Takeover Tracker
33%medium risk
Photonics Engineers
vs

69 shared · 15 different

core competencies

33%medium risk
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricPhotonics EngineersElectronics Engineers, Except Computer
Risk Score32.6%33.2%
Risk TierMedium RiskMedium Risk
Risk Percentile54th58th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)4 / 157 / 15
Median Salary$117,750$127,590
Employment151K94K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

Physics
Computers and Electronics
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
MathematicsAI-Vulnerable
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Analyzing Data or Information
Active LearningAI-Augmented
Developing and Building Teams
Telecommunications
MathematicsAI-Vulnerable
Number Facility
Originality

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Photonics Engineers

31%

total discount

Electronics Engineers, Except Computer

32%

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.

Electronics Engineers, Except Computer

7 of 15 at risk
78%Inspect electronic equipment, instruments, products, or systems to ensure conformance to specifications, safety standards, or applicable codes or regulations.
73%Prepare documentation containing information such as confidential descriptions or specifications of proprietary hardware or software, product development or introduction schedules, product costs, or information about product performance weaknesses.
70%Prepare, review, or maintain maintenance schedules, design documentation, or operational reports or charts.
52%Design electronic components, software, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, medical, military, or scientific applications.
52%Analyze electronics system requirements, capacity, cost, or customer needs to determine project feasibility.

Wage Comparison

Electronics Engineers, Except Computer earns +$9,840(+8%) vs Photonics Engineers
Photonics EngineersElectronics Engineers, Except Computer
10th
$62,840$79,390
25th
$85,750$98,920
Median
$117,750$127,590
75th
$152,670$164,000
90th
$183,510$199,060

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Photonics Engineers2028–2035
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer2028–2035
20242030203520402045

Photonics Engineers has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Electronics Engineers, Except Computer.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Photonics Engineers

$79,340

from $117,750

Electronics Engineers, Except Computer

$85,230

from $127,590

After adjusting for AI risk, Electronics Engineers, Except Computer offers $5,890 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Photonics

0

Unique to Electronics

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Decision Complexity
Regulatory Barriers
Social Intelligence
Fine Manipulation
Photonics EngineersElectronics Engineers, Except Computer
Find transitions from Photonics EngineersFind transitions from Electronics Engineers, Except Computer