← All 785 jobsFile 19-2042
Geoscientists
Lightly edited
AI performs some of this work. Most of it still needs a person. The BLS expects 5.1% more of these jobs by 2035, faster than the 3.5% average.
- Rank
- Joint #266 of 785 jobs, by how much of the work AI does
- US jobs, 2025 to 2035
- +5.1% All jobs: +3.5%
- Median US pay
- $101,920 a year, 2025
- People doing it
- 25,400 in the US, with about 1,800 openings a year
The work, 22 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: Analyze environmental or geospatial data22%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Analyze data to improve operations14%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Research issues related to earth sciences10%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 541 conversations, and it got them there 87% of the time.
AI helps with this: Research technology designs or applications5%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 149 conversations, and it got them there 89% of the time.
Still yours: Develop research plans or methodologies5%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Monitor environmental conditions5%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Create visual designs or displays5%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 78 conversations, and it got them there 40% of the time.
AI does this: Present research or technical information4%
AI performed this in about 1 in 30 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
AI does this: Communicate environmental or sustainability information4%
AI performed this in about 1 in 392 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
AI does this: Teach academic or vocational subjects4%
AI performed this in about 1 in 70 Copilot conversations and completed it 84% of the time.
AI does this: Examine materials or documentation for accuracy or compliance4%
AI performed this in about 1 in 824 Copilot conversations and completed it 86% of the time.
AI does this: Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 40 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
AI does this: Advise others on environmental sustainability or green practices2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,887 Copilot conversations and completed it 97% of the time.
AI does this: Determine operational methods or procedures2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 461 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
Still yours: Develop plans for managing or preserving natural resources2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Advise others on workplace health or safety issues2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,805 Copilot conversations and completed it 94% of the time.
Still yours: Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Inspect facilities or equipment1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Design computer or information systems or applications1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 938 conversations, and it got them there 85% of the time.
Still yours: Direct scientific or technical activities1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Develop sustainable organizational or business policies or practices1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Investigate the environmental impact of industrial or development activities1%
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 105 in 2035. Across all US jobs, about 104.
About 1,800 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 37% of the workHydrologists19% AI does, against 27% here+1.5% by 2035 · $96,600 · Bachelor’s degree
- Shares 30% of the workGeological Technicians11% AI does, against 27% here+3.6% by 2035 · $53,350 · Associate’s degree
- Shares 27% of the workAgricultural Technicians11% AI does, against 27% here+5.4% by 2035 · $49,630 · Associate’s degree
The wire
On the wire.
Nothing filed about this job yet. The latest from the Planet 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 0.17, higher than 61% 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, 19-2042 · BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
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