Materials Scientists
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 hold steady over the next decade, with about 40 openings expected each year.
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
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.
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 81% of the tasks in this job.
Tasks AI can help with or automate
Conduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Test material samples for tolerance under tension, compression, and shear to determine the cause of metal failures.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Prepare reports, manuscripts, proposals, and technical manuals for use by other scientists and requestors, such as sponsors and customers.
AI could do much of this on its own
Plan laboratory experiments to confirm feasibility of processes and techniques used in the production of materials with special characteristics.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Tasks AI can't do much of
Test metals to determine conformance to specifications of mechanical strength, strength-weight ratio, ductility, magnetic and electrical properties, and resistance to abrasion, corrosion, heat, and cold.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Teach in colleges and universities.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Visit suppliers of materials or users of products to gather specific information.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
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.
Materials Engineers
Similar workslightly less pay37 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays slightly less—$129,426 vs your $135,427 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Chemistry
- Engineering and Technology
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Written Comprehension
New skills to build
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
Chemical Engineers
Similar workslightly less pay28 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays slightly less—$132,675 vs your $135,427 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
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Deductive Reasoning
New skills to build
- Troubleshooting
- Systems Analysis
- Systems Evaluation
- Design
- Technology Design