Which science & research jobs are safest from AI?

The safest science & research jobs include Biological Scientists, All Other (4/100), Life Scientists, All Other (4/100), Psychologists, All Other (4/100). These roles require human judgment, creativity, or physical skills that AI cannot easily replicate.

Will AI Replace Science & Research Jobs?

Q: Will AI replace science & research jobs?

Based on our analysis of 66 occupations in Science & Research, the average AI replacement risk is 46/100. 15 jobs face high risk (70+), while 9 jobs have low risk (under 30). The impact varies significantly by specific role and the types of tasks involved.

Q: Which science & research jobs are most at risk from AI?

The highest-risk science & research jobs include Biological Technicians (93/100), Chemical Technicians (91/100), Quality Control Analysts (83/100). These roles involve tasks that AI can increasingly automate.

We analyzed 66 occupations in science & research to determine their AI replacement risk. The average risk score is 46/100.

Jobs Analyzed

46/100

Average Risk

High Risk (70+)

Low Risk (<30)

Risk Distribution

Critical (80-100)

High (60-79)

Moderate (40-59)

Low (20-39)

Very Low (0-19)

⚠️ Highest Risk Science & Research Jobs

Biological Technicians

Assist biological and medical scientists. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor ex...

Chemical Technicians

Conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of s...

Quality Control Analysts

Conduct tests to determine quality of raw materials, bulk intermediate and finished products. May conduct stability samp...

Remote Sensing Technicians

Apply remote sensing technologies to assist scientists in areas such as natural resources, urban planning, or homeland s...

Nuclear Technicians

Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity produc...

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health

Perform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that...

Nuclear Monitoring Technicians

Collect and test samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environm...

Food Science Technicians

Work with food scientists or technologists to perform standardized qualitative and quantitative tests to determine physi...

Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians

Assist scientists or engineers in the use of electronic, sonic, or nuclear measuring instruments in laboratory, explorat...

Precision Agriculture Technicians

Apply geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to ag...

Social Science Research Assistants

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publica...

Forensic Science Technicians

Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons ...

+ 3 more high-risk jobs in Science & Research

✅ Safest Science & Research Jobs

Biological Scientists, All Other

All biological scientists not listed separately.......

Life Scientists, All Other

All life scientists not listed separately.......

Psychologists, All Other

All psychologists not listed separately.......

Physical Scientists, All Other

All physical scientists not listed separately.......

Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other

All social scientists and related workers not listed separately.......

Hydrologic Technicians

Collect and organize data concerning the distribution and circulation of ground and surface water, and data on its physi...

Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other

All life, physical, and social science technicians not listed separately.......

Park Naturalists

Plan, develop, and conduct programs to inform public of historical, natural, and scientific features of national, state,...

Range Managers

Research or study range land management practices to provide sustained production of forage, livestock, and wildlife.......

All Science & Research Jobs by AI Risk

Job Title	Risk Score	Risk Level
Biological Technicians	93	Critical
Chemical Technicians	91	Critical
Quality Control Analysts	83	Critical
Remote Sensing Technicians	82	Critical
Nuclear Technicians	80	Critical
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health	79	High
Nuclear Monitoring Technicians	79	High
Food Science Technicians	77	High
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians	77	High
Precision Agriculture Technicians	76	High
Social Science Research Assistants	76	High
Forensic Science Technicians	75	High
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	73	High
Agricultural Technicians	71	High
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians	71	High
Forest and Conservation Technicians	65	High
Environmental Economists	55	Medium
Economists	54	Medium
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists	49	Medium
Physicists	48	Medium
Geographers	48	Medium
Transportation Planners	48	Medium
Astronomers	47	Medium
Industrial Ecologists	47	Medium
Historians	47	Medium
Political Scientists	46	Medium
Chemists	45	Medium
Survey Researchers	44	Medium
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists	43	Medium
Atmospheric and Space Scientists	42	Medium
Biochemists and Biophysicists	41	Medium
Bioinformatics Scientists	41	Medium
Epidemiologists	41	Medium
Materials Scientists	41	Medium
Hydrologists	41	Medium
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health	40	Medium
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists	40	Medium
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers	39	Low
Microbiologists	39	Low
Molecular and Cellular Biologists	39	Low
Geneticists	39	Low
Climate Change Policy Analysts	39	Low
Neuropsychologists	39	Low
Sociologists	39	Low
Biologists	38	Low
Environmental Restoration Planners	38	Low
Anthropologists and Archeologists	38	Low
Soil and Plant Scientists	37	Low
Animal Scientists	36	Low
Food Scientists and Technologists	36	Low
Clinical Neuropsychologists	36	Low
Urban and Regional Planners	36	Low
Conservation Scientists	33	Low
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	33	Low
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists	32	Low
Foresters	32	Low
School Psychologists	32	Low
Range Managers	29	Low
Park Naturalists	28	Low
Hydrologic Technicians	20	Low
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other	20	Low
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other	6	Very Low
Physical Scientists, All Other	5	Very Low
Biological Scientists, All Other	4	Very Low
Life Scientists, All Other	4	Very Low
Psychologists, All Other	4	Very Low

Future-Proof Your Science & Research Career

Science & Research has a relatively low average risk score of 46/100, but staying ahead of AI trends is still crucial for career growth.

Browse AI Courses on Coursera →Skill Up on Udemy →

Frequently Asked Questions

Will AI replace science & research jobs?

Based on our analysis of 66 occupations, the average AI replacement risk in science & research is 46/100. 15 jobs face high risk, while 9 jobs have low risk. The impact varies significantly depending on the specific tasks involved in each role.

Which science & research jobs are most at risk?

The highest-risk jobs include Biological Technicians (93/100), Chemical Technicians (91/100), Quality Control Analysts (83/100). These roles involve repetitive or data-processing tasks that AI can increasingly handle.

How can science & research workers prepare for AI?

Focus on skills that AI struggles with: creative problem-solving, emotional intelligence, complex physical tasks, and strategic thinking. Consider learning to work alongside AI tools rather than competing with them. Upskilling in data literacy and AI fundamentals can also help you leverage these technologies in your current role.