SOC 19-4000
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians
Risk Score
โ ๏ธ35/100
Moderate
US Employment
๐ฅ373,260
Total workers
Median Wage
๐ฐ$56K
$37K โ $94K
Projected Growth
๐+3.4%
2023-2033 (BLS)
GenAI Exposure
๐ค35/100
Moderate exposure
๐ก Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians face a risk score of 35/100 โ 9 points below the national average of 44. With only 35/100 GenAI exposure, most core tasks remain resistant to current AI capabilities. See our methodology โ
๐ก Workers in this field earn $56K ($10K above the national median). The 3 recommended career transitions all maintain competitive wages while reducing automation exposure. Explore transition paths โ
๐ AI Impact Analysis
With a risk score of 35/100, Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians faces moderate automation pressure. While tasks like automated laboratory instrumentation and workflows are increasingly handled by AI, the role retains significant human elements. The 373,260 workers in this occupation should focus on strengthening skills in collaborative scientific discourse and peer review and fieldwork in unstructured natural environments to stay ahead. The role will likely evolve rather than disappear.
Will AI Replace Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians?
Read our full analysis with verdict, risk factors, safe tasks, and career transition paths โ
โ ๏ธ Top Risk Factors
Automated laboratory instrumentation and workflows
AI literature review and meta-analysis automation
Robotic sample preparation and experimentation
๐ก๏ธ Tasks Safe from Automation
Collaborative scientific discourse and peer review
Fieldwork in unstructured natural environments
Interpreting ambiguous results with domain expertise
Ethical oversight of research involving human subjects
๐ Task Automation Breakdown
Based on O*NET task analysis and GenAI exposure scoring. Shows the estimated proportion of this occupation's core tasks that are automatable by current AI, augmented by AI tools, or require essential human skills.
๐ vs National Average
National avg: $46K
National avg: 44/100
National avg: 38/100
National avg: 3.7%
๐ Career Transition Paths
| Occupation | Risk | Wage | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Scientists and Related Workers | 21 | $93K | 73% |
| Political Scientists | 25 | $139K | 80% |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians | 26 | $79K | 78% |