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AI exposure Life, physical and social science

Will AI replace chemical technicians?

Chemical Technicians. US occupation 19-4031.

31.5%

of the time chemical technicians spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of chemical technicians' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.

Ranked 59 of 756 US occupations. More exposed than 92% of them.Further along than 92% of them.

Average US job 7.7%

One of the most exposed jobs in the country.Front of the queue for an AI assistant.

What AI already does for chemical techniciansWhat chemical technicians no longer do alone

O*NET lists 16 tasks for chemical technicians. AI use at work shows up in 5 of them. Each score runs from 0.5, where every observed use helps a person with the task, to 1, where every use does the task outright.

  1. Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses.Core task mostly automated 0.98
  2. Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.Core task mostly automated 0.91
  3. Write technical reports or prepare graphs or charts to document experimental results.Core task automated and assisted 0.82
  4. Develop new chemical engineering processes or production techniques. automated and assisted 0.77
  5. Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers.Core task automated and assisted 0.76

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

11 of the 16 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.Core task
  • Develop or conduct programs of sampling and analysis to maintain quality standards of raw materials, chemical intermediates, or products.Core task
  • Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.Core task
  • Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.Core task
  • Order and inventory materials to maintain supplies.Core task
  • Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.Core task
Show the other 5
  • Provide and maintain a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting laboratory or plant safety audits.Core task
  • Train new employees on topics such as the proper operation of laboratory equipment.Core task
  • Design or fabricate experimental apparatus to develop new products or processes.
  • Direct or monitor other workers producing chemical products.
  • Operate experimental pilot plants, assisting with experimental design.

How that compares

Among the 46 life, physical and social science occupations, chemical technicians rank 6. The group averages 12.2%, and its most exposed job is Political Scientists at 45.2%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Just above in the ranking

  1. 54Sales Engineers 32.2%
  2. 57Marketing Managers 32.0%
  3. 58Insurance Sales Agents 31.9%

Just below

  1. 60Computer Occupations, All Other 31.1%
  2. 60Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates 31.1%
  3. 62Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks 31.0%

What this does and does not mean

Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.

A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.

Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.