Education and Employment in Hydrogeology

Activity in hydrogeology has increased dramatically in recent years. Position descriptions in want ads, published studies describing the working professional, and published descriptions of hydrogeology programs were examined to determine trends. The number of advertised positions for hydrogeologists is 10 times that of 5 years ago with the percentage of the total increasing from 50 to 75 in the private consulting field. The requirement for more than four years of experience has increased from 20 to 65 percent of the position descriptions. At least a master's degree was stipulated in over half of the position descriptions. Writing and management skills are stressed in recent ads. In general, the want ads parallel the profile of currently employed hydrogeologists. Educational programs meet most training requirements for the prospective professional except in the area of low-temperature geochemistry. Sixty percent of the positions advertised list skills in groundwater quality and/or contamination as importan...