AI Career Radar

Physicists

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

AI exposure21 / 100Low exposure

Based on O*NET work context for this occupation. This score does not predict individual job losses.

What drives the score

Automation and repetition raise exposure; freedom to set tasks lowers it. Each measure uses a 0–100 scale.

Degree of automation19
Freedom to set tasks89
Repeating the same tasks33
$172,250Median annual wage, U.S.BLS OEWS
+7.2%Jobs, 2025 to 2035 (faster than average)BLS Employment Projections
78Skill durability (durable)Transferability, out of 100

How well your skills transfer

Each skill is scored on how well it transfers into occupations that are growing and less exposed. The ones high on both importance and transfer are worth deepening.

Highest transferability first

Both scores out of 100

Skills ranked by transferability. Both scores use a 0–100 scale.
SkillTransferabilityImportance in current role
Critical Thinking
63
91
Speaking
63
88
Active Listening
63
78
Monitoring
63
69
Judgment and Decision Making
63
69
Active Learning
62
88
Complex Problem Solving
62
85
Coordination
62
53
Reading Comprehension
61
88
Time Management
61
47
Show 25 more skills
Skills ranked by transferability. Both scores use a 0–100 scale.
SkillTransferabilityImportance in current role
Writing
60
85
Social Perceptiveness
60
56
Learning Strategies
58
75
Instructing
58
72
Systems Analysis
57
63
Systems Evaluation
56
66
Service Orientation
56
47
Persuasion
54
47
Mathematics
53
88
Science
52
97
Negotiation
52
41
Management of Personnel Resources
50
50
Operations Analysis
49
53
Installation
48
0
Technology Design
47
44
Quality Control Analysis
47
41
Equipment Selection
47
28
Management of Financial Resources
47
28
Management of Material Resources
47
28
Troubleshooting
47
25
Equipment Maintenance
47
13
Operations Monitoring
46
41
Repairing
46
13
Programming
45
69
Operation and Control
43
22

Compare how well you can use each skill in growing, low-exposure occupations with its importance in your current role. How we score skills.

Jobs you could move to

Compare related occupations by skill overlap, retraining effort, pay and projected growth. Choose a priority to adjust the ranking. Licensing requirements may limit some routes.

#1ProsthodontistsHealthcare
82/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$311,180
10-yr growth
+5.8%
Skill gap
4%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Service Orientation

82/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$132,300
10-yr growth
+41%
Skill gap
6%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Time Management

#3DermatologistsHealthcare
82/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$328,730
10-yr growth
+6.8%
Skill gap
5%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Negotiation, Persuasion

82/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$312,400
10-yr growth
+4.8%
Skill gap
4%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Negotiation, Time Management, Persuasion, Service Orientation

#5Data ScientistsTechnology
81/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$120,230
10-yr growth
+34.6%
Skill gap
0%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Time Management

81/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$120,230
10-yr growth
+34.6%
Skill gap
0%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Time Management

A second source of income, before you need it

This page can tell you where Physicists could go and what the move costs. The other route is not a move at all: something small of your own, running alongside the job, started while there is no pressure on it.

Where to learn the missing half: Google Career Certificates for systems analysis · active learning, LinkedIn Learning for writing · speaking, edX for mathematics · reading and PlanetNoCode for complex problem solving. Some of those are affiliate links. It never changes what we list.

Snapshot: O*NET 31.0, BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025-2035. Scoring v2.1.0-onet-31.0. Method on the how it works page.