Side-by-Side Comparison
Astronomers leads 4–1| Metric | Physicists | Astronomers |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Score | 29.3% | 28.9% |
| Risk Tier | Medium Risk | Medium Risk |
| Risk Percentile | 35th | 33th |
| Tasks at Risk (>50%) | 6 / 15 | 4 / 15 |
| Median Salary | $166,290 | $132,170 |
| Employment | 21K | 2K |
Skill Comparison
|
Sorted by largest difference
Provide Consultation and Advice to Others
Training and Teaching Others
Education and Training
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Originality
Number Facility
Analyzing Data or Information
Engineering and Technology
Documenting/Recording Information
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Speed of Closure
Fluency of Ideas
Protective Factors
Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement
Physicists
34%
total discount
Astronomers
29%
total discount
Task Risk Comparison
Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable
Physicists
6 of 15 at risk76%Direct testing and monitoring of contamination of radioactive equipment, and recording of personnel and plant area radiation exposure data.
53%Write research proposals to receive funding.
53%Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.
52%Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
51%Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
Astronomers
4 of 15 at risk51%Present research findings at scientific conferences and in papers written for scientific journals.
51%Measure radio, infrared, gamma, and x-ray emissions from extraterrestrial sources.
51%Develop theories based on personal observations or on observations and theories of other astronomers.
51%Develop instrumentation and software for astronomical observation and analysis.
49%Study celestial phenomena, using a variety of ground-based and space-borne telescopes and scientific instruments.
Wage Comparison
Astronomers earns -$34,120(-21%) vs Physicists
PhysicistsAstronomers
10th
$80,020$70,730
25th
$117,450$94,990
Median
$166,290$132,170
75th
$210,260$177,690
90th
$239,200$191,880
Premium Head-to-Head Analysis
Displacement Timeline Comparison
Physicists2028–2035
Astronomers2028–2035
20242030203520402045
Astronomers has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Physicists.
Risk-Adjusted Salary
Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)
Physicists
$117,534
from $166,290
Astronomers
$93,999
from $132,170
After adjusting for AI risk, Physicists offers $23,534 more in risk-adjusted pay.
Transition Feasibility
1%
Skill Overlap
Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition
0
Unique to Physicists
0
Unique to Astronomers
Combined Protection Strategy
Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors
Creativity
Regulatory Barriers
Fine Manipulation
Social Intelligence
PhysicistsAstronomers