Ranked list · 30 careers
The 30 Jobs Least Exposed to AI, According to BLS (2026)
These 30 occupations sit in the BLS "Low" relative AI exposure category and pay at least the US median. Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas leads on our AI-resilience score (78/100) with a $58,620 median (BLS OEWS May 2025). Below are 30 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
- Careers on this list
- 30From 1,731 in the bank
- Median pay on the list
- $59,565BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Projected to grow
- 24 of 30BLS EP, 2025–2035
- Openings a year
- 181,000Combined, BLS EP
Method
How we built this list
Occupations the Bureau of Labor Statistics places in its lowest relative AI exposure category: hands-on, physical, in-person work that current AI tools touch least. Inside the category, jobs are ordered by the NueCareer AI-resilience score (highest first), then by pay. Only occupations paying at least the US median are included, so the list is careers worth moving into rather than every low-exposure job.
- Included when the Bureau of Labor Statistics places the occupation in its "Low" relative AI exposure category (Employment Projections supplemental table, 2025–35) and the BLS OEWS median wage is at least the US median for all occupations.
- Low exposure is relative: BLS ranks occupations against each other, and no category means AI has no effect on the work.
- Inside the category, jobs are ordered by the NueCareer AI-resilience score (our O*NET analysis), then by median pay.
- BLS publishes one wage per occupation code, and several O*NET job titles can share a code. Only one title per code is listed, so the same wage does not appear over and over.
- 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 list
The top 30 least AI-exposed jobs
100% 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.
- 1
1. Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $58,620median a year
- Growth
- +1.6%
- Openings / yr
- 900
- Education
- No formal credential
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 78/100
- resilience
Rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud or fluid through drill hole.
- 2
2. Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $95,320median a year
- Growth
- +10.3%
- Openings / yr
- 10,900
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 76/100
- resilience
Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems.
- 3
3. Crane and Tower Operator
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $68,080median a year
- Growth
- +3.8%
- Openings / yr
- 3,500
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 76/100
- resilience
Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
- 4
4. Earth Driller, Except Oil and Gas
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $60,190median a year
- Growth
- +3.6%
- Openings / yr
- 1,400
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 73/100
- resilience
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…
- 5
5. Mechanical Door Repairer
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $55,720median a year
- Growth
- +6.4%
- Openings / yr
- 2,100
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 73/100
- resilience
Install, service, or repair automatic door mechanisms and hydraulic doors.
- 6
6. Service Unit Operator, Oil and Gas
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $58,160median a year
- Growth
- +1.1%
- Openings / yr
- 3,800
- Education
- No formal credential
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 72/100
- resilience
Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells.
- 7
7. Roofer
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $55,440median a year
- Growth
- +5.3%
- Openings / yr
- 12,000
- Education
- No formal credential
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 72/100
- resilience
Cover roofs of structures with shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, or related materials.
- 8
8. Sheet Metal Worker
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $61,800median a year
- Growth
- +2.5%
- Openings / yr
- 9,800
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 70/100
- resilience
Fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as ducts, control boxes, drainpipes, and furnace casings.
- 9
9. Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $59,850median a year
- Growth
- +4.6%
- Openings / yr
- 39,200
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 70/100
- resilience
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…
- 10
10. Rotary Drill Operator, Oil and Gas
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $67,890median a year
- Growth
- +0.8%
- Openings / yr
- 1,100
- Education
- No formal credential
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 69/100
- resilience
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.
- 11
11. Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $58,970median a year
- Growth
- −5.3%
- Openings / yr
- 1,000
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 69/100
- resilience
Position and secure steel bars or mesh in concrete forms in order to reinforce concrete.
- 12
12. Stonemason
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $57,390median a year
- Growth
- −5.4%
- Openings / yr
- 500
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 69/100
- resilience
Build stone structures, such as piers, walls, and abutments.
- 13
13. Commercial Diver
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $72,990median a year
- Growth
- +4.8%
- Openings / yr
- 400
- Education
- Certificate
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 68/100
- resilience
Work below surface of water, using surface-supplied air or scuba equipment to inspect, repair, remove, or install equipment and structures.
- 14
14. Plasterer and Stucco Mason
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $57,660median a year
- Growth
- +2.8%
- Openings / yr
- 1,500
- Education
- No formal credential
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 68/100
- resilience
Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials.
- 15
15. Glazier
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $57,080median a year
- Growth
- +1.9%
- Openings / yr
- 3,900
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 68/100
- resilience
Install glass in windows, skylights, store fronts, and display cases, or on surfaces, such as building fronts, interior walls, ceilings, and tabletops.
- 16
16. Terrazzo Worker and Finisher
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $76,170median a year
- Growth
- −13.0%
- Openings / yr
- 100
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 67/100
- resilience
Apply a mixture of cement, sand, pigment, or marble chips to floors, stairways, and cabinet fixtures to fashion durable and decorative surfaces.
- 17
17. Millwright
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $65,700median a year
- Growth
- +0.9%
- Openings / yr
- 3,200
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 67/100
- resilience
Install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings.
- 18
18. Paramedic
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $60,600median a year
- Growth
- +5.7%
- Openings / yr
- 4,300
- Education
- Certificate
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 67/100
- resilience
Administer basic or advanced emergency medical care and assess injuries and illnesses.
- 19
19. Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator, Surface Mining
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $57,430median a year
- Growth
- +1.0%
- Openings / yr
- 2,400
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 67/100
- resilience
Operate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.
- 20
20. Locksmith and Safe Repairer
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $51,320median a year
- Growth
- −11.7%
- Openings / yr
- 1,200
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 67/100
- resilience
Repair and open locks, make keys, change locks and safe combinations, and install and repair safes.
- 21
21. Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic, Except Engines
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $65,510median a year
- Growth
- +6.7%
- Openings / yr
- 15,000
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 66/100
- resilience
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.
- 22
22. Faller
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
- Median pay
- $52,100median a year
- Growth
- −9.9%
- Openings / yr
- 500
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 66/100
- resilience
Use axes or chainsaws to fell trees using knowledge of tree characteristics and cutting techniques to control direction of fall and minimize tree damage.
- 23
23. Surgical Technologist
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $64,650median a year
- Growth
- +5.0%
- Openings / yr
- 7,100
- Education
- Certificate
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 65/100
- resilience
Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel.
- 24
24. Firefighter
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $59,280median a year
- Growth
- +3.7%
- Openings / yr
- 26,800
- Education
- Certificate
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 65/100
- resilience
Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk.
- 25
25. Motorboat Mechanic and Service Technician
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $57,550median a year
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings / yr
- 2,600
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 65/100
- resilience
Repair and adjust electrical and mechanical equipment of inboard or inboard-outboard boat engines.
- 26
26. Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $53,340median a year
- Growth
- −0.9%
- Openings / yr
- 3,100
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 65/100
- resilience
Operate equipment used for applying concrete, asphalt, or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways or for tamping gravel, dirt, or other materials.
- 27
27. First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $93,530median a year
- Growth
- +3.7%
- Openings / yr
- 6,600
- Education
- Certificate
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 64/100
- resilience
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.
- 28
28. Rail Car Repairer
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $67,530median a year
- Growth
- +2.6%
- Openings / yr
- 1,600
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 64/100
- resilience
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.
- 29
29. Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $57,020median a year
- Growth
- +1.6%
- Openings / yr
- 13,600
- Education
- No formal credential
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 64/100
- resilience
Smooth and finish surfaces of poured concrete, such as floors, walks, sidewalks, roads, or curbs using a variety of hand and power tools.
- 30
30. Ship Engineer
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $109,530median a year
- Growth
- +2.7%
- Openings / yr
- 900
- Education
- Certificate
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 63/100
- resilience
Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.
Job by job
Will AI replace your job?
Every job on this list has its own page: what BLS measured, which parts of the work AI reaches, the outlook, and less-exposed careers nearby. For a job that is not listed, use the free will AI replace my job checker, which covers every occupation BLS rates.
Questions
Least AI-Exposed Jobs: FAQ
What jobs can't AI replace?
These 30 occupations sit in the BLS "Low" relative AI exposure category and pay at least the US median. Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas leads on our AI-resilience score (78/100) with a $58,620 median (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Which of these jobs pay the most?
The best-paid of the 30 are Ship Engineer ($109,530), Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer ($95,320) and First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers ($93,530) (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Which of these jobs don’t require a degree?
30 of the 30 have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree (BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035). The best-paid of them: Ship Engineer ($109,530), Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer ($95,320) and First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers ($93,530).
How is this list ranked?
Occupations the Bureau of Labor Statistics places in its lowest relative AI exposure category: hands-on, physical, in-person work that current AI tools touch least. Inside the category, jobs are ordered by the NueCareer AI-resilience score (highest first), then by pay. Only occupations paying at least the US median are included, so the list is careers worth moving into rather than every low-exposure job. Included when the Bureau of Labor Statistics places the occupation in its "Low" relative AI exposure category (Employment Projections supplemental table, 2025–35) and the BLS OEWS median wage is at least the US median for all occupations. Low exposure is relative: BLS ranks occupations against each other, and no category means AI has no effect on the work. Inside the category, jobs are ordered by the NueCareer AI-resilience score (our O*NET analysis), then by median pay. BLS publishes one wage per occupation code, and several O*NET job titles can share a code. Only one title per code is listed, so the same wage does not appear over and over. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and O*NET 31.0 Database.