Takeover Tracker
34%medium risk
Materials Scientists
vs

78 shared · 6 different

core competencies

29%medium risk
Nanosystems Engineers

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricMaterials ScientistsNanosystems Engineers
Risk Score34.3%29.3%
Risk TierMedium RiskMedium Risk
Risk Percentile63th34th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)8 / 154 / 15
Median Salary$104,160$117,750
Employment8K151K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

MathematicsAI-Vulnerable
Biology
Active LearningAI-Augmented
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Number Facility
Controlling Machines and Processes

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Materials Scientists

31%

total discount

Nanosystems Engineers

33%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Materials Scientists

8 of 15 at risk
77%Test individual parts and products to ensure that manufacturer and governmental quality and safety standards are met.
70%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.
68%Prepare reports, manuscripts, proposals, and technical manuals for use by other scientists and requestors, such as sponsors and customers.
55%Recommend materials for reliable performance in various environments.
53%Write research papers for publication in scientific journals.

Nanosystems Engineers

4 of 15 at risk
84%Generate high-resolution images or measure force-distance curves, using techniques such as atomic force microscopy.
53%Prepare nanotechnology-related invention disclosures or patent applications.
52%Write proposals to secure external funding or to partner with other companies.
51%Design nano-enabled products with reduced toxicity, increased durability, or improved energy efficiency.
49%Identify new applications for existing nanotechnologies.

Wage Comparison

Nanosystems Engineers earns +$13,590(+13%) vs Materials Scientists
Materials ScientistsNanosystems Engineers
10th
$61,460$62,840
25th
$79,980$85,750
Median
$104,160$117,750
75th
$134,140$152,670
90th
$168,500$183,510

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Materials Scientists2028–2035
Nanosystems Engineers2028–2035
20242030203520402045

Nanosystems Engineers has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Materials Scientists.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Materials Scientists

$68,464

from $104,160

Nanosystems Engineers

$83,261

from $117,750

After adjusting for AI risk, Nanosystems Engineers offers $14,797 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Materials

0

Unique to Nanosystems

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Fine Manipulation
Regulatory Barriers
Social Intelligence
Creativity
Materials ScientistsNanosystems Engineers
Find transitions from Materials ScientistsFind transitions from Nanosystems Engineers