Environmental Engineers
Machines can already do 41% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 67%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Environmental Engineers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 41% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 4% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2029, and 67% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 38,340 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $107,110 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 71% for contact with people.
- Also called: Air Pollution Control Engineer, Engineer, Engineering Consultant, Environmental Analyst.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality | 12% | 35% to 65% | |
| Prepare, review, or update environmental investigation or recommendation reports | 12% | 70% to 95% | |
| Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land | 7% | 55% to 85% | |
| Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems | 7% | 25% to 50% | |
| Provide technical support for environmental remediation or litigation projects, including remediation system design or determination of regulatory applicability | 6% | 35% to 58% | |
| Coordinate or manage environmental protection programs or projects, assigning or evaluating work | 6% | 10% to 27% | |
| Obtain, update, or maintain plans, permits, or standard operating procedures | 5% | 70% to 95% | |
| Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment | 4% | 35% to 58% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills environmental engineers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar57% of tasks by 2035 · US median $122,930
- Civil Engineers66% of tasks by 2035 · US median $100,840
- Landscape Architects63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $79,870
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers64% of tasks by 2035 · US median $115,160
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Environmental Engineers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2029. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of environmental engineers?
Machines can do 41% of the tasks of environmental engineers today and 67% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 17-2081.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Environmental Engineers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/environmental-engineers/