AITakeover Tracker
29%medium risk

Physicists

Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.

Higher risk than 35% of occupations

AI Impact Summary

Physicists faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 29/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 35% of all analyzed occupations. Of 16 analyzed tasks, 1 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.

Skill Impact Analysis

AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Reading Comprehension10%

High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Information Ordering5%

High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Programming15%

High reliance on Programming is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Memorization5%

High reliance on Memorization is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

AI-Resistant Skills (11)

Adaptability/Flexibility85%

Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Complex Problem Solving75%

Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Instructing75%

Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Leadership88%

Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Social Perceptiveness90%

Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Persuasion80%

Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Coordination70%

Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Service Orientation82%

Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

AI-Augmented Skills (7)

Critical ThinkingActive LearningJudgment and Decision MakingWritingSystems AnalysisMonitoringTechnology Design

Recommended Courses

Courses matched to Physicists skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.

Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.

Upskill to Reduce Risk

Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills

Courseraintermediate

Machine Learning Specialization

by Stanford / DeepLearning.AI

~10 weeks$49/mo4.9Certificate
Addresses vulnerability: Mathematics

Estimated Impact

-8.5pt risk+$11K/yr salary

AI-Augmentation Tools

Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity

Courserabeginner

Google UX Design Professional Certificate

by Google

~5 months$49/mo4.8Certificate
Enhances AI augmentation: Critical Thinking

Estimated Impact

-5.4pt risk+$10K/yr salary

Strengthen Your Edge

Double down on skills AI can't replicate

Pluralsightadvanced

Design Patterns in C# and .NET

by Pluralsight

20 hours$29/mo4.6
Strengthens resilience: Complex Problem Solving

Estimated Impact

-2.3pt risk+$7K/yr salary

We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.

Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.

Education & Training

Percentage of workers at each education and training level

Education Level

High School Diploma2%
Post-Secondary Certificate1%
Associate's Degree3%
Bachelor's Degree18%
Master's Degree1%
Doctoral/Professional Degree22%
Level 1123%
Level 1229%

Prior Experience Needed

Work experience required to enter this job

None4%
6 months - 1 year4%
1-2 years11%
2-4 years25%
4-6 years30%
6-8 years6%
8-10 years6%
Over 10 years14%

Training Provided After Hiring

How long it typically takes to learn on the job

None9%
Up to 1 month4%
1-3 months9%
3-6 months38%
6 months - 1 year8%
1-2 years26%
2-4 years3%
4-6 years3%

How AI Impacts Each Task

16 tasks analyzed

Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.

Risk: 39.4%AI: 31.03ObservedTime: 12%

Direct testing and monitoring of contamination of radioactive equipment, and recording of personnel and plant area radiation exposure data.

Risk: 76.0%AI: 67EstimatedTime: 2%

Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 10%

Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 12%

Observe the structure and properties of matter, and the transformation and propagation of energy, using equipment such as masers, lasers, and telescopes to explore and identify the basic principles governing these phenomena.

Risk: 50.5%AI: 58.7ObservedTime: 10%

Develop theories and laws on the basis of observation and experiments, and apply these theories and laws to problems in areas such as nuclear energy, optics, and aerospace technology.

Risk: 39.0%AI: 30EstimatedTime: 8%

Teach physics to students.

Risk: 31.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 8%

Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.

Risk: 53.0%AI: 65EstimatedTime: 8%

Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.

Risk: 51.6%AI: 61.38ObservedTime: 8%

Collaborate with other scientists in the design, development, and testing of experimental, industrial, or medical equipment, instrumentation, and procedures.

Risk: 23.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 6%

Develop manufacturing, assembly, and fabrication processes of lasers, masers, infrared, and other light-emitting and light-sensitive devices.

Risk: 43.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 3%

Conduct application evaluations and analyze results to determine commercial, industrial, scientific, medical, military, or other uses for electro-optical devices.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 3%

Develop standards of permissible concentrations of radioisotopes in liquids and gases.

Risk: 41.0%AI: 35EstimatedTime: 2%

Conduct research pertaining to potential environmental impacts of atomic energy-related industrial development to determine licensing qualifications.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 2%

Advise authorities of procedures to be followed in radiation incidents or hazards, and assist in civil defense planning.

Risk: 21.0%AI: 15EstimatedTime: 2%

Write research proposals to receive funding.

Risk: 53.0%AI: 65EstimatedTime: 4%

Protective Factors

Total protective discount: 33.6%

Essential Soft Skills

Traits that are hard for AI to replicate

Attention to DetailAnalytical ThinkingInitiativePersistenceIntegrityAdaptability/FlexibilityDependabilityIndependenceAchievement/EffortInnovationCooperationSelf Control

Wage & Employment (2024)

Median Wage

$166,290

per year

Mean Wage

$166,000

per year

Employment

21K

workers

Wage Range

$80,020 - $239,200

10th - 90th pct

Wage Distribution

$80,020Median: $166,290$239,200
Career Planning

Explore other career paths

Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.

Alternate Career Paths

See all transitions

Astronomers

29%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $132,170

Higher risk than 33% of other occupations

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

29%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $99,240

Higher risk than 33% of other occupations

Biochemists and Biophysicists

31%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $103,650

Higher risk than 46% of other occupations

Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

32%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $101,390

Higher risk than 48% of other occupations

Operations Research Analysts

32%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $91,290

Higher risk than 51% of other occupations

Computer and Information Research Scientists

32%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 53% of other occupations

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary

33%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $106,120

Higher risk than 57% of other occupations

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

34%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $97,360

Higher risk than 60% of other occupations

Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists

34%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $117,960

Higher risk than 64% of other occupations

Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary

35%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $86,220

Higher risk than 65% of other occupations

Sales Managers

25%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 20% of other occupations

Chief Executives

26%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 23% of other occupations

General and Operations Managers

28%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 29% of other occupations

Marketing Managers

30%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 38% of other occupations

Advertising and Promotions Managers

31%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 43% of other occupations

Computer and Information Systems Managers

31%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 45% of other occupations

Subscribed — always updated

Recommendations

Skills to Develop

These skills are at risk from AI automation. Physicists professionals should diversify beyond them.

  • Mathematics

    High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Mathematics

    High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Reading Comprehension

    High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Information Ordering

    High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Programming

    High reliance on Programming is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Skills to Leverage

These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.

  • Adaptability/Flexibility

    Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Complex Problem Solving

    Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Instructing

    Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Leadership

    Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Social Perceptiveness

    Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Tools to Adopt

AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.

  • Critical Thinking

    Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Active Learning

    Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Judgment and Decision Making

    Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Writing

    Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Systems Analysis

    Systems Analysis will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

Score History

Risk score over 2 scoring runs

-1.7

overall change

Checking for existing plan...