UK AI Job-Risk Index · SOC 2010 5242
Ranks #186 of 293 for AI exposure (1 = most exposed)
How exposed to AI are telecommunications engineers?
41/100
AI exposure score (percentile across all 365 occupations DfE scored)
Medium#186
of 293 UK occupations (1 = most exposed)
£34,420
median full-time pay (ONS ASHE 2020) · 17,000 employee jobs
Telecommunications engineers sits in the medium exposure band: its abilities overlap with current AI applications more than about 41% 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) -0.36, LLM exposure -0.49 (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 5242 (30 of 33 shown). If your job title is here, this page uses the right figures for you.
in engineer · cable fitter · cable puller · sky engineer · vas engineer · wire jointer · cable jointer · data engineer · wire repairer · cable engineer · cable connector · cable installer · electric jointer · overhead wireman · telecom engineer · telephone fitter · traction lineman · internet engineer · telephone wireman · electrical jointer · telegraph engineer · telegraph linesman · telephone engineer · telephone linesman · telephone mechanic · plumber and jointer · telephone installer · telephone technician · telecommunications engineer · telecommunications mechanic
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Lower-risk related jobs
Occupations in the same SOC 2010 sub-major group with a lower AI exposure score, highest-paid first. Pay difference is against £34,420 (ONS ASHE 2020 median, full-time). Switching usually needs retraining; this is a starting point, not advice.
| Occupation | Exposure | Median pay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air-conditioning and refrigeration engineers | 31/100 | £35,663 | +£1,243 |
| Electrical and electronic trades n.e.c. | 27/100 | £34,941 | +£521 |
| Electricians and electrical fitters | 33/100 | £33,657 | −£763 |
| Metal working production and maintenance fitters | 14/100 | £32,934 | −£1,486 |
| Tool makers, tool fitters and markers-out | 30/100 | £31,579 | −£2,841 |
Occupations with similar exposure
- Care workers and home carers (41/100)
- Air travel assistants (41/100)
- Precision instrument makers and repairers (42/100)
- Retail cashiers and check-out operators (41/100)
← #185 Precision instrument makers and repairers · #187 Care workers and home carers →
Featured in: The best-paid UK jobs with below-average AI exposure
FAQ: Telecommunications engineers and AI
Will AI replace telecommunications engineers?
The index does not predict job losses. Telecommunications engineers has an AI exposure score of 41/100 (medium band), ranking #186 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?
Telecommunications engineers is one of 13 occupations in its SOC 2010 sub-major group in the index; 2 of the others are more exposed to AI.
How much do telecommunications engineers earn?
Median gross annual pay for full-time employees was £34,420 in ONS ASHE 2020 (Table 14), across about 17,000 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 sub-major group, lower-exposure occupations include Air-conditioning and refrigeration engineers (31/100, £35,663), Electrical and electronic trades n.e.c. (27/100, £34,941), Electricians and electrical fitters (33/100, £33,657).
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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