Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 19-4042.00
Perform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health, under the direction of an environmental scientist, engineer, or other specialist. May collect samples of gases, soil, water, and other materials for testing.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
High· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.144
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.38
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only26 rated tasks · 17 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (65.4%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 1 rated task is not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; its score is kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Tasks of O*NET-SOC 2010 occupation 19-4091.00 Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health, linked to this occupation by the O*NET-SOC 2010 to 2019 crosswalk
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % | APIRaw / share % |
|---|---|---|
Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.19-4091.00 | 0.004457.1 | 0.0086100.0 |
Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards, such as high noise levels, radiation, or potential lighting hazards.19-4091.00 | 0.001823.4 | —0 |
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.19-4091.00 | 0.001519.5 | —0 |
| Not observed on any surface — 22 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states. | ||
Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution. | —0 | —0 |
Discuss test results and analyses with customers. | —0 | —0 |
Maintain files, such as hazardous waste databases, chemical usage data, personnel exposure information, or diagrams showing equipment locations. | —0 | —0 |
Set up equipment or stations to monitor and collect pollutants from sites, such as smoke stacks, manufacturing plants, or mechanical equipment. | —0 | —0 |
Develop or implement programs for monitoring of environmental pollution or radiation. | —0 | —0 |
Respond to and investigate hazardous conditions or spills, or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis. | —0 | —0 |
Calibrate microscopes or test instruments. | —0 | —0 |
Make recommendations to control or eliminate unsafe conditions at workplaces or public facilities. | —0 | —0 |
Inspect sanitary conditions at public facilities. | —0 | —0 |
Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis. | —0 | —0 |
Calculate amount of pollutant in samples or compute air pollution or gas flow in industrial processes, using chemical and mathematical formulas. | —0 | —0 |
Initiate procedures to close down or fine establishments violating environmental or health regulations. | —0 | —0 |
Determine amounts and kinds of chemicals to use in destroying harmful organisms or removing impurities from purification systems. | —0 | —0 |
Perform statistical analysis of environmental data. | —0 | —0 |
Distribute permits, closure plans, or cleanup plans. | —0 | —0 |
Weigh, analyze, or measure collected sample particles, such as lead, coal dust, or rock to determine concentration of pollutants. | —0 | —0 |
Examine and analyze material for presence and concentration of contaminants, such as asbestos, using variety of microscopes. | —0 | —0 |
Develop testing procedures or direct activities of workers in laboratory. | —0 | —0 |
Conduct standardized tests to ensure materials or supplies used throughout power supply systems meet processing and safety specifications. | —0 | —0 |
Analyze potential environmental impacts of production process changes and recommend steps to mitigate negative impacts. | —0 | —0 |
Develop or implement site recycling or hazardous waste stream programs. | —0 | —0 |
Monitor emission control devices to ensure they are operating properly and are in compliance with state and federal regulations. | —0 | —0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.O*NET Task ID 1549 | 1.0 |
Calculate amount of pollutant in samples or compute air pollution or gas flow in industrial processes, using chemical and mathematical formulas.O*NET Task ID 1557 | 1.0 |
Discuss test results and analyses with customers.O*NET Task ID 1560 | 1.0 |
Perform statistical analysis of environmental data.O*NET Task ID 1562 | 1.0 |
Distribute permits, closure plans, or cleanup plans.O*NET Task ID 1564 | 1.0 |
Develop testing procedures.O*NET Task ID 20871 | 1.0 |
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.O*NET Task ID 1552 | 0.5 |
Make recommendations to control or eliminate unsafe conditions at workplaces or public facilities.O*NET Task ID 1554 | 0.5 |
Inspect sanitary conditions at public facilities.O*NET Task ID 1555 | 0.5 |
Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis.O*NET Task ID 1556 | 0.5 |
Determine amounts and kinds of chemicals to use in destroying harmful organisms or removing impurities from purification systems.O*NET Task ID 1559 | 0.5 |
Maintain files, such as hazardous waste databases, chemical usage data, personnel exposure information, or diagrams showing equipment locations.O*NET Task ID 1561 | 0.5 |
Examine and analyze material for presence and concentration of contaminants, such as asbestos, using variety of microscopes.O*NET Task ID 1567 | 0.5 |
Develop or implement programs for monitoring of environmental pollution or radiation.O*NET Task ID 1570 | 0.5 |
Analyze potential environmental impacts of production process changes, and recommend steps to mitigate negative impacts.O*NET Task ID 19797 | 0.5 |
Develop or implement site recycling or hazardous waste stream programs.O*NET Task ID 19798 | 0.5 |
Direct activities of workers in laboratory.O*NET Task ID 20870 | 0.5 |
Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution.O*NET Task ID 1550 | 0.0 |
Calibrate microscopes or test instruments.O*NET Task ID 1553 | 0.0 |
Initiate procedures to close down or fine establishments violating environmental or health regulations.O*NET Task ID 1558 | 0.0 |
Set up equipment or stations to monitor and collect pollutants from sites, such as smoke stacks, manufacturing plants, or mechanical equipment.O*NET Task ID 1563 | 0.0 |
Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards, such as high noise levels, radiation, or potential lighting hazards.O*NET Task ID 1565 | 0.0 |
Weigh, analyze, or measure collected sample particles, such as lead, coal dust, or rock, to determine concentration of pollutants.O*NET Task ID 1566 | 0.0 |
Conduct standardized tests to ensure materials or supplies used throughout power supply systems meet processing and safety specifications.O*NET Task ID 1569 | 0.0 |
Monitor emission control devices to ensure they are operating properly and comply with state and federal regulations.O*NET Task ID 19799 | 0.0 |
Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis.O*NET Task ID 20869 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (25)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results. | Core |
| Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution. | Core |
| 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. | Core |
| Calibrate microscopes or test instruments. | Core |
| Make recommendations to control or eliminate unsafe conditions at workplaces or public facilities. | Core |
| Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis. | Core |
| Calculate amount of pollutant in samples or compute air pollution or gas flow in industrial processes, using chemical and mathematical formulas. | Core |
| Discuss test results and analyses with customers. | Core |
| Maintain files, such as hazardous waste databases, chemical usage data, personnel exposure information, or diagrams showing equipment locations. | Core |
| Perform statistical analysis of environmental data. | Core |
| Set up equipment or stations to monitor and collect pollutants from sites, such as smoke stacks, manufacturing plants, or mechanical equipment. | Core |
| Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards, such as high noise levels, radiation, or potential lighting hazards. | Core |
| Weigh, analyze, or measure collected sample particles, such as lead, coal dust, or rock, to determine concentration of pollutants. | Core |
| Develop or implement programs for monitoring of environmental pollution or radiation. | Core |
| Analyze potential environmental impacts of production process changes, and recommend steps to mitigate negative impacts. | Core |
| Develop or implement site recycling or hazardous waste stream programs. | Core |
| Monitor emission control devices to ensure they are operating properly and comply with state and federal regulations. | Core |
| Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis. | Core |
| Direct activities of workers in laboratory. | Core |
| Develop testing procedures. | Core |
| Inspect sanitary conditions at public facilities. | Supplemental |
| Initiate procedures to close down or fine establishments violating environmental or health regulations. | Supplemental |
| Determine amounts and kinds of chemicals to use in destroying harmful organisms or removing impurities from purification systems. | Supplemental |
| Distribute permits, closure plans, or cleanup plans. | Supplemental |
| Examine and analyze material for presence and concentration of contaminants, such as asbestos, using variety of microscopes. | Supplemental |
0.61/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution. | E2 structured facilities |
| Calibrate microscopes or test instruments. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Set up equipment or stations to monitor and collect pollutants from sites, such as smoke stacks, manufacturing plants, or mechanical equipment. | E0 none |
| Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards, such as high noise levels, radiation, or potential lighting hazards. | E2 structured facilities |
| Weigh, analyze, or measure collected sample particles, such as lead, coal dust, or rock, to determine concentration of pollutants. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Develop or implement programs for monitoring of environmental pollution or radiation. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Monitor emission control devices to ensure they are operating properly and comply with state and federal regulations. | E0 none |
| Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis. | E0 none |
| Inspect sanitary conditions at public facilities. | E0 none |
| Examine and analyze material for presence and concentration of contaminants, such as asbestos, using variety of microscopes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 36K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 39K
- Change (2025–35)
- +6.9%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $55,090
- Typical education needed for entry
- Associate's degree
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23741 | 대기 환경 시험원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 23742 | 수질 환경 시험원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 23743 | 토양 환경 시험원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 23746 | 환경 영향 시험원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 23744 | 소음 진동 시험원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 24920 | 위생사 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 23745 | 폐기물 처리 시험원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 3141Life Science Technicians (excluding Medical)
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- environmental technicianESCO 3111.2Same scope
Environmental technicians investigate sources of pollution and aid in the development of pollution prevention and environment protection plans. They take samples of soil, water or other materials and perform tests to analyse the pollution level and identify its source.
- hazardous materials inspectorESCO 3257.4.1This occupation is broader
Hazardous materials inspectors inspect facilities which handle hazardous materials to ensure compliance to health and safety regulations, and hazardous materials handling legislation. They investigate violations, oversee tests of emergency and risk response plans, and consult on the improvement of the facilities' operations and procedures, as well as on hazardous materials regulations. They also advise plants on potential sources of danger to a community, and on better safety regulations.
- air pollution analystESCO 3111.2.1Overlapping, not the same
Air pollution analysts conduct field and lab tests to examine the pollution of air in different areas. They also identify sources of pollution.
- groundwater monitoring technicianESCO 3111.2.2Overlapping, not the same
Groundwater monitoring technician monitor the environment, gathering data in the form of samples and performing tests in a laboratory or field, to investigate potential sources of pollution. They also perform maintenance tasks on the monitoring equipment.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H1530 | Technicien / Technicienne de la qualité de l'eau | This occupation is broader |
| H1303 | Technicien / Technicienne en Hygiène, Sécurité, Environnement industriel (HSE) | Overlapping, not the same |
| K2315 | Inspecteur / Inspectrice de salubrité publique | Related, not a match |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 3326 | Técnicos en prevención de riesgos laborales y salud ambiental | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| 3129 | Otros técnicos de las ciencias físicas, químicas, medioambientales y de las ingenierías | Related, not a match |
| 3141 | Técnicos en ciencias biológicas (excepto en áreas sanitarias) | Related, not a match |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 42202 | Berufe in der Umweltschutztechnik (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broader |
| 42203 | Berufe in der Umweltschutztechnik (ohne Spezialisierung) - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | This occupation is broader |
| 53322 | Berufe in der Gesundheitsaufsicht und Hygieneüberwachung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 42283 | Berufe in der Umweltschutztechnik (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 42323 | Gewässer-, Immissionsschutz- und Abfallbeauftragte - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 119 | その他の技術者 | Related, not a match |
| 159 | 他に分類されない保健医療従事者 | Related, not a match |
| 249 | 他に分類されない専門的職業従事者 | Related, not a match |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources