Physicists
Life, Physical, and Social Science · SOC 19-2012
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
Decision card
Career Evidence Passport
SOC 19-2012 evidence across exposure, wages, projections, postings, certified LCAs, skills, and transitions.
- SOC exposure
- 27.3%
- High · Anthropic AEI
- Automation friction
- 53/100
- Moderate friction; broad SOC seed ORS job-requirements coverage.
- Wages
- $172,250
- H-1B offered wage $85,301; LCAs are filings.
- Projected openings
- 1,800
- BLS EP 2024–2034; employment change +4.0%.
- Observed/proxy demand
- 993
- FY2025 certified LCAs; 4,140 postings in 2025.
Skill evidence
Transition context
- H-1B values are certified Labor Condition Applications, not visa approvals.
- Job postings are seed-static / seed-derived; treat as provider-ready proxy coverage until observed provider data is wired in.
- Transition matches are directional skill-overlap context, not placement guarantees.
- This release is a FutureGrid broad-SOC seed derived from public BLS ORS requirement concepts and categories, not direct occupation-level ORS survey estimates. It describes job requirements, not worker ability, AI capability, or displacement probability. Automation friction is a FutureGrid derived score and should be read alongside exposure, demand, wage, and projection signals.
Best transitions from here
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AI Exposure Analysis
Across AI measures
Multiple exposure lenses for this occupation.
AI could do ~75% of this role but only ~27.3% is currently done with AI — a large capability-vs-adoption gap.
Top Skills
H-1B Visa Sponsorship Demand
View full H-1B trends →Certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications naming this occupation, FY2016–FY2025. A descriptive high-skill labor-demand signal — employer filings, not visa approvals or individual outcomes. Note: one LCA can cover multiple worker positions.
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.
Common titles: Biophysics Scientist, Health Physicist, Medical Physicist, Physicist, Research Consultant, Research Physicist
Representative Tasks
- •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.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Apply mathematical principles or statistical approaches to solve problems in scientific or applied fields.
- •Analyze geological or geographical data.
- •Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
- •Develop theories or models of physical phenomena.
- •Instruct college students in physical or life sciences.
Tools & Technologies
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
Employment & Wage Trend
BLS OEWS, 2019–2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). See /sources.
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 27.3% | 9.7% |
| Outlook | Bright ↗ | 37% Bright |
| Median Salary | $172,250 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 73/100 | N/A |