AI exposure score

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators score 13 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #721 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 8 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 1 on its own and 0 more with extra software built on top of it. None of its tasks showed up in real AI use in April–May 2026.

13/ 100

Low

Rank: #721of 923 jobs
US workers: 128,490BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $60,020a year
In real AI use: 0 of 8tasks, 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: 1 (13%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 0 (0%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 7 (88%)

Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities.Little or no AI speed-up · core task

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Questions about water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators and AI

Will AI replace water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators score 13 out of 100 (low exposure), #721 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 1 of the job's 8 tasks, 1 of them on its own, while 7 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms".

Which water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids"; "Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards"; "Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Not much yet. None of the job's tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude in April–May 2026, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators, and what do they earn?

About 128,490 people in the US, with median pay of $60,020 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.