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Let’s dive into this splashy STEM career with a profile of a hydrologic technician. Here’s a peek at the flowing fun Richie Dang has as a physical scientist through his own words and on-the-job photos.

Richie Dang (he/him)
Physical Scientist and Hydrologic Technician
Education: Bachelor of Science and Master of Environmental Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University

My job helps maintain the health and safety of local water. As a hydrologic technician, I am responsible for collecting and maintaining data. County officials and other stakeholders use the information I provide to better understand the quality of their local water and determine whether their policies, stream restorations and other projects have been effective in improving water quality in the area.

A typical day on the job starts with me visiting the National Water Information System website to check my sampling sites in places like Smith Creek, Mechumps Creek, the Rappahannock River, the James River and the Pamunkey River. I’m looking for any equipment issues or unusual data that needs to be addressed. After that, the rest of my day can be filled with a variety of activities. I could be:

• Going to other sites to collect storm samples.
• Helping with installation of equipment or gage houses.
• Collecting groundwater samples for unique projects.
• Taking discharge measurements in stormwater culverts.
• Testing equipment that needs or has come back from repair.
• Assisting in Geographic Information System projects.
• Figuring out how to work new equipment.

The list goes on and on. The variability in my day-to-day work keeps it interesting!

When I was looking for a career, I wanted a balance between being outdoors with being in the office. This job nailed that sweet spot!

Being a hydrologic technician has allowed me to travel and see lots of new places. I’ve visited nearly 25 public water supply districts in West Virginia for an industrial water contamination study, traveled to a water reclamation facility in North Carolina to help with COVID-19 sampling and been all over Virginia for other projects.

To start as a hydrologic technician you generally need a bachelor’s degree. Salaries begin around $37,000 in the Richmond area. Pay can vary depending on location, cost of living and prior qualifications like experience or higher degrees.

Explore Richie’s Site Data

• USGS Current Conditions for USGS 02035000 James River at Cartersville, VA
• USGS Current Conditions for USGS 01673000 Pamunkey River near Hanover, VA
• USGS Current Conditions for USGS 01668000 Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg, VA
• USGS Current Conditions for USGS 01632900 Smith Creek near New Market, VA
• USGS Current Conditions for USGS 0167300055 Mechumps Creek at Hill Carter Parkway at Ashland, VA

Who’s hiring hydrologic technicians?

• Check out current openings on the United States Office of Personnel Management website