Environmental Engineers
United States · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34 (figures for SOC 17-2081 occupational group)
AI exposure in published research
Figures below are reproduced from external datasets without modification. Where a dataset does not cover this occupation, the value is shown as — rather than as zero.
Data provider: OpenAI · "GPTs are GPTs"
Time basis: 2023 baselineex-ante estimate
Scored against GPT-4-generation capability.
- Human rater basis
- 50.0%
- GPT-4 rater basis
- 55.6%
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
28 rated tasks · 27 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (96.4%)
- Version:
- gh-main-0471612
- License:
- MIT License · Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Data provider: Anthropic Economic Index
Time basis: Published 2026-03-05composite index
- Observed exposure
- 3.6%
Theoretical exposure index weighted by measured Claude usage, per the original report's definition.
50 tasks · usage observed in 1 · mean 1.7%
Data: Anthropic Economic Index — labor_market_impacts, CC-BY, https://huggingface.co/datasets/Anthropic/EconomicIndex
AI Changing Work uses Anthropic Economic Index data under CC-BY; Anthropic does not endorse or sponsor this site or its analyses.
- Version:
- hf-lmi-2026-03
- License:
- CC BY 4.0
- Observation period:
- — (not applicable to this release)
- Model:
- — (not stated by the source)
- Definition source:
- https://www.anthropic.com/research/labor-market-impacts
2023 prediction vs observation-based index published 2026-03-05
One card (GPTs are GPTs) is a 2023 estimate of what AI could theoretically do; the other (Anthropic Economic Index) is built from observed usage and was published on 2026-03-05 — that is its publication date, not the period it observed. They measure different things, so the two figures cannot be added, averaged, or ranked against each other. The older figure is kept here as a baseline for comparison rather than removed.
Caution: the Anthropic figures — observed exposure and task penetration — take the Eloundou β as one of their inputs. The two sides resembling each other is therefore not evidence that the earlier prediction came true; reading it that way is circular reasoning.
The Anthropic figures are measured on Claude users, who are not the whole economy and not the whole workforce.
The mapping of O*NET tasks and occupation codes was performed by AI Changing Work. The source figures themselves were not modified.
These indices are not forecasts. Which point in time each one belongs to is stated on the badge on its card.
Task Breakdown
- Analyze environmental monitoring data and pollution models
- Prepare regulatory compliance reports and permits
- Design remediation systems for contaminated sites
- Conduct field inspections and environmental impact assessments
About This Occupation
If you work as an Environmental Engineer, AI is reshaping your profession. With an automation risk of 23/100 and overall exposure at 44%, this role faces moderate transformation. The highest-impact area is preparing regulatory compliance reports and permits at 72% automation. This is classified as an 'augment' role, where AI amplifies human expertise rather than replacing it. BLS projects +6% growth through 2034, with median annual wage of $100,090. AI excels at processing large environmental datasets, modeling pollutant dispersion, and drafting compliance documentation, dramatically accelerating routine analytical work. However, designing site-specific remediation solutions, conducting physical field inspections, and navigating the complex interplay between engineering constraints, regulatory requirements, and community stakeholders remain distinctly human tasks. Engineers who integrate AI tools into environmental monitoring and reporting workflows will handle more projects with greater precision.
ISCO-08 classification
Environmental Engineers
Definition
ILO original text (English)
Environmental engineers conduct research, advise on, design and direct implementation of solutions to prevent, control or remedy negative impacts of human activity on the environment utilizing a variety of engineering disciplines. They conduct environmental assessments of construction and civil engineering projects and apply engineering principles to pollution control, recycling and waste disposal.
Definition & vocabulary source
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO) — ISCO-08 Structure
License: ILO CC BY 4.0
Official occupational information
- ONET17-2081.00
Environmental Engineers
Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Anthropic Economic Index puts observed exposure at 3.6%. The OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" rubric puts occupation-level β at 50.0% under human raters. Both figures are reproduced from published research without modification.
They come from two published datasets: the Anthropic Economic Index (labor_market_impacts, CC BY 4.0) and the OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric (MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI). AI Changing Work maps them onto O*NET occupation and task codes and does not calculate exposure scores of its own. AI Changing Work uses Anthropic Economic Index data under CC-BY; Anthropic does not endorse or sponsor this site or its analyses.
No. They are a diagnosis of exposure as measured at the time each source dataset was published. AI Changing Work publishes no prediction of future automation or job displacement for this occupation.
Recent Changes Affecting This Occupation
Mar 2026: Published evergreen blog post analyzing AI impact on environmental engineering: 44% exposure, 23% risk, field inspections and regulatory judgment remain human.
[Source: AI Changing Work Blog]