AI JOB SCANNER
O*NET-SOC 17-2199.07 / model V14 rated-task + local-market 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.

CHECK PAY WHERE YOU LIVE

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.