Regulatory Affairs Specialists
Machines can already do 47% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 76%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Regulatory Affairs Specialists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 47% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 12% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2028, and 76% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 417,070 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $80,730 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 62% for contact with people.
- Also called: Drug Regulatory Affairs Specialist, QA Specialist (Quality Assurance Specialist), RA Analyst (Regulatory Affairs Analyst), RA Associate (Regulatory Affairs Associate).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coordinate efforts associated with the preparation of regulatory documents or submissions | 12% | 25% to 55% | |
| Coordinate, prepare, or review regulatory submissions for domestic or international projects | 10% | 48% to 75% | |
| Review product promotional materials, labeling, batch records, specification sheets, or test methods for compliance with applicable regulations and policies | 6% | 50% to 85% | |
| Communicate with regulatory agencies regarding pre-submission strategies, potential regulatory pathways, compliance test requirements, or clarification and follow-up of submissions under review | 5% | 55% to 85% | |
| Prepare or direct the preparation of additional information or responses as requested by regulatory agencies | 5% | 25% to 55% | |
| Prepare or maintain technical files as necessary to obtain and sustain product approval | 5% | 70% to 95% | |
| Advise project teams on subjects such as premarket regulatory requirements, export and labeling requirements, or clinical study compliance issues | 5% | 35% to 65% | |
| Provide technical review of data or reports to be incorporated into regulatory submissions to assure scientific rigor, accuracy, and clarity of presentation | 5% | 25% to 55% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills regulatory affairs specialists use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Regulatory Affairs Managers64% of tasks by 2035 · US median $141,900
- Labor Relations Specialists52% of tasks by 2035 · US median $95,420
- Lawyers61% of tasks by 2035 · US median $159,670
- Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates57% of tasks by 2035 · US median $153,990
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Regulatory Affairs Specialists?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2028. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of regulatory affairs specialists?
Machines can do 47% of the tasks of regulatory affairs specialists today and 76% 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 13-1041.07 (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). Regulatory Affairs Specialists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/regulatory-affairs-specialists/