Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
Machines can already do 51% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 78%. Most of the work is changing now.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 51% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 10% of them.
- Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 78% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 96,900 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $130,220 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 59% for contact with people.
- Also called: Compatibility Test Engineer, Design Engineer, Electronics Design Engineer, Engineer.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design electronic components, software, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, medical, military, or scientific applications | 18% | 80% to 97% | |
| Operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform electronics engineering tasks | 12% | 65% to 92% | |
| Confer with engineers, customers, vendors, or others to discuss existing or potential electronics engineering projects or products | 11% | 28% to 58% | |
| Develop or perform operational, maintenance, or testing procedures for electronic products, components, equipment, or systems | 9% | 20% to 60% | |
| Evaluate project work to ensure effectiveness, technical adequacy, or compatibility in the resolution of complex electronics engineering problems | 7% | 25% to 55% | |
| Prepare documentation containing information such as confidential descriptions or specifications of proprietary hardware or software, product development or introduction schedules, product costs, or information about product performance weaknesses | 5% | 70% to 95% | |
| Analyze electronics system requirements, capacity, cost, or customer needs to determine project feasibility | 5% | 76% to 96% | |
| Prepare, review, or maintain maintenance schedules, design documentation, or operational reports or charts | 5% | 78% to 97% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills electronics engineers, except computer use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Computer Hardware Engineers71% of tasks by 2035 · US median $161,740
- Electrical Engineers64% of tasks by 2035 · US median $120,630
- Photonics Engineers73% of tasks by 2035 · US median $122,930
- Computer and Information Research Scientists76% of tasks by 2035 · US median $140,300
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Electronics Engineers, Except Computer?
Machines can already do half of its tasks. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of electronics engineers, except computer?
Machines can do 51% of the tasks of electronics engineers, except computer today and 78% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 17-2072.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Electronics Engineers, Except Computer: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/electronics-engineers-except-computer/