Photonics Engineers
Machines can already do 39% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 73%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Photonics Engineers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 39% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 7% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2030, and 73% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 154,070 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $122,930 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 68% for contact with people.
- Also called: Algorithm Developer, Laser Engineer, Optical Design Engineer, Optical 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, integrate, or test photonics systems or components | 13% | 20% to 60% | |
| Analyze system performance or operational requirements | 8% | 79% to 97% | |
| Develop optical or imaging systems, such as optical imaging products, optical components, image processes, signal process technologies, or optical systems | 8% | 50% to 85% | |
| Develop or test photonic prototypes or models | 8% | 20% to 60% | |
| Conduct testing to determine functionality or optimization or to establish limits of photonics systems or components | 8% | 20% to 60% | |
| Conduct research on new photonics technologies | 5% | 20% to 60% | |
| Design electro-optical sensing or imaging systems | 5% | 50% to 85% | |
| Document photonics system or component design processes, including objectives, issues, or outcomes | 5% | 70% to 95% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills photonics engineers 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
- Materials Engineers63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $112,860
- Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar57% of tasks by 2035 · US median $122,930
- Hydrologists68% of tasks by 2035 · US median $96,600
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Photonics Engineers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2030. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of photonics engineers?
Machines can do 39% of the tasks of photonics engineers today and 73% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 17-2199.07 (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). Photonics Engineers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/photonics-engineers/