AI JOB RISK SCANNER
O*NET-SOC 17-2061.00 / model V11 rated-task engine

Will AI replace
Computer Hardware Engineers?

Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use. May supervise the manufacturing and installation of computer or computer-related equipment and components.

Estimated AI task exposure
73%

High exposure

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

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

Digital/info work

77/100

Physical moat

38/100

Human moat

18/100

Rating coverage

100%

18 task statements / 18 rated

Highest-weighted occupation tasks

Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
Importance 83/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 47/100Weight 0.80
Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
Importance 78/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 47/100Weight 0.79
Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
Importance 80/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 46/100Weight 0.78
Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
Importance 77/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 42/100Weight 0.76
Direct technicians, engineering designers or other technical support personnel as needed.
Importance 68/100Relevance 93/100Frequency 52/100Weight 0.74
Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
Importance 75/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 31/100Weight 0.74
Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
Importance 72/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 34/100Weight 0.73
Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
Importance 66/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 42/100Weight 0.73
Provide technical support to designers, marketing and sales departments, suppliers, engineers and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process.
Importance 68/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 40/100Weight 0.72
Select hardware and material, assuring compliance with specifications and product requirements.
Importance 67/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 30/100Weight 0.70

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

$161,740

BLS OEWS May 2025

National employment

76,660

BLS OEWS May 2025

Projected growth

+9.1%

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

Average annual openings

4

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%

68 points lower exposure • 64% profile similarity

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

more physical-world work, less digital task exposure
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers

5%

68 points lower exposure • 63% profile similarity

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

more physical-world work, less digital task exposure
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

5%

68 points lower exposure • 64% profile similarity

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

more physical-world work, less digital task exposure
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic

6%

67 points lower exposure • 65% profile similarity

Median wage: $63,870 Growth 2025–2035: -3.4% Annual openings: 0

more physical-world work, less digital task exposure
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Wind Turbine Service Technicians

5%

68 points lower exposure • 63% profile similarity

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

more physical-world work, less digital task exposure
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

9%

64 points lower exposure • 65% profile similarity

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

more physical-world work, less digital task exposure

Personalized career defense protocol

AI-Proofing Plan

AUTOMATE

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

AUGMENT

  • research and analysis
  • quality checking AI-generated work
  • decision preparation
  • scenario generation

PROTECT

  • domain expertise
  • exception handling
  • accountability for outcomes

LEARN

  • AI-assisted research
  • workflow automation
  • data literacy
  • prompt and workflow design
  • AI output verification

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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