AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 19-2042.00

Will AI replace Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers?

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers: AI can already handle 24 of 32 tasks; the work mostly needs a frontier-tier model.

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Every task, scored

The 32 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers, from most to least exposed. 24 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.

Task AI exposure Evidence Model tier Importance
Investigate the composition, structure, or history of the Earth's crust through the collection, examination, measurement, or classification of soils, minerals, rocks, or fossil remains. 75 Estimated Efficient 4.4
Identify risks for natural disasters, such as mudslides, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions. 75 Estimated Standard 4.2
Prepare geological maps, cross-sectional diagrams, charts, or reports concerning mineral extraction, land use, or resource management, using results of fieldwork or laboratory research. 75 Estimated Frontier 4.2
Provide advice on the safe siting of new nuclear reactor projects or methods of nuclear waste management. 75 Estimated Frontier 3.9
Locate and estimate probable natural gas, oil, or mineral ore deposits or underground water resources, using aerial photographs, charts, or research or survey results. 75 Estimated Standard 3.8
Measure characteristics of the Earth, such as gravity or magnetic fields, using equipment such as seismographs, gravimeters, torsion balances, or magnetometers. 75 Estimated Standard 3.8
Test industrial diamonds or abrasives, soil, or rocks to determine their geological characteristics, using optical, x-ray, heat, acid, or precision instruments. 75 Estimated Standard 3.5
Identify new sources of platinum group elements for industrial applications, such as automotive fuel cells or pollution abatement systems. 75 Estimated Standard 3.3
Locate potential sources of geothermal energy. 75 Estimated Standard 3.2
Research ways to reduce the ecological footprint of increasingly prevalent megacities. 75 Estimated Frontier 3.2
Collaborate with medical or health researchers to address health problems related to geological materials or processes. 75 Estimated Frontier 3.1
Determine ways to mitigate the negative consequences of mineral dust dispersion. 75 Estimated Frontier 3.1
Identify possible sites for carbon sequestration projects. 75 Estimated Efficient 3.1
Research geomechanical or geochemical processes to be used in carbon sequestration projects. 75 Estimated Efficient 3.0
Analyze and interpret geological data, using computer software. 65 Estimated Standard 4.4
Analyze and interpret geological, geochemical, or geophysical information from sources, such as survey data, well logs, bore holes, or aerial photos. 65 Estimated Standard 4.3
Assess ground or surface water movement to provide advice on issues, such as waste management, route and site selection, or the restoration of contaminated sites. 65 Estimated Standard 4.2
Locate and review research articles or environmental, historical, or technical reports. 65 Estimated Standard 3.8
Review environmental, historical, or technical reports and publications for accuracy. 65 Estimated Efficient 3.7
Review work plans to determine the effectiveness of activities for mitigating soil or groundwater contamination. 65 Estimated Standard 3.7
Develop applied software for the analysis and interpretation of geological data. 65 Estimated Frontier 2.8
Determine methods to incorporate geomethane or methane hydrates into global energy production or evaluate the potential environmental impacts of such incorporation. 65 Estimated Efficient 2.5
Advise construction firms or government agencies on dam or road construction, foundation design, land use, or resource management. 60 Estimated Frontier 3.8
Design geological mine maps, monitor mine structural integrity, or advise and monitor mining crews. 60 Estimated Frontier 3.7
Plan or conduct geological, geochemical, or geophysical field studies or surveys, sample collection, or drilling and testing programs used to collect data for research or application. 50 Estimated Efficient 4.4
Conduct geological or geophysical studies to provide information for use in regional development, site selection, or development of public works projects. 50 Estimated Efficient 3.7
Study historical climate change indicators found in locations, such as ice sheets or rock formations to develop climate change models. 50 Estimated Efficient 3.5
Develop strategies for more environmentally friendly resource extraction and reclamation. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.4
Develop ways to capture or use gases burned off as waste during oil production processes. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.0
Communicate geological findings by writing research papers, participating in conferences, or teaching geological science at universities. 35 Estimated Efficient 4.1
Inspect construction projects to analyze engineering problems, using test equipment or drilling machinery. 20 Estimated Efficient 4.0
Identify deposits of construction materials suitable for use as concrete aggregates, road fill, or other applications. 15 Estimated No tier 3.4

Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 0 of 32 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 32 of 32. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.

The model tier this role needs

A frontier-tier model or lower covers 97% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 97% of the work is something AI can address at some tier, and 3% is hands-on.

Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.

Wages, employment and outlook

US employment
23,470
Median annual wage
$101,920
Middle half of earners
$75,110 to $139,380
Projected change, 2024 to 2034
+3.2%

Employment and wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Projection: BLS Employment Projections 2024 to 2034.

Adjacent roles

The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.

Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.

Questions about Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers and AI

Will AI replace Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers?

AI already handles 24 of the 32 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 63 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears. BLS projects employment to change by +3.2% from 2024 to 2034.

What is the AI exposure of Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers?

63 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 0 of the 32 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 32 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.

Which Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers tasks can AI already do?

The tasks with the highest exposure are: Investigate the composition, structure, or history of the Earth's crust through the collection, examination, measurement, or classification of soils, minerals, rocks, or fossil remains; Identify risks for natural disasters, such as mudslides, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions; Prepare geological maps, cross-sectional diagrams, charts, or reports concerning mineral extraction, land use, or resource management, using results of fieldwork or laboratory research. They are three of the 24 tasks that reach 60 or more.

What AI model tier does this role need?

A frontier-tier model or lower covers 97% of the role's importance-weighted task work. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.

How many people work as Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers, and what do they earn?

23,470 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $101,920 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of +3.2% from 2024 to 2034.

How to cite

Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.

JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/geoscientists-except-hydrologists-and-geographers

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