Water/Wastewater Engineers
Machines can already do 48% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 77%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Water/Wastewater Engineers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 48% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 1% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2027, and 77% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 367,840 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $100,840 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 70% for contact with people.
- Also called: Consulting Engineer, County Engineer, Engineer, Project Development Engineer.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provide technical direction or supervision to junior engineers, engineering or computer-aided design (CAD) technicians, or other technical personnel | 10% | 27% to 48% | |
| Review and critique proposals, plans, or designs related to water or wastewater treatment systems | 7% | 60% to 90% | |
| Design domestic or industrial water or wastewater treatment plants, including advanced facilities with sequencing batch reactors (SBR), membranes, lift stations, headworks, surge overflow basins, ultraviolet disinfection systems, aerobic digesters, sludge lagoons, or control buildings | 7% | 50% to 85% | |
| Write technical reports or publications related to water resources development or water use efficiency | 7% | 70% to 95% | |
| Design pumping systems, pumping stations, pipelines, force mains, or sewers for the collection of wastewater | 6% | 50% to 85% | |
| Design water distribution systems for potable or non-potable water | 6% | 50% to 85% | |
| Perform hydraulic analyses of water supply systems or water distribution networks to model flow characteristics, test for pressure losses, or to identify opportunities to mitigate risks and improve operational efficiency | 6% | 60% to 90% | |
| Evaluate the operation and maintenance of water or wastewater systems to identify ways to improve their efficiency | 4% | 35% to 70% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills water/wastewater 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.
- Wind Energy Engineers66% of tasks by 2035 · US median $122,930
- Environmental Restoration Planners63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $82,220
- Water Resource Specialists75% of tasks by 2035 · US median $167,220
- Wind Energy Development Managers55% of tasks by 2035 · US median $141,900
What should you do about it?
Open this job in the Workforce Starburst to see it for your country, then use these to act on it.
Watch This Job
Get told when the outlook for this job changes.
Free planSkills to learn next
The skills that make this job, or the next one, last longer.
In the StarburstCheck your readiness
Ten quick questions on how ready you are.
FreeAsk Vantage
Ask what this job means for you and get a sourced answer.
Free to askFutures Academy courses
Courses matched to your gaps.
Coming soonPay trend
Where pay for this job is heading.
Coming soonTeam plan
Every role in your team, side by side, with a plan for each.
Pro and CorporateShared workspace
Work through it with your team, with notes and decisions kept.
Pro and Corporate
Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Water/Wastewater Engineers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2027. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of water/wastewater engineers?
Machines can do 48% of the tasks of water/wastewater engineers today and 77% 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 17-2051.02 (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 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). Water/Wastewater Engineers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/water-wastewater-engineers/