AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 19-2043.00
Will AI replace Hydrologists?
Hydrologists: AI can already handle 6 of 25 tasks; the work mostly needs a frontier-tier model.
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Every task, scored
The 25 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Hydrologists, from most to least exposed. 6 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.
| Task | AI exposure | Evidence | Model tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigate complaints or conflicts related to the alteration of public waters, gathering information, recommending alternatives, informing participants of progress, and preparing draft orders. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Compile and evaluate hydrologic information to prepare navigational charts and maps and to predict atmospheric conditions. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Evaluate research data in terms of its impact on issues such as soil and water conservation, flood control planning, and water supply forecasting. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Evaluate data and provide recommendations regarding the feasibility of municipal projects, such as hydroelectric power plants, irrigation systems, flood warning systems, and waste treatment facilities. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Review applications for site plans and permits and recommend approval, denial, modification, or further investigative action. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Conduct short- and long-term climate assessments and study storm occurrences. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Prepare written and oral reports describing research results, using illustrations, maps, appendices, and other information. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Measure and graph phenomena such as lake levels, stream flows, and changes in water volumes. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Conduct research and communicate information to promote the conservation and preservation of water resources. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Study public water supply issues, including flood and drought risks, water quality, wastewater, and impacts on wetland habitats. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Apply research findings to help minimize the environmental impacts of pollution, waterborne diseases, erosion, and sedimentation. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Study and analyze the physical aspects of the earth in terms of hydrological components, including atmosphere, hydrosphere, and interior structure. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Collect and analyze water samples as part of field investigations or to validate data from automatic monitors. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Prepare hydrogeologic evaluations of known or suspected hazardous waste sites and land treatment and feedlot facilities. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Monitor the work of well contractors, exploratory borers, and engineers and enforce rules regarding their activities. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Answer questions and provide technical assistance and information to contractors or the public regarding issues such as well drilling, code requirements, hydrology, and geology. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Investigate properties, origins, and activities of glaciers, ice, snow, and permafrost. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Design and conduct scientific hydrogeological investigations to ensure that accurate and appropriate information is available for use in water resource management decisions. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Coordinate and supervise the work of professional and technical staff, including research assistants, technologists, and technicians. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Study and document quantities, distribution, disposition, and development of underground and surface waters. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Develop computer models for hydrologic predictions. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Develop or modify methods for conducting hydrologic studies. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Design civil works associated with hydrographic activities and supervise their construction, installation, and maintenance. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Administer programs designed to ensure the proper sealing of abandoned wells. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Install, maintain, and calibrate instruments such as those that monitor water levels, rainfall, and sediments. | Estimated | Efficient |
Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 0 of 25 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 25 of 25. 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 100% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 100% of the work is something AI can address at some tier.
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
- 5,850
- Median annual wage
- $96,600
- Middle half of earners
- $77,210 to $122,830
- Projected change, 2024 to 2034
- -0.1%
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.
- Hydrologic Technicians 76% skill overlap, about 9 months to move Exposure52
- Water Resource Specialists 72% skill overlap, about 10 months to move Exposure42
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers 70% skill overlap, about 11 months to move Exposure63
- Water/Wastewater Engineers 63% skill overlap, about 13 months to move Exposure57
- Conservation Scientists 63% skill overlap, about 13 months to move Exposure59
Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.
Questions about Hydrologists and AI
Will AI replace Hydrologists?
AI already handles 6 of the 25 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 56 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 -0.1% from 2024 to 2034.
What is the AI exposure of Hydrologists?
56 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 25 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 25 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.
Which Hydrologists tasks can AI already do?
The tasks with the highest exposure are: Investigate complaints or conflicts related to the alteration of public waters, gathering information, recommending alternatives, informing participants of progress, and preparing draft orders; Compile and evaluate hydrologic information to prepare navigational charts and maps and to predict atmospheric conditions; Evaluate research data in terms of its impact on issues such as soil and water conservation, flood control planning, and water supply forecasting. They are three of the 6 tasks that reach 60 or more.
What AI model tier does this role need?
A frontier-tier model or lower covers 100% 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 Hydrologists, and what do they earn?
5,850 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $96,600 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of -0.1% 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: Hydrologists. 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/hydrologists
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