Also called: Water Commissioner, Water Rights Analyst
In Western states, enforces who gets how much river water based on century-old water rights.
During drought you drive to canal headgates and lock them shut when junior water-rights holders must stop diverting. You measure flows, settle disputes between ranchers, and keep records that can decide whether a farm survives the summer.
State government pay; estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in natural resources, engineering, or ag; some positions accept local experience.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Natural Resources, Agricultural Engineering, Water Resources.
Growing about average. Water scarcity is making this role more important.
Low risk for 10 years. Remote gauges automate some measuring; settling disputes and enforcing water rights in the field stay human.
Classes: Earth science, Agriculture science, Government.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.