Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Implement production processes and operate commercial-scale production equipment to produce, test, or modify materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition. Operate advanced microscopy equipment to manipulate nanoscale objects. Work under the supervision of nanoengineering staff.
$66,120 a year (for the broader BLS group this job sits in).
of the working time. Estimate.
- 19%
- 0%
- 81%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 8%. Today's estimate: 10%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 25 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collaborate with scientists or engineers to design or conduct experiments for the development of nanotechnology materials, components, devices, or systems.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 23% | 5 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | Stays with people | |
| Assist nanoscientists or engineers in processing or characterizing materials according to physical or chemical properties.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 9% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Collect or compile nanotechnology research or engineering data.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 8% | 1.7 h38 min to 4.2 h | 72%Half by now | |
| Operate nanotechnology compounding, testing, processing, or production equipment in accordance with appropriate standard operating procedures, good manufacturing practices, hazardous material restrictions, or health and safety requirements.Done daily by most who do it. | 7% | 1.7 h38 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| Monitor hazardous waste cleanup procedures to ensure proper application of nanocomposites or accomplishment of objectives.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 7% | 1.7 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Monitor equipment during operation to ensure adherence to specifications for characteristics such as pressure, temperature, or flow.Done daily by most who do it. | 5% | 1.3 h25 min to 2.5 h | Stays with people | |
| Maintain work area according to cleanroom or other processing standards.Done daily by most who do it. | 5% | 38 min17 min to 1.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Produce images or measurements, using tools or techniques such as atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, particle size analysis, or zeta potential analysis.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 5% | 1.3 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Inspect or measure thin films of carbon nanotubes, polymers, or inorganic coatings, using a variety of techniques or analytical tools.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 4% | 1.7 h38 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Measure emission of nanodust or nanoparticles during nanocomposite or other nano-scale production processes, using systems such as aerosol detection systems.Done yearly or less by most who do it. | 3% | 1.7 h38 min to 4.2 h | Stays with people | |
| Develop or modify wet chemical or industrial laboratory experimental techniques for nanoscale use.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 3% | 6.7 h2.5 h to 2.5 work days | Stays with people | |
| Implement new or enhanced methods or processes for the processing, testing, or manufacture of nanotechnology materials or products.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 3% | 1 work day2.5 h to 3.1 work days | Stays with people |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.
- Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing6,130 people
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing5,810 people
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing4,320 people
- Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services4,230 people
- Plastics Product Manufacturing4,130 people
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.