Takeover Tracker
29%medium risk
Avionics Technicians
vs

63 shared · 16 different

core competencies

32%medium risk
Photonics Technicians

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricAvionics TechniciansPhotonics Technicians
Risk Score29.5%31.8%
Risk TierMedium RiskMedium Risk
Risk Percentile35th50th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)4 / 135 / 15
Median Salary$81,390$77,390
Employment21K64K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Customer and Personal Service
Performing General Physical Activities
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Mechanical
Repairing
English Language
Physics
Equipment MaintenanceAI-Resistant
Telecommunications
Documenting/Recording Information
Computers and Electronics

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Avionics Technicians

31%

total discount

Photonics Technicians

28%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Avionics Technicians

4 of 13 at risk
86%Keep records of maintenance and repair work.
84%Lay out installation of aircraft assemblies and systems, following documentation such as blueprints, manuals, and wiring diagrams.
53%Interpret flight test data to diagnose malfunctions and systemic performance problems.
51%Operate computer-aided drafting and design applications to design avionics system modifications.
49%Set up and operate ground support and test equipment to perform functional flight tests of electrical and electronic systems.

Photonics Technicians

5 of 15 at risk
86%Document procedures, such as calibration of optical or fiber optic equipment.
86%Monitor mechanical factors, such as turbine load or strain information.
68%Compute or record photonic test data.
53%Assist scientists or engineers in the conduct of photonic experiments.
51%Perform diagnostic analyses of processing steps, using analytical or metrological tools, such as microscopy, profilometry, or ellipsometry devices.

Wage Comparison

Photonics Technicians earns -$4,000(-5%) vs Avionics Technicians
Avionics TechniciansPhotonics Technicians
10th
$49,770$47,010
25th
$65,170$59,700
Median
$81,390$77,390
75th
$98,990$97,760
90th
$113,580$114,630

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Avionics Technicians2028–2035
Photonics Technicians2028–2035
20242030203520402045

Avionics Technicians has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Photonics Technicians.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)

Avionics Technicians

$57,404

from $81,390

Photonics Technicians

$52,788

from $77,390

After adjusting for AI risk, Avionics Technicians offers $4,617 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Avionics

0

Unique to Photonics

Combined Protection Strategy

Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors

Fine Manipulation
Social Intelligence
Decision Complexity
Regulatory Barriers
Avionics TechniciansPhotonics Technicians
Find transitions from Avionics TechniciansFind transitions from Photonics Technicians