Environmental Restoration Planners

Environmental Restoration Planners score 52 out of 100, which is elevated exposure to AI. That ranks #190 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 23 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 2 on its own and 20 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 3 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

52/ 100

Elevated

Rank: #190of 923 jobs
US workers: 89,250for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Median pay: $82,220a year
In real AI use: 3 of 23tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 2 (9%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 20 (87%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 1 (4%)

Notify regulatory or permitting agencies of deviations from implemented remediation plans.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Write grants to obtain funding for restoration projects.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Develop environmental restoration project schedules and budgets.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Provide technical direction on environmental planning to energy engineers, biologists, geologists, or other professionals working to develop restoration plans or strategies.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Create habitat management or restoration plans, such as native tree restoration and weed control.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Conduct site assessments to certify a habitat or to ascertain environmental damage or restoration needs.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Collect and analyze data to determine environmental conditions and restoration needs.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Plan environmental restoration projects, using biological databases, environmental strategies, and planning software.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Communicate findings of environmental studies or proposals for environmental remediation to other restoration professionals.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Apply for permits required for the implementation of environmental remediation projects.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Inspect active remediation sites to ensure compliance with environmental or safety policies, standards, or regulations.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Develop natural resource management plans, using knowledge of environmental planning or state and federal environmental regulatory requirements.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Identify environmental mitigation alternatives, ensuring compliance with applicable standards, laws, or regulations.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Identify short- and long-term impacts of environmental remediation activities.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Plan or supervise environmental studies to achieve compliance with environmental regulations in construction, modification, operation, acquisition, or divestiture of facilities such as power plants.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Review existing environmental remediation designs.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Develop and communicate recommendations for landowners to maintain or restore environmental conditions.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Conduct feasibility and cost-benefit studies for environmental remediation projects.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Conduct environmental impact studies to examine the ecological effects of pollutants, disease, human activities, nature, and climate change.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Create environmental models or simulations, using geographic information system (GIS) data and knowledge of particular ecosystems or ecological regions.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Create diagrams to communicate environmental remediation planning, using geographic information systems (GIS), computer-aided design (CAD), or other mapping or diagramming software.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Develop environmental management or restoration plans for sites with power transmission lines, natural gas pipelines, fuel refineries, geothermal plants, wind farms, or solar farms.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Supervise and provide technical guidance, training, or assistance to employees working in the field to restore habitats.Little or no AI speed-up · core task

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Questions about environmental restoration planners and AI

Will AI replace environmental restoration planners?

Not entirely. Parts of the job are likely to change as AI takes over routine tasks. Environmental Restoration Planners score 52 out of 100 (elevated exposure), #190 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 22 of the job's 23 tasks, 2 of them on its own, while 1 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which environmental restoration planners tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Notify regulatory or permitting agencies of deviations from implemented remediation plans"; "Write grants to obtain funding for restoration projects".

Which environmental restoration planners tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Supervise and provide technical guidance, training, or assistance to employees working in the field to restore habitats".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 3 of the 23 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as environmental restoration planners, and what do they earn?

About 89,250 people in the US (figure for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health), with median pay of $82,220 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.