# Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians

> Assist scientists or engineers in the use of electronic, sonic, or nuclear measuring instruments in laboratory, exploration, and production activities to obtain data indicating resources such as metallic ore, minerals, gas, coal, or petroleum. Analyze mud and drill cuttings. Chart pressure, temperature, and other characteristics of wells or bore holes.

- **SOC code:** 19-4043.00
- **Canonical URL:** https://singulariki.com/roles/role-19-4043-00
- **Also known as:** Geological Technician, Geotechnician, Materials Technician, Physical Science Technician, Core Inspector, Environmental Field Services Technician, Environmental Sampling Technician, Geological E-Logger
- **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):
- Test and analyze samples to determine their content and characteristics, using laboratory apparatus or testing equipment.
- Collect or prepare solid or fluid samples for analysis.
- Compile, log, or record testing or operational data for review and further analysis.
- Prepare notes, sketches, geological maps, or cross-sections.
- Operate or adjust equipment or apparatus used to obtain geological data.
- Plan and direct activities of workers who operate equipment to collect data.
- Participate in geological, geophysical, geochemical, hydrographic, or oceanographic surveys, prospecting field trips, exploratory drilling, well logging, or underground mine survey programs.
- Set up or direct set-up of instruments used to collect geological data.
- Record readings in order to compile data used in prospecting for oil or gas.
- Prepare or review professional, technical, or other reports regarding sampling, testing, or recommendations of data analysis.
- Adjust or repair testing, electrical, or mechanical equipment or devices.
- Read and study reports in order to compile information and data for geological and geophysical prospecting.

## Skills, tools, capabilities

**Knowledge, skills & abilities** (O*NET, highest importance first):
- Written Comprehension _(ability)_
- Reading Comprehension _(essential_skill)_
- Oral Comprehension _(ability)_
- Computers and Electronics _(knowledge)_
- Critical Thinking _(essential_skill)_
- Information Ordering _(ability)_
- Near Vision _(ability)_
- Engineering and Technology _(knowledge)_
- Mathematics _(knowledge)_
- English Language _(knowledge)_
- Oral Expression _(ability)_
- Written Expression _(ability)_

**Skills in demand:**
- Reading Comprehension _(Common Skill)_
- Microsoft Outlook _(Common Skill)_
- Microsoft Excel _(Common Skill)_
- Information Ordering _(Specialized Skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(Common Skill)_
- Mathematics _(Common Skill)_
- English Language _(Common Skill)_
- Inductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Writing _(Common Skill)_
- Time Management _(Common Skill)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Chemistry _(Specialized Skill)_

**Tools & technology:**
- Microsoft Excel _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Microsoft Outlook _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Adobe Illustrator _(hot technology)_
- Autodesk AutoCAD _(hot technology)_
- ESRI ArcGIS software _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Access _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Office software _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft PowerPoint _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Word _(hot technology)_
- SAP software _(hot technology)_
- Clark Labs IDRISI Andes
- Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite

## AI exposure & outlook

- **AI task-overlap index:** 50th percentile (Moderate) across all occupations — composite of current-era exposure studies (ai-exposure-index-v1).
- **LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou):** 58th percentile (Moderate) — source: eloundou_gamma.
- **AI assistant applicability (Microsoft):** 42nd percentile (Moderate) — source: microsoft_applicability.
- **Projected employment (BLS 2024–34):** 1.5% growth (About average); 1.3k annual openings; 9.8k → 10k jobs.
- **Pay & employment (BLS OEWS, May 2024):** median $48,390; 9,710 employed.

## 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

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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-19-4043-00_