Physicists

Most exposed tasks

Highest structured exposure values in this role’s task mix — the work AI systems can already do most of.

• 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.66

Augmentable tasks

Work where AI assists rather than replaces — the productivity frontier of this role.

• Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.58
• Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.57
• Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.47

Most durable tasks

Lowest exposure — typically judgment, relationships, physical presence, or accountability. This is the human moat.

• Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.30
• Collaborate with other scientists in the design, development, and testing of experimental, industrial, or medical equipment, instrumentation, and procedures.31
• Write research proposals to receive funding.33

Task exposure values and classifications come from the versioned data release — they are structured data, not model output. Bars show exposure contribution relative to this role’s task mix.

What this means

A score of 44 puts Physicists in the second quartile of analyzed occupations. In practice, exposure this level is about the mix: 1 of 10 analyzed tasks lean automatable, 6 augmentable, and 3 durable. The useful question isn’t “will AI take this job” — it’s which tasks go first, which get faster, and where to reposition time. That’s what the personalized report maps against your actual week.

One next move: adopt AI deliberately on the augmentable tasks and build visible evidence of the durable ones.

Lower-exposure adjacent roles

No adjacent role in the current data release is at least 10 points lower with ≥50% skill overlap — we don’t label anything “safer” unless the data supports it.

Labor-market context

• $172,250median wage
• 20,430employed
• 1,700annual openings
• +4.1%projected growth

Context only — labor statistics are not inputs to the exposure score. See methodology.

Related roles

Adjacent by skills or family — no exposure claim implied.

• Mathematicians 51
• Astronomers 42
• Physics Teachers, Postsecondary 36
• Biochemists and Biophysicists 55
• Data Scientist 41
• Chemists 59

FAQ — Physicists

What does a score of 44 mean for a Physicists?

It means that, weighted across the 10 tasks we analyzed for this role, the task mix sits at 44 on a 0–100 exposure scale — in the second quartile of analyzed occupations. It measures task exposure to current and near-term AI capabilities, not the probability of losing a job.

Which tasks in this role are most exposed to AI?

The highest-exposure tasks are: 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. Exposure is scored per task from structured data, not generated by a language model.

Which parts of this job are most durable?

The most durable responsibilities are: Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood; Collaborate with other scientists in the design, development, and testing of experimental, industrial, or medical equipment, instrumentation, and procedures; Write research proposals to receive funding. Durable tasks typically depend on judgment, relationships, physical presence, or accountability.

Is this score personalized to me?

No — this page shows the occupation-level baseline. Two people with the same title often do different work. The $9 personalized report recalculates the score from the tasks you actually do and builds a concrete 7/30/90-day plan around them.