Water Resource Specialists
Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.
- O*NET-SOC code
11-9121.02 - Preparation Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Wages
BLS doesn't publish wages for Water Resource Specialists separately. These are the figures for Natural Sciences Managers (11-9121), its parent occupation.
Median annual wage, U.S.$167,220
Employment, U.S.108,690
Median hourly wage$80.39
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $79,710 | $119,430 | $167,220 | $221,540 | $316,850 |
By state (50)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 370 | $133,470 | 0.25 |
| Alaska | 710 | $130,590 | 3.14 |
| Arizona | 900 | $124,920 | 0.40 |
| Arkansas | 340 | $119,430 | 0.38 |
| California | 14,950 | $210,230 | 1.17 |
| Colorado | 1,640 | $152,730 | 0.82 |
| Connecticut | 1,190 | $210,670 | 1.00 |
| Delaware | 440 | Not available | 1.31 |
| District of Columbia | 1,540 | $156,730 | 3.14 |
| Florida | 4,370 | $112,220 | 0.63 |
| Hawaii | 510 | $107,810 | 1.16 |
| Idaho | 610 | $124,800 | 1.01 |
| Illinois | 2,810 | $159,670 | 0.66 |
| Indiana | 1,670 | $108,250 | 0.74 |
| Iowa | 610 | $109,760 | 0.56 |
| Kansas | 240 | $153,820 | 0.24 |
| Kentucky | 400 | $126,440 | 0.29 |
| Louisiana | $115,950 | ||
| Maine | 430 | $141,360 | 0.97 |
| Maryland | 4,820 | $168,620 | 2.49 |
| Massachusetts | 10,590 | $267,290 | 4.16 |
| Michigan | 2,220 | $129,070 | 0.72 |
| Minnesota | 1,530 | $136,450 | 0.74 |
| Mississippi | 210 | $119,430 | 0.26 |
| Missouri | 1,230 | $129,410 | 0.60 |
| Montana | 370 | $119,430 | 1.05 |
| Nebraska | 550 | $120,620 | 0.76 |
| Nevada | 320 | $112,260 | 0.30 |
| New Hampshire | 240 | $134,010 | 0.50 |
| New Jersey | 10,040 | $207,030 | 3.35 |
| New Mexico | 400 | Not available | 0.65 |
| New York | 5,690 | $134,680 | 0.84 |
| North Carolina | 6,010 | $173,870 | 1.74 |
| North Dakota | 140 | $131,370 | 0.45 |
| Ohio | 1,560 | $137,170 | 0.40 |
| Oklahoma | 310 | $112,260 | 0.26 |
| Oregon | 1,700 | $143,120 | 1.24 |
| Pennsylvania | 7,980 | $137,900 | 1.88 |
| Rhode Island | 200 | $130,480 | 0.58 |
| South Carolina | 780 | $131,140 | 0.48 |
| South Dakota | 180 | $128,140 | 0.55 |
| Tennessee | 880 | $124,530 | 0.38 |
| Texas | 7,470 | $129,960 | 0.76 |
| Utah | $119,430 | ||
| Vermont | 290 | $131,290 | 1.37 |
| Virginia | 1,470 | $150,570 | 0.51 |
| Washington | 2,490 | $182,480 | 1.00 |
| West Virginia | 160 | $138,010 | 0.32 |
| Wisconsin | 1,070 | $128,890 | 0.52 |
| Wyoming | 150 | $109,300 | 0.74 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Environmental Engineers | 4 | 0.983 |
| 2 | Water/Wastewater Engineers | 4 | 0.973 |
| 3 | Wind Energy Engineers | 4 | 0.967 |
| 4 | Nuclear Engineers | 4 | 0.967 |
| 5 | Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers | 4 | 0.966 |
| 6 | Civil Engineers | 4 | 0.965 |
| 7 | Industrial Ecologists | 5 | 0.964 |
| 8 | Environmental Restoration Planners | 5 | 0.964 |
| 9 | Petroleum Engineers | 4 | 0.964 |
| 10 | Transportation Engineers | 4 | 0.964 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Water Resource Specialists, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water/Wastewater Engineers | Operations Analysis | 1.26 | 0.973 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | Operations Analysis | 1.00 | 0.967 |
| Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | Operations Analysis | 1.00 | 0.953 |
| Landscape Architects | Operations Analysis | 1.13 | 0.952 |
| Geodetic Surveyors | Mathematics | 1.13 | 0.942 |
| Logistics Engineers | Operations Analysis | 1.50 | 0.942 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | Operations Analysis | 1.38 | 0.934 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Technology Design | 1.63 | 0.933 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Water Resource Specialists, excluding software Water Resource Specialists already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D | 10 of 20 | 15.4x |
| Bentley MicroStation | 11 of 20 | 10.6x |
| Microsoft Project | 17 of 20 | 3.9x |
| Python | 14 of 20 | 4.9x |
| The MathWorks MATLAB | 12 of 20 | 5.0x |
| HEC-1 | 4 of 20 | 46.2x |
| Computer aided design and drafting software CADD | 6 of 20 | 12.6x |
| Business software applications | 4 of 20 | 26.4x |
| Structure query language SQL | 5 of 20 | 11.0x |
| C++ | 9 of 20 | 3.8x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.62 | 4.00 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 3.25 | 3.75 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 3.25 | 3.75 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.25 | 3.75 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.50 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.62 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.25 |
| Science | Essential skill | 3.00 | 3.25 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.62 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 3.25 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.62 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.62 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.62 |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.50 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering and Technology | 4.62 | 6.23 |
| Mathematics | 4.18 | 5.45 |
| Design | 3.95 | 5.36 |
| Physics | 3.86 | 4.86 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.55 | 4.91 |
| English Language | 3.41 | 4.45 |
| Geography | 3.36 | 5.09 |
| Building and Construction | 3.27 | 4.14 |
| Law and Government | 3.23 | 3.77 |
| Chemistry | 3.18 | 4.64 |
| Biology | 2.95 | 4.36 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 2.95 | 4.18 |
| Administration and Management | 2.86 | 4.05 |
| Education and Training | 2.82 | 4.36 |
| Public Safety and Security | 2.82 | 3.55 |
| Economics and Accounting | 2.73 | 3.23 |
| Sales and Marketing | 2.62 | 3.77 |
| Communications and Media | 2.59 | 2.55 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 2.45 | 3.05 |
| Mechanical | 2.10 | 2.64 |
| Telecommunications | 2.09 | 2.18 |
| Transportation | 2.00 | 2.18 |
| Production and Processing | 2.00 | 1.91 |
| Administrative | 1.95 | 2.32 |
| History and Archeology | 1.82 | 2.14 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 1.68 | 1.73 |
| Psychology | 1.68 | 1.45 |
| Foreign Language | 1.45 | 1.09 |
| Food Production | 1.32 | not rated |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.32 | not rated |
| Therapy and Counseling | 1.24 | not rated |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 1.23 | not rated |
| Fine Arts | 1.09 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Expression | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Written Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Oral Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Written Expression | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Information Ordering | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Near Vision | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Category Flexibility | 3.38 | 3.38 |
| Number Facility | 3.25 | 3.75 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.25 | 3.62 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.25 | 3.50 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 3.25 | 3.50 |
| Originality | 3.25 | 3.50 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Far Vision | 3.00 | 3.62 |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.00 | 3.25 |
| Selective Attention | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Visualization | 2.88 | 3.12 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Time Sharing | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Memorization | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Depth Perception | 2.00 | 1.75 |
| Finger Dexterity | 1.75 | 1.50 |
| Control Precision | 1.75 | 1.38 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 1.62 | 0.62 |
| Trunk Strength | 1.50 | 0.75 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 1.12 | not rated |
| Manual Dexterity | 1.12 | not rated |
| Spatial Orientation | 1.12 | not rated |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 1.12 | not rated |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
| Dynamic Strength | 1.00 | not rated |
| Explosive Strength | 1.00 | not rated |
| Extent Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
| Glare Sensitivity | 1.00 | not rated |
| Gross Body Coordination | 1.00 | not rated |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 1.00 | not rated |
| Night Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Peripheral Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Rate Control | 1.00 | not rated |
| Reaction Time | 1.00 | not rated |
| Response Orientation | 1.00 | not rated |
| Sound Localization | 1.00 | not rated |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.00 | not rated |
| Stamina | 1.00 | not rated |
| Static Strength | 1.00 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- ESRI ArcGIS software in demand
- Microsoft Excel in demand
- Microsoft Office software in demand
- Geographic information system GIS systems in demand
- Autodesk AutoCAD hot
- Microsoft Outlook hot
- Microsoft PowerPoint hot
- Microsoft Word hot
- Structured query language SQL hot
- DHI MIKE URBAN
- Database software
- ESRI ArcGIS Spatial Analyst
- ESRI ArcInfo
- ESRI ArcPad
- ESRI ArcView
- ESRI ArcView 3D Analyst
- FishXing
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Google Earth Pro
- HEC-HMS
- HEC-RAS
- Laboratory information management system LIMS
- MWH Soft H2ONET MSX
- MWH Soft InfoSWMM
- Mapping software
- RIVERMorph
- TIBCO Spotfire S+
- Wallingford Software InfoSewer
- Wallingford Software InfoWater
All 34
- Wallingford Software InfoWorks CS
- Wallingford Software InfoWorks WS
- Water flow modeling software
- Web browser software
Where it concentrates
BLS doesn't publish wages for Water Resource Specialists separately. These are the figures for Natural Sciences Managers (11-9121), its parent occupation.
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 2,150 | 12.78 | $182,230 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 2,050 | 8.52 | $183,540 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 9,570 | 5.06 | $291,000 |
| Corvallis, OR | 100 | 3.76 | $144,470 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 300 | 3.36 | $217,480 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 5,530 | 3.33 | $225,230 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1,640 | 3.17 | $173,510 |
| Anchorage, AK | 380 | 3.06 | $134,010 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 360 | 2.76 | $79,460 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 5,510 | 2.72 | $172,900 |