UK AI Job-Risk Index · SOC 2010 3111
Ranks #160 of 293 for AI exposure (1 = most exposed)
How exposed to AI are laboratory technicians?
50/100
AI exposure score (percentile across all 365 occupations DfE scored)
Medium#160
of 293 UK occupations (1 = most exposed)
£21,159
median full-time pay (ONS ASHE 2020) · 69,000 employee jobs
Laboratory technicians sits in the medium exposure band: its abilities overlap with current AI applications more than about 50% of the 365 UK occupations the Department for Education scored. Lower exposure usually means more of the work depends on physical, practical or in-person abilities that current AI applications do not cover well. It does not mean the job will be untouched by technology.
Underlying scores: AIOE (all AI) 0.04, LLM exposure -0.16 (standardised; 0 is the average occupation). Skill level: Level 3. Pay and job counts are 2020 figures, so use them to compare occupations rather than as current salaries.
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Job titles in this occupation
Titles the ONS SOC 2010 coding index places in unit group 3111 (30 of 58 shown). If your job title is here, this page uses the right figures for you.
analyser · oil tester · acid tester · dna analyst · metrologist · seed tester · soil tester · well logger · cytoscreener · seed analyst · water tester · alkali tester · geotechnician · haematologist · laboratory aid · laboratory man · spectrographer · chemical tester · food technician · laboratory aide · material analyst · cytology screener · laboratory worker · materials analyst · radiation monitor · rubber technician · anatomy technician · chemical assistant · geology technician · laboratory analyst
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Lower-risk related jobs
Occupations in the same SOC 2010 major group (Associate professional and technical occupations) with a lower AI exposure score, highest-paid first. Pay difference is against £21,159 (ONS ASHE 2020 median, full-time). Switching usually needs retraining; this is a starting point, not advice.
| Occupation | Exposure | Median pay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paramedics | 43/100 | £43,159 | +£22,000 |
| Police officers (sergeant and below) | 30/100 | £41,641 | +£20,482 |
| Fire service officers (watch manager and below) | 22/100 | £35,885 | +£14,726 |
| Prison service officers (below principal officer) | 25/100 | £31,093 | +£9,934 |
| Artists | 49/100 | £28,773 | +£7,614 |
Occupations with similar exposure
- Library clerks and assistants (50/100)
- Electrical and electronics technicians (51/100)
- Engineering technicians (51/100)
- Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators (49/100)
← #159 Electrical and electronics technicians · #161 Library clerks and assistants →
FAQ: Laboratory technicians and AI
Will AI replace laboratory technicians?
The index does not predict job losses. Laboratory technicians has an AI exposure score of 50/100 (medium band), ranking #160 of 293 UK occupations, where 1 is the most exposed. Lower exposure means more of the work relies on abilities current AI applications cover less well.
How does this compare with similar jobs?
Laboratory technicians is one of 9 occupations in its SOC 2010 sub-major group in the index; 7 of the others are more exposed to AI.
How much do laboratory technicians earn?
Median gross annual pay for full-time employees was £21,159 in ONS ASHE 2020 (Table 14), across about 69,000 employee jobs. These are 2020 figures, so use them to compare jobs rather than as current salaries.
Which related jobs are less exposed to AI?
In the same major group, lower-exposure occupations include Paramedics (43/100, £43,159), Police officers (sergeant and below) (30/100, £41,641), Fire service officers (watch manager and below) (22/100, £35,885).
Where does this data come from?
AI exposure uses Department for Education (2023) AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) scores; pay and job counts come from ONS ASHE 2020. Job titles come from the ONS SOC 2010 coding index.
Source: Department for Education (2023), The impact of AI on UK jobs and training (AIOE scores); ONS ASHE 2020 Table 14; job titles from the ONS SOC 2010 coding index (v7). Exposure is not a prediction of job loss. Methodology · Embed this data
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