Takeover Tracker
25%medium risk
Radio Mechanics
vs

62 shared · 16 different

core competencies

32%medium risk
Photonics Technicians

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricRadio MechanicsPhotonics Technicians
Risk Score25.4%31.8%
Risk TierMedium RiskMedium Risk
Risk Percentile20th50th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)2 / 135 / 15
Median Salary$64,190$77,390
Employment11K64K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

Telecommunications
Customer and Personal Service
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
Performing General Physical Activities
Public Safety and Security
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Repairing
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Scheduling Work and Activities
Physics
Administration and Management

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Radio Mechanics

29%

total discount

Photonics Technicians

28%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Radio Mechanics

2 of 13 at risk
86%Monitor radio range stations to detect transmission flaws and adjust controls to eliminate flaws.
84%Test emergency transmitters to ensure their readiness for immediate use.
45%Calibrate and align components, using scales, gauges, and other measuring instruments.
43%Turn setscrews to adjust receivers for maximum sensitivity and transmitters for maximum output.
43%Test batteries, using hydrometers and ammeters, and charge batteries as necessary.

Photonics Technicians

5 of 15 at risk
86%Document procedures, such as calibration of optical or fiber optic equipment.
86%Monitor mechanical factors, such as turbine load or strain information.
68%Compute or record photonic test data.
53%Assist scientists or engineers in the conduct of photonic experiments.
51%Perform diagnostic analyses of processing steps, using analytical or metrological tools, such as microscopy, profilometry, or ellipsometry devices.

Wage Comparison

Photonics Technicians earns +$13,200(+21%) vs Radio Mechanics
Radio MechanicsPhotonics Technicians
10th
$42,360$47,010
25th
$50,610$59,700
Median
$64,190$77,390
75th
$84,770$97,760
90th
$102,550$114,630

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Radio Mechanics2028–2035
Photonics Technicians2028–2035
20242030203520402045

Radio Mechanics has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Photonics Technicians.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Radio Mechanics

$47,918

from $64,190

Photonics Technicians

$52,788

from $77,390

After adjusting for AI risk, Photonics Technicians offers $4,870 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Radio

0

Unique to Photonics

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Fine Manipulation
Regulatory Barriers
Social Intelligence
Decision Complexity
Radio MechanicsPhotonics Technicians
Find transitions from Radio MechanicsFind transitions from Photonics Technicians