Geological and hydrologic technicians install and maintain lab and field equipment, gather samples such as mud and water, run tests on them, record data and compile information from reports and databases, and prepare reports and maps of areas that may hold valuable natural resources. The work splits between the field and the lab.
The short answer: low exposure to generative AI, with slow growth and some pressure from technology. The ILO's 2025 index rates the closest groups as not exposed, 0.26 for chemical and physical science technicians and 0.26 for physical and engineering science technicians not elsewhere classified. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, slower than average, with about 1,400 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed geological technicians are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical and Physical Science Technicians | Not exposed | 0.26 |
| Physical and Engineering Science Technicians Not Elsewhere Classified | Not exposed | 0.26 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so these are the closest groups for geological and hydrologic technicians, not a score for the job title itself.
The ILO index measures generative AI, not robots or automated machines.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Geological and hydrologic technicians | Grow 2% | About 1,400 |
The BLS expects demand for natural gas, and exploration and management of resources such as minerals and water, to increase demand for geological exploration. However, it says the use of drones and other technology in mining exploration may replace the need for some geological technicians. Many hydrologic technicians work for the federal government, so their employment depends largely on federal funding.
What automation is taking on
- Some exploration work, through drones and other technology, as the BLS describes.
- Compiling data from reports and databases, with results to check.
- Drafting reports and maps from test data.
What stays with geological technicians
- Field sampling: collecting mud, water and other samples on site.
- Lab tests: running and recording tests accurately.
- Equipment: installing and maintaining field and lab instruments.
- Checking AI help: generated summaries and maps can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
The BLS sees steady demand from resource exploration, offset in part by drones and other technology, and ties hydrologic work to federal funding. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace geoscientists?, will AI replace hydrologists? and will AI replace environmental science technicians?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for geological and petroleum technicians at $57,150 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: associate's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace geological technicians?
The BLS projects 2 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,400 openings a year, but says drones and other technology in mining exploration may replace the need for some geological technicians.
How exposed are geological technicians to AI?
The closest ILO groups are not exposed, both scoring 0.26.
What drives demand?
The BLS points to demand for natural gas and to exploration and management of minerals and water.
What affects hydrologic technician jobs?
The BLS says many work for the federal government, so employment depends largely on federal funding.