Back to all jobs
Research & DevelopmentGrowingBright Outlook

Water Resource Specialist

Mid-level

Also known as: Community Resource Consultant, Environmental Resource Specialist, Hydrotechnical Specialist, Hydrotechnician

Research & DevelopmentBachelor's Degree

Job Description

Water Resource Specialists design and put into action plans for managing water supply, ensuring water quality, and meeting environmental regulations. You'll spend most of your time indoors, collaborating with teams, and using email, phone, and meetings to communicate your findings. This role requires strong critical thinking, math skills, and active learning to solve complex water issues. It suits those who enjoy reading, writing, and speaking, and want to protect our most vital natural resource.
Water ResourcesHydrologyEnvironmental ScienceWater ManagementEnvironmental EngineeringResearch & DevelopmentPublic PolicyCreativeLeadershipDesign

Skills employers are looking for in 2027

Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.

Hot technologies
Autodesk AutoCADESRI ArcGIS softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordStructured query language SQL
In-demand software
ESRI ArcGIS softwareGeographic information system GIS systemsMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office software

Job Outlook 2025-2035

Bright Outlook

O*NET flags this career as a Bright Outlook occupation: grows rapidly over the next decade.

Projected growth

+8.2%

US average: +3.5%

Job openings

9,200

per year (US)

Jobs today

112,200

in 2025 → 121,500 (2035)

Typical entry education

Bachelor's degree

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

Work Environment

How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.

Email & digital communication
High
Working in a team
High
Contact with others
High
Freedom to make decisions
High
Time pressure
Moderate
Time spent sitting
High
Working outdoors
Moderate
Indoor, climate-controlled
High
Dealing with customers
Moderate
Level of competition
Moderate

Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)

Future Perspective

Growing Job Market

The outlook for Water Resource Specialists is strong, with rapid growth expected through 2035. The field is projected to grow by 8.2%, creating about 9,200 job openings each year. Specialists earn a median annual wage of $167,220, reflecting the high demand and importance of this career.

Career ladder

Often before this role

  • Environmental Technician
  • Hydrology Research Assistant
  • Environmental Compliance Specialist

Where it can lead

  • Senior Water Resources Manager
  • Environmental Policy Analyst
  • Director of Sustainability

Impact of AI on this Job

AI will significantly enhance water resource management by enabling more precise forecasting of water availability and demand, optimizing distribution networks, and improving water quality monitoring through advanced sensor data analysis. It will also automate regulatory compliance checks and support predictive maintenance of infrastructure, allowing specialists to focus on strategic planning and complex problem-solving.

Similar Jobs

Operations Research Analyst

Mid-level

Biochemist

Mid-level

Crimineel Researcher

Mid-level

Farmaceutic Scientist

Mid-level

Salary

$167,220

Median annual wage, BLS 2025

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum educational requirement for this position

Relevant Studies

Based on job level & field

Hydrology and Water Resources Science

Bachelor • Natural Sciences & Mathematics • 4 years

Environmental Engineering

Bachelor • Nature & Environment • 4 years

Environmental Engineering

University • Tech & Engineering • 2 years

Aquatic Biology/Limnology

Bachelor • Healthcare & Life Sciences • 4 years

Irrigation Management Technology/Technician

Bachelor • Nature & Environment • 4 years

Natural Resources/Conservation, General

Bachelor • Nature & Environment • 4 years

Current Vacancies

IndeedLinkedIn