# Physicists

> Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.

- **SOC code:** 19-2012.00
- **Canonical URL:** https://singulariki.com/roles/role-19-2012-00
- **Also known as:** Health Physicist, Physicist, Research Scientist, Scientist, Biophysics Scientist, Medical Physicist, Research Consultant, Research Physicist
- **Frame:** "AI exposure" means task overlap (how codifiable the work is), not jobs lost or a forecast. Every figure below is traced to a named public dataset.

## What this work is

**Core tasks** (O*NET):
- Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
- Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
- Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
- Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
- Write research proposals to receive funding.
- Teach physics to students.
- Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.
- Observe the structure and properties of matter, and the transformation and propagation of energy, using equipment such as masers, lasers, and telescopes, to explore and identify the basic principles governing these phenomena.
- Develop theories and laws on the basis of observation and experiments, and apply these theories and laws to problems in areas such as nuclear energy, optics, and aerospace technology.
- Collaborate with other scientists in the design, development, and testing of experimental, industrial, or medical equipment, instrumentation, and procedures.

**Emerging tasks** (O*NET):
- Perform peer reviews of scientific papers.

## Skills, tools, capabilities

**Knowledge, skills & abilities** (O*NET, highest importance first):
- Physics _(knowledge)_
- Mathematics _(knowledge)_
- Mathematical Reasoning _(ability)_
- Science _(essential_skill)_
- Engineering and Technology _(knowledge)_
- Computers and Electronics _(knowledge)_
- Reading Comprehension _(essential_skill)_
- Mathematics _(essential_skill)_
- Written Comprehension _(ability)_
- Number Facility _(ability)_
- Speaking _(essential_skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(essential_skill)_

**Skills in demand:**
- Physics _(Specialized Skill)_
- Mathematics _(Common Skill)_
- Reading Comprehension _(Common Skill)_
- Inductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(Common Skill)_
- Writing _(Common Skill)_
- Information Ordering _(Specialized Skill)_
- Active Listening _(Common Skill)_
- Active Learning _(Common Skill)_
- Speech Recognition _(Specialized Skill)_
- Learning Strategies _(Specialized Skill)_

**Tools & technology:**
- Eclipse IDE _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Python _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Adobe Photoshop _(hot technology)_
- Amazon Web Services AWS software _(hot technology)_
- Ansible software _(hot technology)_
- Autodesk AutoCAD _(hot technology)_
- C _(hot technology)_
- C++ _(hot technology)_
- Extensible markup language XML _(hot technology)_
- Git _(hot technology)_
- JavaScript _(hot technology)_
- Linux _(hot technology)_

## AI exposure & outlook

- **AI task-overlap index:** 91st percentile (High) across all occupations — composite of current-era exposure studies (ai-exposure-index-v1).
- **Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.):** 91st percentile (High) — source: felten_aioe.
- **LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou):** 87th percentile (High) — source: eloundou_gamma.
- **AI assistant applicability (Microsoft):** 76th percentile (High) — source: microsoft_applicability.
- **Frey–Osborne (2013, historical computerization estimate):** 29th percentile — kept separate from current-era studies.
- **Remote-capable (Dingel–Neiman):** yes — task structure, not who actually works remote.
- **Projected employment (BLS 2024–34):** 4.0% growth (About average); 1.7k annual openings; 24.6k → 25.6k jobs.
- **Pay & employment (BLS OEWS, May 2024):** median $166,290; 21,340 employed.

## How people actually use AI here

Anthropic Economic Index — measured AI conversations mapped to this occupation's tasks:

- **Automation vs augmentation:** 57% automation, 30% augmentation (usage-weighted).
- **Autonomy median:** 3.0 (higher = AI acts more independently).
- **Dominant collaboration mode:** directive.

**Tasks most handed to AI here:**
- Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood. _(1.5% of measured AI use; directive)_
- Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers. _(1.4% of measured AI use; directive)_

**Example prompts (honest phrasings of the tasks above — starting points, not endorsed instructions):**
- Help me design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
- Help me perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.

## Sources

- **O*NET** (30.3) — U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development. https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html
- **BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** (May 2024) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- **BLS Employment Projections** (2024–2034) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- **Anthropic Economic Index** (v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27)) — Anthropic. https://www.anthropic.com/economic-index
- **Microsoft “Working with AI”** (working-with-ai) — Microsoft Research. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/
- **“GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.)** (arXiv 2303.10130) — OpenAI / academic. https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130
- **AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE)** (Felten, Raj & Seamans) — academic. https://github.com/AIOE-Data/AIOE
- **Frey & Osborne (2013)** (frey-osborne-automation) — academic. https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/publications/the-future-of-employment/
- **Dingel & Neiman (2020)** (dingel-neiman-workathome) — academic. https://github.com/jdingel/DingelNeiman-workathome

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_Generated from Singulariki's joined dataset; data snapshot 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-19-2012-00_