Regulatory Affairs Managers
Machines can already do 39% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 64%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Regulatory Affairs Managers 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 2031, and 64% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 622,190 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $141,900 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 61% for contact with people.
- Also called: CMC Director (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls Director), Compliance Director, Global RA Director (Global Regulatory Affairs Director), Global RA Manager (Global Regulatory Affairs Manager).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Review all regulatory agency submission materials to ensure timeliness, accuracy, comprehensiveness, or compliance with regulatory standards | 10% | 82% to 97% | |
| Direct the preparation and submission of regulatory agency applications, reports, or correspondence | 10% | 10% to 30% | |
| Develop regulatory strategies and implementation plans for the preparation and submission of new products | 8% | 20% to 50% | |
| Provide regulatory guidance to departments or development project teams regarding design, development, evaluation, or marketing of products | 8% | 75% to 95% | |
| Communicate regulatory information to multiple departments and ensure that information is interpreted correctly | 6% | 40% to 75% | |
| Maintain current knowledge of relevant regulations, including proposed and final rules | 6% | 45% to 80% | |
| Provide responses to regulatory agencies regarding product information or issues | 5% | 25% to 55% | |
| Manage activities such as audits, regulatory agency inspections, or product recalls | 5% | 10% to 30% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills regulatory affairs managers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Human Resources Managers51% of tasks by 2035 · US median $149,280
- Chief Legal Officers53% of tasks by 2035
- Loss Prevention Managers63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $141,900
- Legislators63% of tasks by 2035
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Regulatory Affairs Managers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2031. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of regulatory affairs managers?
Machines can do 39% of the tasks of regulatory affairs managers today and 64% 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 11-9199.01 (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). Regulatory Affairs Managers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/regulatory-affairs-managers/