Geothermal Technicians
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 49-9099.01
Perform technical activities at power plants or individual installations necessary for the generation of power from geothermal energy sources. Monitor and control operating activities at geothermal power generation facilities and perform maintenance and repairs as necessary. Install, test, and maintain residential and commercial geothermal heat pumps.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Moderate· 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
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Group-level value
Scale, 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
0.11–0.12· 2 ISCO-08 groups
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.
ILO value for each linked ISCO-08 group
- ISCO-08 7533Sewing, Embroidery and Related Workers0.12
- ISCO-08 9622Odd Job Persons0.11
Task-level exposure
Show 23 hidden tasks24 rated tasks · 7 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (29.2%)
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
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % |
|---|---|
Test water sources for factors such as flow volume and contaminant presence.49-9099.01 | 0.0015100.0 |
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 |
|---|---|
Prepare and maintain logs, reports, or other documentation of work performed.O*NET Task ID 17955 | 1.0 |
Calculate heat loss and heat gain factors for residential properties to determine heating and cooling required by installed geothermal systems.O*NET Task ID 17937 | 0.5 |
Design and lay out geothermal heat systems according to property characteristics, heating and cooling requirements, piping and equipment requirements, applicable regulations, or other factors.O*NET Task ID 17938 | 0.5 |
Determine the type of geothermal loop system most suitable to a specific property and its heating and cooling needs.O*NET Task ID 17939 | 0.5 |
Identify equipment options, such as compressors, and make appropriate selections.O*NET Task ID 17942 | 0.5 |
Collect and record data associated with operating geothermal power plants or well fields.O*NET Task ID 17950 | 0.5 |
Determine whether emergency or auxiliary systems will be needed to keep properties heated or cooled in extreme weather conditions.O*NET Task ID 17951 | 0.5 |
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 (24)
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 |
|---|---|
| Identify and correct malfunctions of geothermal plant equipment, electrical systems, instrumentation, or controls. | Core |
| Monitor and adjust operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems. | Core |
| Identify equipment options, such as compressors, and make appropriate selections. | Core |
| Perform pre- and post-installation pressure, flow, and related tests of vertical and horizontal geothermal loop piping. | Core |
| Collect and record data associated with operating geothermal power plants or well fields. | Core |
| Determine whether emergency or auxiliary systems will be needed to keep properties heated or cooled in extreme weather conditions. | Core |
| Prepare and maintain logs, reports, or other documentation of work performed. | Core |
| Install, maintain, or repair ground or water source-coupled heat pumps to heat and cool residential or commercial building air or water. | Supplemental |
| Adjust power production systems to meet load and distribution demands. | Supplemental |
| Backfill piping trenches to protect pipes from damage. | Supplemental |
| Calculate heat loss and heat gain factors for residential properties to determine heating and cooling required by installed geothermal systems. | Supplemental |
| Design and lay out geothermal heat systems according to property characteristics, heating and cooling requirements, piping and equipment requirements, applicable regulations, or other factors. | Supplemental |
| Determine the type of geothermal loop system most suitable to a specific property and its heating and cooling needs. | Supplemental |
| Dig trenches for system piping to appropriate depths and lay piping in trenches. | Supplemental |
| Prepare newly installed geothermal heat systems for operation by flushing, purging, or other actions. | Supplemental |
| Install and maintain geothermal system instrumentation or controls. | Supplemental |
| Maintain electrical switchgear, process controls, transmitters, gauges, and control equipment in accordance with geothermal plant procedures. | Supplemental |
| Maintain, calibrate, or repair plant instrumentation, control, and electronic devices in geothermal plants. | Supplemental |
| Apply coatings or operate systems to mitigate corrosion of geothermal plant equipment or structures. | Supplemental |
| Install and maintain geothermal plant electrical protection equipment. | Supplemental |
| Integrate hot water heater systems with geothermal heat exchange systems. | Supplemental |
| Operate equipment, such as excavators, backhoes, rock hammers, trench compactors, pavement saws, grout mixers or pumps, geothermal loop reels, and coil tubing units (CTU). | Supplemental |
| Test water sources for factors, such as flow volume and contaminant presence. | Supplemental |
| Weld piping, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) piping, using techniques such as butt, socket, side-wall, and electro-fusion welding. | Supplemental |
0.51/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Identify and correct malfunctions of geothermal plant equipment, electrical systems, instrumentation, or controls. | E0 none |
| Monitor and adjust operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Perform pre- and post-installation pressure, flow, and related tests of vertical and horizontal geothermal loop piping. | E0 none |
| Collect and record data associated with operating geothermal power plants or well fields. | E2 structured facilities |
| Install, maintain, or repair ground or water source-coupled heat pumps to heat and cool residential or commercial building air or water. | E0 none |
| Backfill piping trenches to protect pipes from damage. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Dig trenches for system piping to appropriate depths and lay piping in trenches. | E0 none |
| Prepare newly installed geothermal heat systems for operation by flushing, purging, or other actions. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Install and maintain geothermal system instrumentation or controls. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Maintain electrical switchgear, process controls, transmitters, gauges, and control equipment in accordance with geothermal plant procedures. | E0 none |
| Maintain, calibrate, or repair plant instrumentation, control, and electronic devices in geothermal plants. | E0 none |
| Apply coatings or operate systems to mitigate corrosion of geothermal plant equipment or structures. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Install and maintain geothermal plant electrical protection equipment. | E0 none |
| Integrate hot water heater systems with geothermal heat exchange systems. | E0 none |
| Operate equipment, such as excavators, backhoes, rock hammers, trench compactors, pavement saws, grout mixers or pumps, geothermal loop reels, and coil tubing units (CTU). | E2 structured facilities |
| Test water sources for factors, such as flow volume and contaminant presence. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Weld piping, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) piping, using techniques such as butt, socket, side-wall, and electro-fusion welding. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
Values for the whole SOC 49-9099 group (Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other), not for this O*NET occupation alone.
- Employment, 2025
- 205K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 211K
- Change (2025–35)
- +2.6%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $49,230
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 86109 | 그 외 발전 및 배전 장치 조작원 | 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 7533Sewing, Embroidery and Related Workers
- ISCO-08 9622Odd Job Persons
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.
- geothermal power plant operatorESCO 3131.1.4Overlapping, not the same
Geothermal power plant operators operate and maintain equipment, often steam-driven turbines, which produce electrical energy. They monitor measuring equipment to ensure the safety of operations, and that the production needs are met. They also react to system problems, and repair faults. They may regulate the generators to control the flow of electricity to the power lines.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| F1138 | Géothermicien / Géothermicienne | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| F1620 | Installateur / Installatrice chauffage et climatisation | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| H2701 | Technicien / Technicienne d'exploitation en production d'énergie thermique | Related, not a matchprovisional |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3131 | Técnicos en instalaciones de producción de energía | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 7250 | Mecánicos-instaladores de refrigeración y climatización | Related, not a matchprovisional |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 26232 | Berufe in der Energie- und Kraftwerkstechnik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 26242 | Berufe in der regenerativen Energietechnik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 551 | はん用・生産用・業務用機械器具整備・修理従事者 | Related, not a match |
| 641 | 発電員，変電員 | 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