Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
Machines can already do 29% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 58%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 29% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 10% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2033, and 58% 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 72% for contact with people.
- Also called: Deployment Engineer, Electro Magnetic Compatibility Test Engineer, RFID Engineer (Radio Frequency Identification Device Engineer), RFID Systems Engineer (Radio Frequency Identification Device Systems 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify operational requirements for new systems to inform selection of technological solutions | 8% | 25% to 50% | |
| Integrate tags, readers, or software in radio frequency identification device (RFID) designs | 8% | 3% to 30% | |
| Perform systems analysis or programming of radio frequency identification device (RFID) technology | 8% | 35% to 65% | |
| Test radio frequency identification device (RFID) software to ensure proper functioning | 7% | 25% to 65% | |
| Provide technical support for radio frequency identification device (RFID) technology | 7% | 35% to 58% | |
| Install, test, or maintain radio frequency identification device (RFID) systems | 7% | 3% to 30% | |
| Select appropriate radio frequency identification device (RFID) tags and determine placement locations | 5% | 25% to 50% | |
| Perform site analyses to determine system configurations, processes to be impacted, or on-site obstacles to technology implementation | 5% | 3% to 30% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills radio frequency identification device specialists use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2033. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of radio frequency identification device specialists?
Machines can do 29% of the tasks of radio frequency identification device specialists today and 58% 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 17-2072.01 (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). Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/radio-frequency-identification-device-specialists/