← All 785 jobsFile 17-2081
Environmental Engineers
Heavily edited
AI already performs a large share of the work in this job. Even so, the BLS expects 6.3% more of these jobs by 2035, faster than the 3.5% average.
- Rank
- #94 of 785 jobs, by how much of the work AI does
- US jobs, 2025 to 2035
- +6.3% All jobs: +3.5%
- Median US pay
- $107,110 a year, 2025
- People doing it
- 39,100 in the US, with about 2,300 openings a year
The work, 25 activities
The job description, marked up.
Every activity in this job, the biggest first. Tap a line for the evidence.
- deleAI does this
- +AIAI helps
- stetStill yours
Still yours: Maintain operational records12%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Advise others on environmental sustainability or green practices11%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,887 Copilot conversations and completed it 97% of the time.
Still yours: Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures8%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Present research or technical information7%
AI performed this in about 1 in 30 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
Still yours: Inspect facilities or equipment5%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Develop systems or practices to mitigate or resolve environmental problems4%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Investigate the environmental impact of industrial or development activities4%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Coordinate with others to resolve problems4%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 738 conversations, and it got them there 83% of the time.
AI does this: Develop technical specifications for products or operations4%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,901 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
Still yours: Prepare reports of operational or procedural activities4%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Monitor environmental conditions3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Provide information or assistance to the public3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 7 Copilot conversations and completed it 86% of the time.
Still yours: Manage budgets or finances3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Document technical designs, procedures, or activities3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 779 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
AI helps with this: Purchase goods or services3%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 214 conversations, and it got them there 91% of the time.
AI does this: Develop operational or technical procedures or standards3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,089 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
AI does this: Train others on operational or work procedures2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 348 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
AI does this: Assist scientists, scholars, or technical specialists with projects or research2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 250 Copilot conversations and completed it 79% of the time.
AI does this: Teach safety procedures or standards to others2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,672 Copilot conversations and completed it 96% of the time.
AI does this: Plan work activities2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 720 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
AI does this: Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 40 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
AI does this: Communicate with others about operational plans or activities2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 354 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
AI does this: Communicate with others about specifications or project details2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 117 Copilot conversations and completed it 78% of the time.
Still yours: Test characteristics of materials or products1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Package objects1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
2025 to 2035
Ten years from now.
For every 100 of these jobs in 2025, the BLS projects 106 in 2035. Across all US jobs, about 104.
About 2,300 openings a year, from growth and from people who retire or move on.
Nearby
Where your skills travel.
Jobs that share the most work with this one, where AI does less of it.
- Shares 30% of the workCivil Engineers35% AI does, against 47% here+6.4% by 2035 · $100,840 · Bachelor’s degree
- Shares 30% of the workPetroleum Engineers28% AI does, against 47% here+2% by 2035 · $144,910 · Bachelor’s degree
- Shares 29% of the workHydrologists19% AI does, against 47% here+1.5% by 2035 · $96,600 · Bachelor’s degree
The wire
On the wire.
Nothing filed about this job yet. The latest from the Work front:
How to read this file.
deleAI does this. In US Bing Copilot conversations from January to September 2024, AI itself performed the activity, completed it and made a real difference often enough to count.
+AIAI helps. People brought the activity to AI as their own goal, and it usually got them there.
stetStill yours. It barely shows up in AI use, AI rarely finishes it, or in this job it needs hands.
Shares are weighted by how much each activity matters in the job, using O*NET. Microsoft’s own AI applicability score for this job is 0.21, higher than 71% of jobs.
Doing an activity is not doing a job. The researchers behind this data warn against reading it as job loss, and so do we. It is US data; the shape of the work travels.
Sources: Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025) · O*NET OnLine, 17-2081 · BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
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