Hydrogeologist 5 pay range
State of Washington · class code 514I
- Class code
- 514I
- Salary range
- 70
- Pay unit
- Year
- State
- Washington
- The State of Washington published pay range for Hydrogeologist 5 is $91,104 to $122,448 per year.
- Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) keys this classification as class code 514I.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Step progression
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) assigns this class to salary range 70 in the General Service Salary Schedule. The range pays 13 steps; a step is normally earned on a periodic increment date, not negotiated.
| Basis | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $91,104 | $93,288 | $95,676 | $98,064 | $100,488 | $102,996 | $105,612 | $108,228 | $110,952 | $113,736 | $116,544 | $119,460 | $122,448 |
| Monthly | $7,592 | $7,774 | $7,973 | $8,172 | $8,374 | $8,583 | $8,801 | $9,019 | $9,246 | $9,478 | $9,712 | $9,955 | $10,204 |
| Hourly | $43.63 | $44.68 | $45.82 | $46.97 | $48.13 | $49.33 | $50.58 | $51.83 | $53.14 | $54.47 | $55.82 | $57.21 | $58.64 |
Steps as published. The monthly and hourly rows are the state's own, not conversions of the annual row.
Class specification
The OFM classified job specification for this class is published by Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM). The passages below are quoted from it as published, not paraphrased, and cut to their opening sentences; the full specification is the authority on duties and qualifications.
What the state says the job is
In the Department of Ecology, as designated in writing by an Assistant Director, equivalent or higher, serves as a program hydrogeologist with cross-section ad/or cross-program duties and responsibilities. Performs advisory and consulting work for a program as a designated and recognized authority for multiple or specialized areas of hydrogeologic interest including technical complexity and political sensitivity.
Examples of the work
Coordinates and directs intra-program hydrogeologic investigation and planning; Provides technical oversight of highly visible and/or controversial hydrogeologic issues, projects, sites and studies; Provides expert testimony before such bodies as the legislature, courts, and hearings boards on complex hydrogeologic issues; Serves as a special consultant to a program manager on hydrogeological issues, which may include: Policy development, Planning, Procedures and Pending legislation; Helps guide and organize program hydrogeologic training; Directs planning and research of all program hydrogeologic studies and procedures; approves hydrogeologic research plans at discretion of program manager; ...
Minimum qualifications
A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, or closely allied field. AND Five years of professional experience as a hydrogeologist, hydrologist, geologist, or closely allied profession at the Hydrogeologist 3 level, higher or equivalent. A Master’s degree with major study in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, or closely allied field will substitute for two years of experience. A Ph.D. degree will substitute for three years of experience if major research was in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, or closely allied field.
Quoted from the OFM classified job specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) publishes this figure in Classified Job Listing joined to the OFM salary schedules effective July 1, 2026. Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
The dollar figures come from the salary schedule the listing assigns this range to.