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AI exposure by field

Will AI replace life, physical, and social science jobs?

The 60 life, physical, and social science jobs in the index score 46 out of 100 on average, which is elevated exposure to AI. That ranks the field #8 of 22, where #1 is the most exposed. Together these jobs employ about 2,085,140 people in the US.

Most exposed

Least exposed

All 60 life, physical, and social science jobs, most exposed first

Scores run from 0 (AI can speed up almost none of the tasks) to 100 (almost all of them). How scores work.

#JobExposureLevelUS workersMedian pay
1PhysicistsLife, Physical, and Social Science75High20,430$172,250
2Bioinformatics ScientistsLife, Physical, and Social Science71High55,850$98,920
3Social Science Research AssistantsLife, Physical, and Social Science67High30,640$61,990
4Survey ResearchersLife, Physical, and Social Science63High8,290$69,460
5Environmental EconomistsLife, Physical, and Social Science61High17,790$124,720
6Atmospheric and Space ScientistsLife, Physical, and Social Science57Elevated10,000$99,070
7Remote Sensing TechniciansLife, Physical, and Social Science55Elevated73,910$62,280
8SociologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science54Elevated2,260$106,030
9Climate Change Policy AnalystsLife, Physical, and Social Science54Elevated89,250$82,220
10Animal ScientistsLife, Physical, and Social Science53Elevated3,100$68,940
11Industrial EcologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science53Elevated89,250$82,220
12Transportation PlannersLife, Physical, and Social Science52Elevated37,100$101,110
13Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science52Elevated172,340$103,410
14Environmental Restoration PlannersLife, Physical, and Social Science52Elevated89,250$82,220
15Quality Control AnalystsLife, Physical, and Social Science52Elevated73,910$62,280
16Park NaturalistsLife, Physical, and Social Science52Elevated25,950$73,010
17GeneticistsLife, Physical, and Social Science51Elevated55,850$98,920
18EconomistsLife, Physical, and Social Science50Elevated17,790$124,720
19Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthLife, Physical, and Social Science50Elevated89,250$82,220
20Hydrologic TechniciansLife, Physical, and Social Science50Elevated2,840$64,790
21HydrologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science50Elevated5,850$96,600
22Precision Agriculture TechniciansLife, Physical, and Social Science50Elevated15,130$49,630
23GeographersLife, Physical, and Social Science50Elevated1,400$102,040
24Soil and Plant ScientistsLife, Physical, and Social Science49Elevated15,730$78,850
25Industrial-Organizational PsychologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science49Elevated790$193,950
26Molecular and Cellular BiologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science49Elevated55,850$98,920
27BiologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science49Elevated55,850$98,920
28Materials ScientistsLife, Physical, and Social Science48Elevated8,470$117,790
29Political ScientistsLife, Physical, and Social Science48Elevated5,540$142,080
30Urban and Regional PlannersLife, Physical, and Social Science48Elevated44,230$89,320
31HistoriansLife, Physical, and Social Science47Elevated3,450$76,750
32Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersLife, Physical, and Social Science47Elevated23,470$101,920
33NeuropsychologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science46Elevated18,820$110,840
34Remote Sensing Scientists and TechnologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science46Elevated22,300$122,570
35Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthLife, Physical, and Social Science46Elevated34,670$55,090
36Biochemists and BiophysicistsLife, Physical, and Social Science45Elevated33,830$127,410
37Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science45Elevated18,120$76,780
38Clinical NeuropsychologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science44Elevated18,820$110,840
39EpidemiologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science44Elevated12,090$87,220
40Anthropologists and ArcheologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science44Elevated8,990$70,770
41AstronomersLife, Physical, and Social Science44Elevated2,120$128,820
42Conservation ScientistsLife, Physical, and Social Science43Elevated25,950$73,010
43Biological TechniciansLife, Physical, and Social Science42Elevated69,620$57,510
44MicrobiologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science40Elevated18,940$87,990
45Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansLife, Physical, and Social Science40Elevated30,590$61,560
46Chemical TechniciansLife, Physical, and Social Science39Moderate57,540$60,390
47School PsychologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science39Moderate63,940$95,990
48Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic TechniciansLife, Physical, and Social Science39Moderate6,980$53,350
49Forensic Science TechniciansLife, Physical, and Social Science39Moderate19,120$72,060
50ChemistsLife, Physical, and Social Science38Moderate82,770$91,240
51Range ManagersLife, Physical, and Social Science37Moderate25,950$73,010
52Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science37Moderate75,990$100,580
53ForestersLife, Physical, and Social Science37Moderate10,430$76,400
54Food Science TechniciansLife, Physical, and Social Science36Moderate14,600$52,130
55Food Scientists and TechnologistsLife, Physical, and Social Science35Moderate13,060$88,720
56Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsLife, Physical, and Social Science33Moderate140,610$90,150
57Forest and Conservation TechniciansLife, Physical, and Social Science33Moderate30,410$54,560
58Agricultural TechniciansLife, Physical, and Social Science32Moderate15,130$49,630
59Nuclear Monitoring TechniciansLife, Physical, and Social Science23Moderate6,470$110,240
60Nuclear TechniciansLife, Physical, and Social Science14Low6,470$110,240

Questions about life, physical, and social science jobs and AI

Will AI replace life, physical, and social science jobs?

Not as a whole. The 60 life, physical, and social science jobs in the index have an average AI exposure score of 46 out of 100 (elevated), #8 of 22 fields. Exposure means parts of the work are likely to change, not that the jobs will disappear.

Which life, physical, and social science jobs are most exposed to AI?

Physicists (75/100), Bioinformatics Scientists (71/100), Social Science Research Assistants (67/100).

Which life, physical, and social science jobs are safest from AI?

Nuclear Technicians (14/100), Nuclear Monitoring Technicians (23/100), Agricultural Technicians (32/100).

How many people work in life, physical, and social science jobs?

About 2,085,140 people in the US work in the jobs listed here (BLS, May 2025).

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