Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
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.
34,670 people do this job in the US. $55,090 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 65%
- 1%
- 34%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 8%. Today's estimate: 11%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 25 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Develop or implement programs for monitoring of environmental pollution or radiation.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 25% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | 2%Half by Feb 2028 | |
| Develop or implement site recycling or hazardous waste stream programs.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 19% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | 2%Half by Feb 2028 | |
| Set up equipment or stations to monitor and collect pollutants from sites, such as smoke stacks, manufacturing plants, or mechanical equipment.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 7% | 3.3 h50 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 6% | 2.5 h50 min to 4.2 h | Stays with people | |
| Analyze potential environmental impacts of production process changes, and recommend steps to mitigate negative impacts.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 5% | 6.7 h3.3 h to 2.1 work days | 10%Half by May 2027 | |
| Weigh, analyze, or measure collected sample particles, such as lead, coal dust, or rock, to determine concentration of pollutants.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 4% | 1.7 h38 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 4% | 1.7 h25 min to 2.5 h | Stays with people | |
| Develop testing procedures.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 3% | 6.7 h3.3 h to 2.1 work days | 10%Half by May 2027 | |
| Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.Done more than monthly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 3% | 1.7 h38 min to 5 h | 66%Half by now | |
| Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards, such as high noise levels, radiation, or potential lighting hazards.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 3% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Inspect sanitary conditions at public facilities.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 3% | 1.7 h38 min to 4.2 h | Stays with people | |
| Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 3% | 3.3 h1.7 h to 6.7 h | Stays with people |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians16% now, 62% by 2028
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health4% now, 57% by 2028
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors37% now, 63% by 2028
- Environmental Engineers6% now, 54% by 2028
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators11% now, 11% by 2028
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers3% now, 27% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).