Takeover Tracker
33%medium risk
Photonics Engineers
vs

66 shared · 13 different

core competencies

32%medium risk
Materials Engineers

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricPhotonics EngineersMaterials Engineers
Risk Score32.6%31.7%
Risk TierMedium RiskMedium Risk
Risk Percentile54th49th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)4 / 156 / 15
Median Salary$117,750$108,310
Employment151K23K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

Chemistry
Production and Processing
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People
Technology DesignAI-Augmented
Design
Developing Objectives and Strategies
Computers and Electronics
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
English Language

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Photonics Engineers

31%

total discount

Materials Engineers

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.

Materials Engineers

6 of 15 at risk
86%Perform managerial functions, such as preparing proposals and budgets, analyzing labor costs, and writing reports.
84%Monitor material performance and evaluate material deterioration.
76%Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
53%Review new product plans and make recommendations for material selection, based on design objectives such as strength, weight, heat resistance, electrical conductivity, and cost.
51%Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.

Wage Comparison

Materials Engineers earns -$9,440(-8%) vs Photonics Engineers
Photonics EngineersMaterials Engineers
10th
$62,840$68,040
25th
$85,750$85,820
Median
$117,750$108,310
75th
$152,670$138,370
90th
$183,510$172,000

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Photonics Engineers2028–2035
Materials Engineers2028–2035
20242030203520402045

Materials Engineers 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

Materials Engineers

$73,987

from $108,310

After adjusting for AI risk, Photonics Engineers offers $5,353 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Photonics

0

Unique to Materials

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Regulatory Barriers
Fine Manipulation
Creativity
Social Intelligence
Photonics EngineersMaterials Engineers
Find transitions from Photonics EngineersFind transitions from Materials Engineers