← All 785 jobsFile 19-4042
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
Mostly untouched
AI barely touches this work so far. The BLS expects 6.9% more of these jobs by 2035, faster than the 3.5% average.
- Rank
- #379 of 785 jobs, by how much of the work AI does
- US jobs, 2025 to 2035
- +6.9% All jobs: +3.5%
- Median US pay
- $55,090 a year, 2025
- People doing it
- 36,400 in the US, with about 5,300 openings a year
The work, 21 activities
The job description, marked up.
Every activity in this job, the biggest first. Tap a line for the evidence.
- deleAI does this
- +AIAI helps
- stetStill yours
Still yours: Maintain operational records12%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Analyze environmental or geospatial data8%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Develop plans for managing or preserving natural resources7%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Direct scientific or technical activities7%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Collect environmental or biological samples7%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Present research or technical information7%
AI performed this in about 1 in 30 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
Still yours: Prepare specimens or materials for testing6%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Confer with clients to determine needs or order specifications5%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 502 conversations, and it got them there 54% of the time.
AI does this: Advise others on legal or regulatory matters5%
AI performed this in about 1 in 456 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
AI helps with this: Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance4%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 510 conversations, and it got them there 94% of the time.
AI helps with this: Set up equipment4%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 511 conversations, and it got them there 95% of the time.
AI does this: Advise others on business or operational matters4%
AI performed this in about 1 in 290 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
Still yours: Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Assess compliance with environmental standards or regulations3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Develop research plans or methodologies3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Inspect facilities or equipment3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Investigate the environmental impact of industrial or development activities3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Supervise personnel activities2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Prepare documentation for contracts, applications, or permits2%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,066 conversations, and it got them there 94% of the time.
AI does this: Determine operational methods or procedures2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 461 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
AI helps with this: Analyze biological or chemical substances or related data2%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 660 conversations, and it got them there 76% of the time.
2025 to 2035
Ten years from now.
For every 100 of these jobs in 2025, the BLS projects 107 in 2035. Across all US jobs, about 104.
About 5,300 openings a year, from growth and from people who retire or move on.
Nearby
Where your skills travel.
Jobs that share the most work with this one, where AI does less of it.
- Shares 36% of the workGeological Technicians11% AI does, against 18% here+3.6% by 2035 · $53,350 · Associate’s degree
- Shares 34% of the workAgricultural Technicians11% AI does, against 18% here+5.4% by 2035 · $49,630 · Associate’s degree
- Shares 30% of the workBiological Technicians0% AI does, against 18% here+7.4% by 2035 · $57,510 · Bachelor’s degree
The wire
On the wire.
Nothing filed about this job yet. The latest from the Planet front:
How to read this file.
deleAI does this. In US Bing Copilot conversations from January to September 2024, AI itself performed the activity, completed it and made a real difference often enough to count.
+AIAI helps. People brought the activity to AI as their own goal, and it usually got them there.
stetStill yours. It barely shows up in AI use, AI rarely finishes it, or in this job it needs hands.
Shares are weighted by how much each activity matters in the job, using O*NET. Microsoft’s own AI applicability score for this job is 0.15, higher than 53% of jobs.
Doing an activity is not doing a job. The researchers behind this data warn against reading it as job loss, and so do we. It is US data; the shape of the work travels.
Sources: Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025) · O*NET OnLine, 19-4042 · BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
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