# Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians

> Apply theory and principles of environmental engineering to modify, test, and operate equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental problems, including waste treatment and site remediation, under the direction of engineering staff or scientists. May assist in the development of environmental remediation devices.

- **SOC code:** 17-3025.00
- **Canonical URL:** https://singulariki.com/roles/role-17-3025-00
- **Also known as:** Air Quality Instrument Specialist, Environmental Field Technician, Environmental Technician, Haz Tech (Hazardous Technician), Engineer Technician, Environmental Engineering Assistant, Environmental Engineering Technician, Air Analysis Engineering Technician
- **Frame:** "AI exposure" means task overlap (how codifiable the work is), not jobs lost or a forecast. Every figure below is traced to a named public dataset.

## What this work is

**Core tasks** (O*NET):
- Assist in the cleanup of hazardous material spills.
- Maintain project logbook records or computer program files.
- Record laboratory or field data, including numerical data, test results, photographs, or summaries of visual observations.
- Perform environmental quality work in field or office settings.
- Produce environmental assessment reports, tabulating data and preparing charts, graphs, or sketches.
- Collect and analyze pollution samples, such as air or ground water.
- Decontaminate or test field equipment used to clean or test pollutants from soil, air, or water.
- Prepare and package environmental samples for shipping or testing.
- Maintain process parameters and evaluate process anomalies.
- Inspect facilities to monitor compliance with regulations governing substances, such as asbestos, lead, or wastewater.
- Develop work plans, including writing specifications or establishing material, manpower, or facilities needs.
- Review technical documents to ensure completeness and conformance to requirements.

## Skills, tools, capabilities

**Knowledge, skills & abilities** (O*NET, highest importance first):
- Written Comprehension _(ability)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(ability)_
- Inductive Reasoning _(ability)_
- Reading Comprehension _(essential_skill)_
- Active Listening _(essential_skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(essential_skill)_
- Oral Comprehension _(ability)_
- Oral Expression _(ability)_
- Problem Sensitivity _(ability)_
- Information Ordering _(ability)_
- Active Learning _(essential_skill)_
- Near Vision _(ability)_

**Skills in demand:**
- Inductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Reading Comprehension _(Common Skill)_
- Information Ordering _(Specialized Skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(Common Skill)_
- Active Listening _(Common Skill)_
- Active Learning _(Common Skill)_
- Mathematics _(Common Skill)_
- English Language _(Common Skill)_
- Chemistry _(Specialized Skill)_
- Physics _(Specialized Skill)_
- Writing _(Common Skill)_

**Tools & technology:**
- Autodesk AutoCAD _(hot technology)_
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D _(hot technology)_
- Bentley MicroStation _(hot technology)_
- C++ _(hot technology)_
- ESRI ArcGIS software _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Access _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Excel _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Office software _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Outlook _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft PowerPoint _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Word _(hot technology)_
- Python _(hot technology)_

## AI exposure & outlook

- **AI task-overlap index:** 55th percentile (Moderate) across all occupations — composite of current-era exposure studies (ai-exposure-index-v1).
- **Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.):** 49th percentile (Moderate) — source: felten_aioe.
- **LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou):** 56th percentile (Moderate) — source: eloundou_gamma.
- **AI assistant applicability (Microsoft):** 62nd percentile (Moderate) — source: microsoft_applicability.
- **Frey–Osborne (2013, historical computerization estimate):** 37th percentile — kept separate from current-era studies.
- **Remote-capable (Dingel–Neiman):** no — task structure, not who actually works remote.
- **Projected employment (BLS 2024–34):** 1.2% growth (About average); 1.1k annual openings; 12.9k → 13k jobs.
- **Pay & employment (BLS OEWS, May 2024):** median $58,890; 12,500 employed.

## How people actually use AI here

Anthropic Economic Index — measured AI conversations mapped to this occupation's tasks:

- **Automation vs augmentation:** 42% automation, — augmentation (usage-weighted).
- **Autonomy median:** 3.5 (higher = AI acts more independently).
- **Dominant collaboration mode:** directive.

**Tasks most handed to AI here:**
- Record laboratory or field data, including numerical data, test results, photographs, or summaries of visual observations. _(0.7% of measured AI use; directive)_
- Review technical documents to ensure completeness and conformance to requirements. _(0.4% of measured AI use)_

**Example prompts (honest phrasings of the tasks above — starting points, not endorsed instructions):**
- Help me record laboratory or field data, including numerical data, test results, photographs, or summaries of visual observations.
- Help me review technical documents to ensure completeness and conformance to requirements.

## Sources

- **O*NET** (30.3) — U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development. https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html
- **BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** (May 2024) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- **BLS Employment Projections** (2024–2034) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- **Anthropic Economic Index** (v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27)) — Anthropic. https://www.anthropic.com/economic-index
- **Microsoft “Working with AI”** (working-with-ai) — Microsoft Research. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/
- **“GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.)** (arXiv 2303.10130) — OpenAI / academic. https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130
- **AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE)** (Felten, Raj & Seamans) — academic. https://github.com/AIOE-Data/AIOE
- **Frey & Osborne (2013)** (frey-osborne-automation) — academic. https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/publications/the-future-of-employment/
- **Dingel & Neiman (2020)** (dingel-neiman-workathome) — academic. https://github.com/jdingel/DingelNeiman-workathome

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_Generated from Singulariki's joined dataset; data snapshot 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-17-3025-00_