AI JOB RISK SCANNER
O*NET-SOC 19-2032.00 / model V11 rated-task engine

Will AI replace
Materials Scientists?

Research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications. Includes glass scientists, ceramic scientists, metallurgical scientists, and polymer scientists.

Estimated AI task exposure
86%

Very High exposure

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

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

Digital/info work

84/100

Physical moat

13/100

Human moat

32/100

Rating coverage

100%

16 task statements / 16 rated

Highest-weighted occupation tasks

Conduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.
Importance 86/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 40/100Weight 0.80
Prepare reports, manuscripts, proposals, and technical manuals for use by other scientists and requestors, such as sponsors and customers.
Importance 78/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 33/100Weight 0.75
Recommend materials for reliable performance in various environments.
Importance 75/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 33/100Weight 0.74
Plan laboratory experiments to confirm feasibility of processes and techniques used in the production of materials with special characteristics.
Importance 78/100Relevance 95/100Frequency 37/100Weight 0.74
Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications.
Importance 80/100Relevance 95/100Frequency 32/100Weight 0.74
Test material samples for tolerance under tension, compression, and shear to determine the cause of metal failures.
Importance 80/100Relevance 86/100Frequency 44/100Weight 0.73
Test metals to determine conformance to specifications of mechanical strength, strength-weight ratio, ductility, magnetic and electrical properties, and resistance to abrasion, corrosion, heat, and cold.
Importance 84/100Relevance 81/100Frequency 40/100Weight 0.72
Devise testing methods to evaluate the effects of various conditions on particular materials.
Importance 70/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 31/100Weight 0.72
Perform experiments and computer modeling to study the nature, structure, and physical and chemical properties of metals and their alloys, and their responses to applied forces.
Importance 71/100Relevance 86/100Frequency 34/100Weight 0.67
Supervise and monitor production processes to ensure efficient use of equipment, timely changes to specifications, and project completion within time frame and budget.
Importance 75/100Relevance 76/100Frequency 41/100Weight 0.67

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

$117,790

BLS OEWS May 2025

National employment

8,470

BLS OEWS May 2025

Projected growth

+8.3%

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

Average annual openings

1

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

Hydroelectric Production Managers

10%

76 points lower exposure • 59% profile similarity

Median wage: $126,060 Growth 2025–2035: +2.6% Annual openings: 17

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

Bicycle Repairers

5%

81 points lower exposure • 54% profile similarity

Median wage: $42,780 Growth 2025–2035: -5.7% Annual openings: 1

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

Butchers and Meat Cutters

5%

81 points lower exposure • 54% profile similarity

Median wage: $40,140 Growth 2025–2035: +2.4% Annual openings: 15

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

Chefs and Head Cooks

12%

74 points lower exposure • 59% profile similarity

Median wage: $62,470 Growth 2025–2035: +6.6% Annual openings: 25

stronger human/judgment moat, more physical-world work
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

11%

75 points lower exposure • 60% profile similarity

Median wage: $49,450 Growth 2025–2035: +1.5% Annual openings: 4

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

Millwrights

5%

81 points lower exposure • 54% profile similarity

Median wage: $65,700 Growth 2025–2035: +0.9% Annual openings: 3

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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