Federal Hydrologic Technician — GS-1316. The verified average salary for GS-1316 Hydrologic Technicians is $76,031/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Data from 1,349 non-redacted OPM records (April 2026).
The GS-1316 Hydrologic Technician series showed 1,349 non-redacted federal employees in the April 2026 OPM snapshot. The verified average salary is $76,031/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Use our GS Pay Calculator for your exact salary by grade, step, and location.
Salary = base pay + locality pay; excludes benefits. REDACTED records (OPM data release policy) are excluded from averages. Pay plan: General Schedule (GS). View occupation salary detail on OPM FedScope →
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| Metric | Value | Source & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Series Salary | $76,031 | OPM EHRI Snapshot (April 2026). 1,349 non-redacted records. Base + locality pay; excludes benefits. |
| Non-redacted records (sample size) | 1,349 | OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026. REDACTED records excluded per OPM data release policy. |
| Redaction rate | 4.6% | OPM redacts salary records for privacy-sensitive positions (DoD, law enforcement, intelligence). FedTools suppresses series averages when redaction exceeds 20%. |
| Pay plan(s) | General Schedule (GS) | Primary pay plan(s) used for this occupational series in the federal government. |
| Typical grades | GS-4 to GS-9 | Most common grade range for this series. Actual assignment depends on the position description and agency. |
| Locality pay | 17.06% – 44.15% | Varies by duty station across 58 OPM pay areas. Rate × base pay = locality supplement. Included in the average salary above. |
| Pay cap (2026) | $197,200 | Executive Schedule Level IV. Applies to GS employees whose locality-adjusted salary would exceed this amount. Title 38 and special pay plans may exceed this cap. |
Based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026). Actual grade, step, and locality assignment varies by position and location.
Representative duties for the 1316 occupational series based on OPM classification standards. Specific responsibilities vary by position and agency.
Hydrologic Technicians are the field workforce of the USGS National Streamflow Network, physically measuring water levels and streamflow at thousands of gauges nationwide. Distinct from Hydrologists (GS-1315), who hold professional degrees and perform analysis; technicians typically enter with an associate degree or relevant technical experience. The $76,031 average — between GS-7 and GS-9 — reflects the paraprofessional field nature of the work. USGS stream gauges provide real-time data for NWS flood forecasts, drinking water management, and drought monitoring across the country.
Your actual pay depends on your GS grade, step, and duty station locality. Use our free calculator for an instant, accurate result.
annualized_adjusted_basic_pay field captures base pay + locality pay under all pay plans (GS, Title 38, special rates). REDACTED records are excluded per OPM data release policy. FedTools publishes series-specific averages only when the non-redacted sample is representative (redaction ≤ 20%, n ≥ 50). This page does not constitute financial or career advice. Always verify current pay rates with your agency HR office and OPM.gov.