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Engineers, All Other

The short answer

This job is expected to meaningfully change. AI can already assist with or automate many of its tasks. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to grow over the next decade, with about 1,540 openings expected each year.

Step 1

Where your job stands

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second most exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. That doesn't mean the job goes away—it means more of its tasks are the kind AI can help with.

How much AI could touch this job

More exposedband 4 of 5
least exposedmost exposed

Looking at the job itself, AI could help with about half of this job's tasks.

What this means

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second most exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.

Step 2

What AI can and can’t help with in this job

The score comes from the real, day-to-day tasks of this job—not a guess about the job as a whole. Below are the tasks that matter most in this job, split by whether AI can help with them.

AI can help with or automate about 84% of the tasks in this job.

Tasks AI can help with or automate

  1. Identify and recommend energy savings strategies to achieve more energy-efficient operation.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

  2. Conduct engineering site audits to collect structural, electrical, and related site information for use in the design of residential or commercial solar power systems.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

  3. Create plans for solar energy system development, monitoring, and evaluation activities.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

  4. Design or coordinate design of photovoltaic (PV) or solar thermal systems, including system components, for residential and commercial buildings.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

  5. Conduct energy audits to evaluate energy use and to identify conservation and cost reduction measures.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

Tasks AI can't do much of

  1. Provide technical direction or support to installation teams during installation, start-up, testing, system commissioning, or performance monitoring.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  2. Develop or test photonic prototypes or models.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  3. Synthesize, process, or characterize nanomaterials, using advanced tools or techniques.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  4. Design, integrate, or test photonics systems or components.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  5. Build, configure, or test robots or robotic applications.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

Step 3

Jobs you could switch to

If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.

See related jobs in

The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.

  • Chemical Engineers

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    Pays about 10% more—$132,675 vs your $120,894 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a bachelor's degree.

    Getting ready typically takes two to four years.

    Skills you already have

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Mathematics
    • Design
    • Physics
    • Written Comprehension

    New skills to build

    • Chemistry
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    • Category Flexibility
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  • Materials Engineers

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    Pays about 7% more—$129,426 vs your $120,894 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a bachelor's degree.

    Getting ready typically takes two to four years.

    Skills you already have

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Mathematics
    • Physics
    • Written Comprehension
    • Oral Comprehension

    New skills to build

    • Chemistry
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    • Science
  • Materials Scientists

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    Pays about 12% more—$135,427 vs your $120,894 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a bachelor's degree.

    Getting ready typically takes two to four years.

    Skills you already have

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Mathematics
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    • Written Comprehension
    • Oral Comprehension

    New skills to build

    • Chemistry
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  • Architectural and Engineering Managers

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    Pays about 48% more—$178,657 vs your $120,894 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a bachelor's degree, with 5 years or more of experience.

    Getting ready typically takes two to four years.

    Skills you already have

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Written Comprehension
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    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression

    New skills to build

    • Customer and Personal Service
  • Industrial Production Managers

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    +10% pay457 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays about 10% more—$132,662 vs your $120,894 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a bachelor's degree, with 5 years or more of experience.

    Getting ready typically takes two to four years.

    Skills you already have

    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Written Comprehension
    • Engineering and Technology
    • Mechanical

    New skills to build

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    • Personnel and Human Resources
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  • Managers, All Other

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    Pays about 41% more—$170,007 vs your $120,894 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a bachelor's degree, with less than 5 years of experience.

    Getting ready typically takes two to four years.

    Skills you already have

    • Written Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Deductive Reasoning

    New skills to build

    • Law and Government
    • Administration and Management
    • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Power Plant Operators

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    slightly less pay6,702 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays slightly less—$109,433 vs your $120,894 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus long-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Mechanical
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Near Vision
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Engineering and Technology

    New skills to build

    • Operation and Control
    • Reaction Time
    • Equipment Maintenance
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Response Orientation
  • Power Distributors and Dispatchers

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    Pays about 18% more—$142,573 vs your $120,894 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus long-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes one to two years.

    Skills you already have

    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Mathematics

    New skills to build

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Public Safety and Security
  • Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products

    Somewhat similar work
    +8% pay715 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 8% more—$130,584 vs your $120,894 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a bachelor's degree, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes one to two years.

    Skills you already have

    • Oral Expression
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Active Listening
    • Written Comprehension
    • Speaking

    New skills to build

    • Sales and Marketing
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Persuasion
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    • Service Orientation