Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or the health of the population. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.
How AI Impacts Each Task
22 tasks analyzed
Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
Analyze data to determine validity, quality, and scientific significance and to interpret correlations between human activities and environmental effects.
Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
Develop the technical portions of legal documents, administrative orders, or consent decrees.
Provide advice on proper standards and regulations or the development of policies, strategies, or codes of practice for environmental management.
Prepare charts or graphs from data samples, providing summary information on the environmental relevance of the data.
Evaluate violations or problems discovered during inspections to determine appropriate regulatory actions or to provide advice on the development and prosecution of regulatory cases.
Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations.
Develop methods to minimize the impact of production processes on the environment, based on the study and assessment of industrial production, environmental legislation, and physical, biological, and social environments.
Determine data collection methods to be employed in research projects or surveys.
Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.
Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
Supervise or train students, environmental technologists, technicians, or other related staff.
Design or direct studies to obtain technical environmental information about planned projects.
Plan or develop research models, using knowledge of mathematical and statistical concepts.
Investigate and report on accidents affecting the environment.
Conduct applied research on environmental topics, such as waste control or treatment or pollution abatement methods.
Monitor environmental impacts of development activities.
Research sources of pollution to determine their effects on the environment and to develop theories or methods of pollution abatement or control.
Develop programs designed to obtain the most productive, non-damaging use of land.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 6% | |
| Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 5% | |
| Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples. | 47.92Observed | 46.2% | 8% | |
| Analyze data to determine validity, quality, and scientific significance and to interpret correlations between human activities and environmental effects. | 55.65Observed | 49.3% | 7% | |
| Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings. | 57.83Observed | 38.1% | 6% | |
| Develop the technical portions of legal documents, administrative orders, or consent decrees. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 3% | |
| Provide advice on proper standards and regulations or the development of policies, strategies, or codes of practice for environmental management. | 56.53Observed | 37.6% | 4% | |
| Prepare charts or graphs from data samples, providing summary information on the environmental relevance of the data. | 95Estimated | 87.2% | 4% | |
| Evaluate violations or problems discovered during inspections to determine appropriate regulatory actions or to provide advice on the development and prosecution of regulatory cases. | 41.3Observed | 43.5% | 5% | |
| Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations. | 25Estimated | 37.0% | 6% | |
| Develop methods to minimize the impact of production processes on the environment, based on the study and assessment of industrial production, environmental legislation, and physical, biological, and social environments. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 3% | |
| Determine data collection methods to be employed in research projects or surveys. | 51.52Observed | 47.6% | 3% | |
| Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials. | 35.3Observed | 63.3% | 6% | |
| Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 5% | |
| Supervise or train students, environmental technologists, technicians, or other related staff. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 4% | |
| Design or direct studies to obtain technical environmental information about planned projects. | 45Estimated | 45.0% | 4% | |
| Plan or develop research models, using knowledge of mathematical and statistical concepts. | 60.3Observed | 51.1% | 3% | |
| Investigate and report on accidents affecting the environment. | 30Estimated | 39.0% | 4% | |
| Conduct applied research on environmental topics, such as waste control or treatment or pollution abatement methods. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Monitor environmental impacts of development activities. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 4% | |
| Research sources of pollution to determine their effects on the environment and to develop theories or methods of pollution abatement or control. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 3% | |
| Develop programs designed to obtain the most productive, non-damaging use of land. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 3% |
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
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Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
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Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
Related News
Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation
EPA faces massive budget cuts while receiving $200M for AI integration
The White House proposed slashing the EPA's overall budget by more than 50% while injecting over $200 million specifically for artificial intelligence. This signals a massive shift toward automation over traditional federal staffing.
Automating environmental approvals with AI risks massive government failures
Scientists warn that replacing human environmental assessments with AI could lead to catastrophic regulatory failures. The push to automate these complex evaluation roles threatens both conservation efforts and the integrity of the approval process.
Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis