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.
6,980 people do this job in the US. $53,350 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 41%
- 5%
- 54%
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, 9%. Today's estimate: 13%.
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 . 29 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test and analyze samples to determine their content and characteristics, using laboratory apparatus or testing equipment.Done daily by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 12% | 1.7 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Conduct geophysical surveys of potential sites for wind farms or solar installations to determine their suitability. | 12% | 2.1 work days5 h to 4.2 work days | Stays with people | |
| Collect geological data from potential geothermal energy plant sites. | 9% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | Stays with people | |
| Participate in geological, geophysical, geochemical, hydrographic, or oceanographic surveys, prospecting field trips, exploratory drilling, well logging, or underground mine survey programs.Done yearly or less by most who do it. | 7% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 2.5 work days | Stays with people | |
| Prepare notes, sketches, geological maps, or cross-sections.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 6% | 2.5 h38 min to 6.7 h | 38%Half by Dec 2026 | |
| Compile data used to address environmental issues, such as the suitability of potential landfill sites. | 6% | 1 work day3.3 h to 3.1 work days | 6%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Apply new technologies, such as improved seismic imaging techniques, to locate untapped oil or natural gas deposits. | 5% | 6.7 h3.3 h to 2.5 work days | 10%Half by May 2027 | |
| Collect data on underground areas, such as reservoirs, that could be used in carbon sequestration operations. | 5% | 6.7 h3.3 h to 1.7 work days | 10%Half by Apr 2027 | |
| Evaluate and interpret seismic data with the aid of computers. | 5% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Collect or prepare solid or fluid samples for analysis.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 50 min17 min to 2.5 h | Stays with people | |
| Plot information from aerial photographs, well logs, section descriptions, or other databases.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 4% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | 46%Half by Oct 2026 | |
| Plan and direct activities of workers who operate equipment to collect data.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 4% | 2.5 h50 min 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.
- Hydrologic Technicians4% now, 55% by 2028
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians39% now, 69% by 2028
- Geodetic Surveyors34% now, 70% by 2028
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health11% now, 61% by 2028
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians17% now, 55% by 2028
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians16% now, 62% 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).