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Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health score 46 out of 100, which is elevated exposure to AI. That ranks #333 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 26 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 6 on its own and 11 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 4 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

46/ 100
Elevated
Rank
#333of 923 jobs
US workers
34,670BLS, May 2025
Median pay
$55,090a year
In real AI use
4 of 26tasks, April–May 2026

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

  • AI can speed this up on its own: 6 (23%)
  • AI can speed this up with extra software: 11 (42%)
  • Little or no AI speed-up: 9 (35%)
  • Discuss test results and analyses with customers.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Perform statistical analysis of environmental data.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Distribute permits, closure plans, or cleanup plans.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
  • Calculate amount of pollutant in samples or compute air pollution or gas flow in industrial processes, using chemical and mathematical formulas.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
  • Develop testing procedures.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
  • Develop or implement programs for monitoring of environmental pollution or radiation.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Provide information or technical or program assistance to government representatives, employers, or the general public on the issues of public health, environmental protection, or workplace safety.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Inspect sanitary conditions at public facilities.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Examine and analyze material for presence and concentration of contaminants, such as asbestos, using variety of microscopes.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Develop or implement site recycling or hazardous waste stream programs.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Analyze potential environmental impacts of production process changes, and recommend steps to mitigate negative impacts.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Make recommendations to control or eliminate unsafe conditions at workplaces or public facilities.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Maintain files, such as hazardous waste databases, chemical usage data, personnel exposure information, or diagrams showing equipment locations.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Direct activities of workers in laboratory.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Determine amounts and kinds of chemicals to use in destroying harmful organisms or removing impurities from purification systems.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Calibrate microscopes or test instruments.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Monitor emission control devices to ensure they are operating properly and comply with state and federal regulations.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards, such as high noise levels, radiation, or potential lighting hazards.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Set up equipment or stations to monitor and collect pollutants from sites, such as smoke stacks, manufacturing plants, or mechanical equipment.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Weigh, analyze, or measure collected sample particles, such as lead, coal dust, or rock, to determine concentration of pollutants.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Initiate procedures to close down or fine establishments violating environmental or health regulations.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Conduct standardized tests to ensure materials or supplies used throughout power supply systems meet processing and safety specifications.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

Similar jobs, lower exposure

Related occupations that score at least 10 points lower.

Other jobs in this field

Life, Physical, and Social Science occupations close to this one.

Questions about environmental science and protection technicians, including health and AI

Will AI replace environmental science and protection technicians, including health?

Not entirely. Parts of the job are likely to change as AI takes over routine tasks. Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health score 46 out of 100 (elevated exposure), #333 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 17 of the job's 26 tasks, 6 of them on its own, while 9 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which environmental science and protection technicians, including health tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Discuss test results and analyses with customers"; "Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results"; "Perform statistical analysis of environmental data".

Which environmental science and protection technicians, including health tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis"; "Calibrate microscopes or test instruments"; "Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 4 of the 26 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as environmental science and protection technicians, including health, and what do they earn?

About 34,670 people in the US, with median pay of $55,090 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.

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