30% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.
AI-Resistant Careers (2026)
Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installer tops this list at $45,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +5.9% projected employment change over 2024–2034. Below are 30 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
Occupations whose work is hardest to automate, meaning hands-on, in-person, or judgement-heavy, scored by NueCareer’s AI-resilience analysis of O*NET work-activity data.
- Careers on this list
- 30
- Median pay on the list
- $56,260
- Projected to grow
- 26 of 30
- Openings a year
- 701,000
From 923 in the bank
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Combined, BLS EP
How we built this list
- Scored by NueCareer’s AI-resilience analysis of O*NET work-activity and work-context data: assisting and caring for others, physical dexterity in unpredictable settings, face-to-face contact and creative origination raise the score; routine information processing and repetitive precision lower it.
- This is a NueCareer analysis, not a BLS or O*NET published figure.
- Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
- The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.
The top 30 AI-resistant careers
1. Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installer
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $45,990
- Growth
- +5.9%
- Openings/yr
- 300
- Education
- High school
Move or install mobile homes or prefabricated buildings.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
2. Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $95,320
- Growth
- +6.6%
- Openings/yr
- 10,700
- Education
- High school
Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems.
Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer salary & outlook →3. First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $93,530
- Growth
- +3.4%
- Openings/yr
- 6,500
- Education
- Certificate
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
4. Firefighter
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $59,280
- Growth
- +3.4%
- Openings/yr
- 27,100
- Education
- Certificate
Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk.
Firefighter salary & outlook →5. Helpers--Extraction Worker
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $47,730
- Growth
- -1.7%
- Openings/yr
- 700
- Education
- High school
Help extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers, blasters and explosives workers, derrick operators, and mining machine operators, by performing duties requiring less skill.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
6. Helpers--Electrician
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $42,670
- Growth
- +0.2%
- Openings/yr
- 6,800
- Education
- High school
Help electricians by performing duties requiring less skill.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
7. Earth Driller, Except Oil and Gas
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $60,190
- Growth
- +2.9%
- Openings/yr
- 1,700
- Education
- High school
Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap subsurface water and salt deposits, to remove core samples during mineral exploration or soil testing, and to facilitate the use of explosives in…
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
8. Segmental Paver
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $49,910
- Growth
- +3.5%
- Openings/yr
- 3,100
- Education
- High school
Lay out, cut, and place segmental paving units.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
9. Bicycle Repairer
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $42,780
- Growth
- -2.3%
- Openings/yr
- 1,600
- Education
- High school
Repair and service bicycles.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
10. Electrician
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $63,190
- Growth
- +9.5%
- Openings/yr
- 81,000
- Education
- High school
Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures.
Electrician salary & outlook →11. Service Unit Operator, Oil and Gas
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $58,160
- Growth
- +0.4%
- Openings/yr
- 4,100
- Education
- No formal credential
Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
12. Roofer
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $55,440
- Growth
- +5.9%
- Openings/yr
- 12,700
- Education
- No formal credential
Cover roofs of structures with shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, or related materials.
Roofer salary & outlook →13. Construction Laborer
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $47,120
- Growth
- +7.3%
- Openings/yr
- 129,400
- Education
- No formal credential
Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites.
Construction Laborer salary & outlook →14. Wind Energy Operations Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Growth
- +4.5%
- Openings/yr
- 106,700
- Education
- Bachelor's
Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
15. Tree Trimmer and Pruner
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
- Median pay
- $50,960
- Growth
- +3.3%
- Openings/yr
- 7,400
- Education
- High school
Using sophisticated climbing and rigging techniques, cut away dead or excess branches from trees or shrubs to maintain right-of-way for roads, sidewalks, or utilities, or to improve appearance, health, and value of tree.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
16. Oil and Gas Roustabout
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $46,960
- Growth
- +2.5%
- Openings/yr
- 4,300
- Education
- No formal credential
Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
17. Baggage Porter and Bellhop
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $37,080
- Growth
- -1.6%
- Openings/yr
- 4,600
- Education
- High school
Handle baggage for travelers at transportation terminals or for guests at hotels or similar establishments.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
18. Sheet Metal Worker
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $61,800
- Growth
- +2.4%
- Openings/yr
- 10,600
- Education
- High school
Fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as ducts, control boxes, drainpipes, and furnace casings.
Sheet Metal Worker salary & outlook →19. Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $59,850
- Growth
- +3.6%
- Openings/yr
- 41,900
- Education
- High school
Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erec…
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator salary & outlook →20. Painter, Construction and Maintenance
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $49,400
- Growth
- +3.8%
- Openings/yr
- 28,100
- Education
- No formal credential
Paint walls, equipment, buildings, bridges, and other structural surfaces, using brushes, rollers, and spray guns.
Painter, Construction and Maintenance salary & outlook →21. Stone Cutter and Carver, Manufacturing
Production
- Median pay
- $46,170
- Growth
- +6.2%
- Openings/yr
- 5,500
- Education
- High school
Cut or carve stone according to diagrams and patterns.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
22. Agricultural Equipment Operator
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
- Median pay
- $41,730
- Growth
- +7.7%
- Openings/yr
- 10,500
- Education
- No formal credential
Drive and control equipment to support agricultural activities such as tilling soil; planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops; feeding and herding livestock; or removing animal waste.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
23. Rotary Drill Operator, Oil and Gas
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $67,890
- Growth
- +0.2%
- Openings/yr
- 1,200
- Education
- No formal credential
Set up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
24. First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
- Median pay
- $58,430
- Growth
- +2.3%
- Openings/yr
- 23,200
- Education
- High school
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in landscaping or groundskeeping activities.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
25. Stonemason
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $57,390
- Growth
- -3.0%
- Openings/yr
- 800
- Education
- High school
Build stone structures, such as piers, walls, and abutments.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
26. Helpers--Pipelayer, Plumber, Pipefitter, and Steamfitter
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $42,360
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings/yr
- 4,900
- Education
- High school
Help plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, or pipelayers by performing duties requiring less skill.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
27. Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
- Median pay
- $39,150
- Growth
- +3.6%
- Openings/yr
- 158,200
- Education
- No formal credential
Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment.
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker salary & outlook →28. Commercial Diver
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $72,990
- Growth
- +8.5%
- Openings/yr
- 400
- Education
- Certificate
Work below surface of water, using surface-supplied air or scuba equipment to inspect, repair, remove, or install equipment and structures.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
29. Plasterer and Stucco Mason
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $57,660
- Growth
- +4.1%
- Openings/yr
- 1,900
- Education
- No formal credential
Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
30. Glazier
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $57,080
- Growth
- +3.3%
- Openings/yr
- 5,100
- Education
- High school
Install glass in windows, skylights, store fronts, and display cases, or on surfaces, such as building fronts, interior walls, ceilings, and tabletops.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
AI-Resistant Careers: FAQ
What is the top career on the AI-resistant careers list?
Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installer leads the list with a median wage of $45,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +5.9% over 2024–2034. Typical entry-level education is high school.
How was this list put together?
Occupations whose work is hardest to automate, meaning hands-on, in-person, or judgement-heavy, scored by NueCareer’s AI-resilience analysis of O*NET work-activity data. Scored by NueCareer’s AI-resilience analysis of O*NET work-activity and work-context data: assisting and caring for others, physical dexterity in unpredictable settings, face-to-face contact and creative origination raise the score; routine information processing and repetitive precision lower it. This is a NueCareer analysis, not a BLS or O*NET published figure. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET 30.3 Database.
How much do AI-resistant careers pay?
Across the 30 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $56,260 a year, from $37,080 at the bottom to $141,900 at the top (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.
How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?
29 of the 30 careers on this list have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree: a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or no formal credential (BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034).