Management
Water Resource Specialists
Also called: Water Resources Planner
US median pay
$167,220
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+8.2%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
9,200
112,200 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.
What they do day to day
- Perform hydrologic, hydraulic, or water quality modeling.
- Analyze storm water systems to identify opportunities for water resource improvements.
- Conduct, or oversee the conduct of, investigations on matters such as water storage, wastewater discharge, pollutants, permits, or other compliance and regulatory issues.
- Develop strategies for watershed operations to meet water supply and conservation goals or to ensure regulatory compliance with clean water laws or regulations.
- Conduct technical studies for water resources on topics such as pollutants and water treatment options.
- Review or evaluate designs for water detention facilities, storm drains, flood control facilities, or other hydraulic structures.
- Present water resource proposals to government, public interest groups, or community groups.
- Develop plans to protect watershed health or rehabilitate watersheds.
- Write proposals, project reports, informational brochures, or other documents on wastewater purification, water supply and demand, or other water resource subjects.
- Conduct cost-benefit studies for watershed improvement projects or water management alternatives.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Time Management3.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.8/5
- Systems Evaluation3.6/5
- Systems Analysis3.6/5
- Coordination3.2/5
- Persuasion3.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
Knowledge
- Engineering and Technology4.6/5
- Mathematics4.2/5
- Design4.0/5
- Physics3.9/5
- Computers and Electronics3.5/5
- English Language3.4/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Master's degree50%
- Bachelor's degree50%
Who this job suits
Mostly Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.