Water Resource Specialists
Machines can already do 42% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 75%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Water Resource Specialists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 42% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 6% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2029, and 75% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 108,690 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $167,220 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 68% for contact with people.
- Also called: Water Resources Planner.
- Competency here means how well the best AI model, tool or robot available can do a task, scored out of 100: today using the best available now, and for later years the 311 prediction of what AI and robots will be able to do.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Write proposals, project reports, informational brochures, or other documents on wastewater purification, water supply and demand, or other water resource subjects | 12% | 52% to 80% | |
| Perform hydrologic, hydraulic, or water quality modeling | 9% | 25% to 65% | |
| Conduct, or oversee the conduct of, investigations on matters such as water storage, wastewater discharge, pollutants, permits, or other compliance and regulatory issues | 7% | 38% to 75% | |
| Develop strategies for watershed operations to meet water supply and conservation goals or to ensure regulatory compliance with clean water laws or regulations | 7% | 35% to 65% | |
| Conduct technical studies for water resources on topics such as pollutants and water treatment options | 7% | 25% to 65% | |
| Conduct, or oversee the conduct of, chemical, physical, and biological water quality monitoring or sampling to ensure compliance with water quality standards | 7% | 30% to 75% | |
| Review or evaluate designs for water detention facilities, storm drains, flood control facilities, or other hydraulic structures | 5% | 60% to 90% | |
| Develop plans to protect watershed health or rehabilitate watersheds | 5% | 35% to 65% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills water resource specialists use most, most used first.
Human value: what makes people in this job hard to replace
How much water resource specialists rely on each one, from 0 to 10. 311 estimates, low confidence.
- Go-to problem solver8/10
- Trust and reliability7/10
- Know-how about the organisation5/10
- Network and relationships5/10
- Mentoring and developing others2/10
- Culture and morale5/10
- Initiative beyond the role5/10
- Calm in a crisis6/10
- Bridge between teams4/10
- Reputation and influence4/10
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Solar Energy Systems Engineers67% of tasks by 2035 · US median $122,930
- Wind Energy Engineers66% of tasks by 2035 · US median $122,930
- Architectural and Civil Drafters70% of tasks by 2035 · US median $66,150
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers67% of tasks by 2035 · US median $171,270
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Water Resource Specialists?
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 water resource specialists?
Machines can do 42% of the tasks of water resource specialists today and 75% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 11-9121.02 (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, forecast and human value: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit (human value scores are 311 estimates, low confidence); after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Water Resource Specialists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/water-resource-specialists/