Specialist I
(Remote Sensing/Watershed) $38K to $47K
Local Agencies
Sacramento Municipal Utilities District
Hydrographer $36K to $45K
Contra Costa Water District
Watershed Management Specialist $39K to $47K
Private
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Hydrographer Start $32K
Average $42K
Peak $53K
A Large Environmental Consulting Firm
Watershed Hydrologist
(Project Level) $37K to $47K
All the positions mentioned provide health insurance, retirement, paid vacation and sick leave.
The Feds are the most generous with vacation and sick leave. But the Feds are also the tightest when it comes health benefits. While other employers basically pay the total health insurance premium, the Federal government requires a substantial employee contribution for comparable coverage.
More importantly, the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) granted to federal employees has lagged behind inflation about two-percent per year for the last ten-years. Compounded, that's over a 20 percent decline in real wages. Because federal retirees get a full COLA, this decline in real federal wages has created the odd situation where some retirees now make more in retirement benefits than the person now doing their old job makes in salary.
The State of California employees wages and private-sector wages have generally better kept pace with inflation. In fact, private sector wages are increasing faster than inflation, in response to the scarcity of experienced people.
The State has the most paid holidays. The health benefits are very generous, and can offer dental and eye coverage with little or no employee contribution to the premiums. The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS), which the which many local agencies in California also use, is very good. (PERS has tremendous assets. For Example, it is the largest institutional stock holder on the New York Stock Exchange.)
The private consulting firm listed provides less time off. But they do provide both profit sharing and bonuses, which could add substantially to the base salary listed above.
This is by no means a complete list of places to practice watershed science and management. The number and variety of watershed jobs is growing rapidly. The growth and increasing diversity of the Watershed Management Council membership is certainly good evidence of that fact.
Watershed is coming of age as a profession. A broad network of mobile watershed professionals is taking shape. Isolation is ending. And, while Wall Street will always produce more forty-year old millionaires then all the watersheds combined, the future looks bright for professionals and technicians in this field. It's an interesting and useful way to make a living, and my bet is the 1990's will be a watershed decade for watershedders.
