Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Science and research / 19-4044.00

Hydrologic Technicians

Collect and organize data concerning the distribution and circulation of ground and surface water, and data on its physical, chemical, and biological properties. Measure and report on flow rates and ground water levels, maintain field equipment, collect water samples, install and collect sampling equipment, and process samples for shipment to testing laboratories. May collect data on behalf of hydrologists, engineers, developers, government agencies, or agriculture.

US jobs
2,840
Median wage
$64,790 a year
Job family
Science and research

Can agents do the work of hydrologic technicians?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Science and research: Some tasks (no change in 12 months)

Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.

Evidence: CORE-Bench, declared solved.

0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.

  • 9%Advise others on environmental sustainability or green practicesNot measured
  • 9%Present research or technical informationNot measured
  • 6%Analyze environmental or geospatial dataNot measured
  • 6%Develop systems or practices to mitigate or resolve environmental problemsNot measured
  • 6%Perform general construction or extraction activitiesNot measured
  • 6%Collect environmental or biological samplesNot measured
  • 6%Develop scientific or mathematical theories or modelsNot measured
  • 6%Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical dataNot measured

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in science and research, not always this occupation's tasks.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

  • CORE-Benchby Princeton UniversityTask level · CORE-Bench-Hard accuracy (public test set)
    95.5%Claude Code + Claude Opus 4.5 (after manual regrading) · 3 Dec 2025
    Solved

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Analyze ecological data about the impact of pollution, erosion, floods, and other environmental problems on bodies of water.
  • Answer technical questions from hydrologists, policymakers, or other customers developing water conservation plans.
  • Apply research findings to minimize the environmental impacts of pollution, waterborne diseases, erosion, or sedimentation.
  • Assist in designing programs to ensure the proper sealing of abandoned wells.
  • Collect water and soil samples to test for physical, chemical, or biological properties, such as pH, oxygen level, temperature, and pollution.
  • Develop computer models for hydrologic predictions.
  • Estimate the costs and benefits of municipal projects, such as hydroelectric power plants, irrigation systems, and wastewater treatment facilities.
  • Investigate complaints or conflicts related to the alteration of public waters by gathering information, recommending alternatives, or preparing legal documents.
  • Investigate the properties, origins, or activities of glaciers, ice, snow, or permafrost.
  • Locate and deliver information or data as requested by customers, such as contractors, government entities, and members of the public.
  • Measure the properties of bodies of water, such as water levels, volume, and flow.
  • Perform quality control checks on data to be used by hydrologists.
Other job titles for this occupation (8)

Field Technician (Field Tech) · GIS Technician (Geographic Information System Technician) · Groundwater Monitoring Technician · Hydro Operator · Hydrographer · Hydrography Technician · Hydrologic Aid · Hydrologic Technician