Takeover Tracker
33%medium risk
Photonics Engineers
vs

52 shared · 34 different

core competencies

27%medium risk
Electrical Engineering Technicians

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricPhotonics EngineersElectrical Engineering Technicians
Risk Score32.6%26.6%
Risk TierMedium RiskMedium Risk
Risk Percentile54th24th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)4 / 159 / 15
Median Salary$117,750$77,180
Employment151K93K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

Physics
Engineering and Technology
Mathematical Reasoning
MathematicsAI-Vulnerable
Science
Analyzing Data or Information
WritingAI-Augmented
Number Facility
Design
Originality
MathematicsAI-Vulnerable
Active LearningAI-Augmented

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Photonics Engineers

31%

total discount

Electrical Engineering Technicians

31%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Photonics Engineers

4 of 15 at risk
85%Document photonics system or component design processes, including objectives, issues, or outcomes.
57%Write reports or proposals related to photonics research or development projects.
53%Design, integrate, or test photonics systems or components.
51%Conduct research on new photonics technologies.
49%Conduct testing to determine functionality or optimization or to establish limits of photonics systems or components.

Electrical Engineering Technicians

9 of 15 at risk
85%Write procedures for the commissioning of electrical installations.
84%Prepare, review, or coordinate ongoing modifications to contract specifications or plans.
76%Inspect electrical project work for quality control and assurance.
55%Evaluate engineering proposals, shop drawings, or design comments for sound electrical engineering practice or conformance with established safety or design criteria.
55%Review existing electrical engineering criteria to identify necessary revisions, deletions, or amendments to outdated material.

Wage Comparison

Electrical Engineering Technicians earns -$40,570(-34%) vs Photonics Engineers
Photonics EngineersElectrical Engineering Technicians
10th
$62,840$48,250
25th
$85,750$60,610
Median
$117,750$77,180
75th
$152,670$94,810
90th
$183,510$111,790

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Photonics Engineers2028–2035
Electrical Engineering Technicians2028–2035
20242030203520402045

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

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Photonics Engineers

$79,340

from $117,750

Electrical Engineering Technicians

$56,635

from $77,180

After adjusting for AI risk, Photonics Engineers offers $22,705 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Photonics

0

Unique to Electrical

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Fine Manipulation
Creativity
Decision Complexity
Regulatory Barriers
Photonics EngineersElectrical Engineering Technicians
Find transitions from Photonics EngineersFind transitions from Electrical Engineering Technicians