AI JOB RISK SCANNER
O*NET-SOC 51-8031.00 / model V11 rated-task engine

Will AI replace
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators?

Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.

Estimated AI task exposure
32%

Low-Moderate exposure

V11 weights occupation tasks using O*NET Importance, Relevance and Frequency ratings instead of treating every task equally.

8 tasks have usable Task Rating records; weighted-task coverage is 100%.

Digital/info work

57/100

Physical moat

85/100

Human moat

18/100

Rating coverage

100%

8 task statements / 8 rated

Highest-weighted occupation tasks

Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
Importance 94/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 74/100Weight 0.91
Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
Importance 97/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 67/100Weight 0.91
Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.
Importance 94/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 66/100Weight 0.89
Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
Importance 92/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 69/100Weight 0.88
Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
Importance 83/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 67/100Weight 0.85
Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities.
Importance 77/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 62/100Weight 0.81
Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools.
Importance 74/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 38/100Weight 0.73
Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
Importance 70/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 43/100Weight 0.73

Task weighting

Each rated task receives a composite weight: 38% relevance, 37% importance and 25% frequency. Core tasks receive a small additional multiplier. Low-precision rows flagged by O*NET for suppression are excluded.

Occupation scoring

When rating coverage is strong, rated tasks contribute 60% of the digital, physical and human task signals and Work Activities contribute 40%. Lower-coverage occupations automatically rely more on Work Activities.

U.S. labor market

BLS Wage & Employment Outlook

Median annual wage

$60,020

BLS OEWS May 2025

National employment

128,490

BLS OEWS May 2025

Projected growth

-5.7%

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

Average annual openings

10

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

BLS labor-market figures are separate from the site's AI-exposure model. Missing values mean a compatible detailed BLS occupation estimate was not published or could not be mapped.

Career pivot radar

Safer Career Alternatives

These options are selected from the same 923-occupation model. They favor a similar task/work profile with meaningfully lower estimated AI exposure. They are suggestions for exploration, not guarantees of job fit.

SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Helpers--Extraction Workers

5%

27 points lower exposure • 86% profile similarity

Median wage: $47,730 Growth 2025–2035: +1.7% Annual openings: 1

less digital task exposure, lower AI leverage
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers

5%

27 points lower exposure • 85% profile similarity

Median wage: $56,210 Growth 2025–2035: +4.4% Annual openings: 1

less digital task exposure, lower AI leverage
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

5%

27 points lower exposure • 86% profile similarity

Median wage: $65,510 Growth 2025–2035: +6.7% Annual openings: 15

less digital task exposure, lower AI leverage
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Wind Turbine Service Technicians

5%

27 points lower exposure • 85% profile similarity

Median wage: $64,120 Growth 2025–2035: +29.5% Annual openings: 2

less digital task exposure, lower AI leverage
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

9%

23 points lower exposure • 88% profile similarity

Median wage: $61,010 Growth 2025–2035: +10.9% Annual openings: 41

less digital task exposure, lower AI leverage
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

8%

24 points lower exposure • 88% profile similarity

Median wage: $79,870 Growth 2025–2035: +5.4% Annual openings: 11

less digital task exposure, lower AI leverage

Personalized career defense protocol

AI-Proofing Plan

AUTOMATE

  • routine information gathering
  • first-pass document drafting
  • standard reporting and summarization

AUGMENT

  • research and analysis
  • quality checking AI-generated work
  • administrative support tasks
  • planning and documentation

PROTECT

  • physical-world execution
  • on-site troubleshooting
  • dexterity and equipment interaction

LEARN

  • AI-assisted research
  • workflow automation
  • data literacy
  • AI-assisted diagnostics
  • digital documentation

AI-PROOFING RESOURCES

What this score does not mean

The percentage is a comparative task-exposure index. It is not the probability that this occupation disappears, that a worker is laid off, or that AI can perform the entire job.

New in V11

Find a Safer Career Path

High exposure does not mean starting over. V11 compares your occupation with the other 922 O*NET occupations and surfaces lower-exposure options with similar work profiles.

EXPLORE CAREER ALTERNATIVES
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