AI JOB RISK SCANNER
O*NET-SOC 17-2199.07 / model V11 rated-task engine

Will AI replace
Photonics Engineers?

Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.

Estimated AI task exposure
78%

High exposure

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

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

Digital/info work

77/100

Physical moat

26/100

Human moat

16/100

Rating coverage

100%

26 task statements / 26 rated

Highest-weighted occupation tasks

Develop or test photonic prototypes or models.
Importance 76/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 41/100Weight 0.76
Design, integrate, or test photonics systems or components.
Importance 74/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 50/100Weight 0.76
Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in the field.
Importance 70/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 48/100Weight 0.76
Analyze system performance or operational requirements.
Importance 78/100Relevance 91/100Frequency 44/100Weight 0.75
Develop optical or imaging systems, such as optical imaging products, optical components, image processes, signal process technologies, or optical systems.
Importance 78/100Relevance 87/100Frequency 43/100Weight 0.73
Determine applications of photonics appropriate to meet product objectives or features.
Importance 66/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 35/100Weight 0.71
Document photonics system or component design processes, including objectives, issues, or outcomes.
Importance 64/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 39/100Weight 0.70
Write reports or proposals related to photonics research or development projects.
Importance 68/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 26/100Weight 0.69
Conduct testing to determine functionality or optimization or to establish limits of photonics systems or components.
Importance 67/100Relevance 91/100Frequency 38/100Weight 0.69
Conduct research on new photonics technologies.
Importance 66/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 30/100Weight 0.68

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

$122,930

BLS OEWS May 2025

National employment

154,070

BLS OEWS May 2025

Projected growth

+3.7%

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

Average annual openings

9

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%

73 points lower exposure • 60% profile similarity

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

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

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

5%

73 points lower exposure • 61% profile similarity

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

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

Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers

5%

73 points lower exposure • 59% profile similarity

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

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

Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders

6%

72 points lower exposure • 62% profile similarity

Median wage: $58,870 Growth 2025–2035: +2.8% Annual openings: 1

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

Wind Turbine Service Technicians

5%

73 points lower exposure • 60% profile similarity

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

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

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

8%

70 points lower exposure • 62% profile similarity

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

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
I am your guide.
Knowledge is your strongest upgrade.