← All 785 jobsFile 17-2199
Engineers
Lightly edited
AI performs some of this work. Most of it still needs a person. The BLS expects 3.7% more of these jobs by 2035, faster than the 3.5% average.
- Rank
- #247 of 785 jobs, by how much of the work AI does
- US jobs, 2025 to 2035
- +3.7% All jobs: +3.5%
- Median US pay
- $122,930 a year, 2025
- People doing it
- 166,700 in the US, with about 8,800 openings a year
The work, 62 activities
The job description, marked up.
Every activity in this job, the biggest first. Tap a line for the evidence.
- deleAI does this
- +AIAI helps
- stetStill yours
Still yours: Design electrical or electronic systems or equipment8%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Research technology designs or applications5%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 149 conversations, and it got them there 89% of the time.
AI helps with this: Test performance of equipment or systems5%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,100 conversations, and it got them there 92% of the time.
AI does this: Develop models of systems, processes, or products5%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,656 Copilot conversations and completed it 72% of the time.
Still yours: Design industrial systems or equipment4%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Create visual designs or displays3%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 78 conversations, and it got them there 40% of the time.
Still yours: Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Advise others on the design or use of technologies3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 97 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
Still yours: Analyze data to improve operations3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Document technical designs, procedures, or activities3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 779 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
AI helps with this: Design materials or devices3%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 820 conversations, and it got them there 57% of the time.
AI does this: Advise others on business or operational matters3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 290 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
Still yours: Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Program computer systems or production equipment2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 822 Copilot conversations and completed it 87% of the time.
AI does this: Advise others on environmental sustainability or green practices2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,887 Copilot conversations and completed it 97% of the time.
Still yours: Supervise personnel activities2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Present research or technical information2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 30 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
AI does this: Train others on operational or work procedures2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 348 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
AI does this: Plan work activities2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 720 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
Still yours: Maintain operational records2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Prepare proposals or grant applications2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data2%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 903 conversations, and it got them there 86% of the time.
Still yours: Develop systems or practices to mitigate or resolve environmental problems2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Develop operational or technical procedures or standards2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,089 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
AI helps with this: Select materials or equipment for operations or projects2%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 222 conversations, and it got them there 93% of the time. In this job the work is hands-on, so AI can only assist.
AI helps with this: Identify business or organizational opportunities2%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,883 conversations, and it got them there 90% of the time.
AI helps with this: Analyze performance of systems or equipment1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 563 conversations, and it got them there 90% of the time.
Still yours: Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Develop research plans or methodologies1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Assess compliance with environmental standards or regulations1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Prepare reports of operational or procedural activities1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Advise others on products or services1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 42 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
AI helps with this: Gather data about operational or development activities1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 251 conversations, and it got them there 88% of the time.
Still yours: Develop sustainable organizational or business policies or practices1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Operate laboratory or field equipment1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 510 conversations, and it got them there 94% of the time.
AI does this: Develop technical specifications for products or operations1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,901 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
AI helps with this: Purchase goods or services1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 214 conversations, and it got them there 91% of the time.
AI helps with this: Design computer or information systems or applications1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 938 conversations, and it got them there 85% of the time.
AI helps with this: Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 85 conversations, and it got them there 91% of the time. In this job the work is hands-on, so AI can only assist.
Still yours: Evaluate green technologies or processes1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Prepare documentation for contracts, applications, or permits1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,066 conversations, and it got them there 94% of the time.
AI does this: Explain technical details of products or services1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 43 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
AI does this: Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 40 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
Still yours: Direct scientific or technical activities1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Determine resource needs of projects or operations1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,590 conversations, and it got them there 92% of the time.
Still yours: Operate industrial processing or production equipment1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Investigate organizational or operational problems1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,383 conversations, and it got them there 86% of the time.
AI helps with this: Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,656 conversations, and it got them there 84% of the time.
AI does this: Determine operational methods or procedures1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 461 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
AI helps with this: Implement procedures or processes1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 88 conversations, and it got them there 94% of the time. In this job the work is hands-on, so AI can only assist.
Still yours: Install commercial or production equipment1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Inspect completed work or finished products1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Research organizational behavior, processes, or performance1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,049 conversations, and it got them there 89% of the time.
Still yours: Schedule operational activities1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Promote products, services, or programs1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 117 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
Still yours: Fabricate devices or components1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Estimate project development or operational costs1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Coordinate activities with clients, agencies, or organizations1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Communicate with others about specifications or project details1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 117 Copilot conversations and completed it 78% of the time.
AI does this: Operate computer systems or computerized equipment1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 92 Copilot conversations and completed it 71% of the time.
Still yours: Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standards1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
2025 to 2035
Ten years from now.
For every 100 of these jobs in 2025, the BLS projects 104 in 2035. Across all US jobs, about 104.
About 8,800 openings a year, from growth and from people who retire or move on.
Nearby
Where your skills travel.
Jobs that share the most work with this one, where AI does less of it.
- Shares 31% of the workElectrical Engineers13% AI does, against 29% here+9.9% by 2035 · $120,630 · Bachelor’s degree
- Shares 31% of the workAgricultural Engineers22% AI does, against 29% here+6.9% by 2035 · $98,590 · Bachelor’s degree
- Shares 29% of the workAerospace Engineers24% AI does, against 29% here+8.3% by 2035 · $134,960 · Bachelor’s degree
The wire
On the wire.
Nothing filed about this job yet. The latest from the Work front:
How to read this file.
deleAI does this. In US Bing Copilot conversations from January to September 2024, AI itself performed the activity, completed it and made a real difference often enough to count.
+AIAI helps. People brought the activity to AI as their own goal, and it usually got them there.
stetStill yours. It barely shows up in AI use, AI rarely finishes it, or in this job it needs hands.
Shares are weighted by how much each activity matters in the job, using O*NET. Microsoft’s own AI applicability score for this job is 0.21, higher than 72% of jobs.
Doing an activity is not doing a job. The researchers behind this data warn against reading it as job loss, and so do we. It is US data; the shape of the work travels.
Sources: Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025) · O*NET OnLine, 17-2199 · BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
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