Job Check
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
Assist scientists or engineers in the use of electronic, sonic, or nuclear measuring instruments in laboratory, exploration, and production activities to obtain data indicating resources such as metallic ore, minerals, gas, coal, or petroleum. Analyze mud and drill cuttings. Chart pressure, temperature, and other characteristics of wells or bore holes.
10 main tasks · most important first
Your main tasks and AI
Importance- 01Test and analyze samples to determine their content and characteristics, using laboratory apparatus or testing equipment.People already use AI for this at work
- 02Collect or prepare solid or fluid samples for analysis.Mostly human for now
- 03Compile, log, or record testing or operational data for review and further analysis.People already use AI for this at work
- 04Prepare notes, sketches, geological maps, or cross-sections.AI could speed this up, with extra tools
- 05Participate in geological, geophysical, geochemical, hydrographic, or oceanographic surveys, prospecting field trips, exploratory drilling, well logging, or underground mine survey programs.Mostly human for now
- 06Prepare or review professional, technical, or other reports regarding sampling, testing, or recommendations of data analysis.AI could speed this up, with extra tools
- 07Adjust or repair testing, electrical, or mechanical equipment or devices.Mostly human for now
- 08Read and study reports in order to compile information and data for geological and geophysical prospecting.AI could speed this up, with extra tools
- 09Interview individuals, and research public databases in order to obtain information.People already use AI for this at work
- 10Plot information from aerial photographs, well logs, section descriptions, or other databases.AI could speed this up, with extra tools
Tasks from O*NET® 31.0 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0, changed by us), most important first. “Already use” comes from Anthropic’s data on real work chats with Claude; “could speed up” from task ratings made with GPT-4 in 2023.
Four studies, side by side
None is a forecast of job loss23%of this job’s work time goes to tasks that people already do with Claude at work, counting tasks where AI only helps as half (2026).Anthropic, 2026
39%of this job’s tasks an AI model could do in half the time, counting tasks that need extra tools as half (rated in 2023).Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, 2023
Above 42% of jobsin how often and how well AI helped with this job’s work in Microsoft Copilot chats (2024 data).Microsoft Research (Tomlinson et al.), 2025
Above 68% of jobsin how much of this job’s physical work robots have been shown to do, from factories to homes (2026).Anthropic, 2026
Your human edge
The main tasks with no real AI use seen and no big speed-up expected. This is where your skill counts most today.
- Collect or prepare solid or fluid samples for analysis.
- Participate in geological, geophysical, geochemical, hydrographic, or oceanographic surveys, prospecting field trips, exploratory drilling, well logging, or underground mine survey programs.
- Adjust or repair testing, electrical, or mechanical equipment or devices.