The 10 Highest Paying, Fastest-Growing Jobs
(That AI Won't Replace)

If you want a high-paying career that won’t be replaced by AI, it’s crucial to understand which professions are growing the fastest.

Whether or not you’re planning a career change, this ranking of the 10 fastest-growing jobs that pay above a minimum US median salary of $48,060 is a reminder that many human skills can’t be replaced.

Note: This page is regularly updated to include new data and best reflect current hiring trends. We outline our methodology and provide some context about who we are at the end of the report, along with our thoughts on how to stay “AI-proof” in the evolving job market.

1. Physician assistants

• Median annual salary: $130,020
• Number of jobs (2022): 148,000
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 27% (Much faster than average)
• Typical education level/certifications: Master’s degree
• AI job takeover risk: 0%

Advancement opportunities: Specialization, medical director

Why they’re AI-proof: Similar to nurse practitioners, physician assistants perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that require high levels of manual dexterity, complex problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.

According to McKinsey & Company, healthcare is one of the sectors with the lowest overall potential for replacement by AI — only 35% of a practitioner’s time can be automated. Technology supports and expands diagnostic and treatment capabilities, but can’t replace the role of a human healthcare provider.

2. Nurse practitioners

• Median annual salary: $129,480
• Number of jobs (2022): 323,900
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 38% (Much faster than average)
• Typical education level/certifications: Master’s degree
• AI job takeover risk: 0%

Advancement opportunities: Clinical specialization, administrative roles, healthcare management

Why they’re AI-proof: Nurse practitioners have a minimal risk of being automated because of this job’s need for complex problem-solving, creativity, and strong interpersonal skills. These roles also involve intricate hand movements and precise coordination, which are difficult for machines to replicate.

Technologies such as AI enhance patient care and data collection, but don’t replace the need for advanced practice nurses.

3. Veterinarians

• Median annual salary: $119,100
• Number of jobs (2022): 89,500
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 20% (Much faster than average)
• Typical education level/certifications: Doctoral or professional degree
• AI job takeover risk: 6.8%

Advancement opportunities: Specialization through residency (e.g., livestock, equine, marine, or small animal veterinary medicine)

Why they’re AI-proof: Veterinarians diagnose, treat, and research medical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock, and other animals. This profession requires extensive knowledge of animal biology, a high degree of manual dexterity for surgeries, and interpersonal skills to communicate with animal owners, making it resistant to automation.

AI may streamline diagnosis and treatment, but also comes with practical and ethical limitations, and for this reason can’t replace the complex problem-solving, interpersonal skills, decision-making, and manual dexterity humans bring to the field.

4. Medical and health services managers

• Median annual salary: $110,680
• Number of jobs (2022): 509,500
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 28% (Much faster than average)
• Typical education level/certifications: Bachelor’s degree
• AI job takeover risk: 16.3%

Advancement opportunities: Hospital administrator, healthcare executive

Why they’re AI-proof: These roles involve judgment, management, and interpersonal skills that experts agree can’t be automated. Medical and health services managers must constantly adapt to changing job requirements, which often include a mix of soft skills, process skills, and specific technical expertise.

While technology may support better patient outcomes, AI can’t replace the strong interpersonal skills, ethics, and physical dexterity required for these jobs.

5. Physical therapists

• Median annual salary: $99,710
• Number of jobs (2022): 246,800
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 15% (Much faster than average)
• Typical education level/certifications: Doctoral or professional degree
• AI job takeover risk: 0%

Advancement opportunities: Clinical director, healthcare administrator

Why they’re AI-proof: Physical therapists provide treatments that improve patient mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities.

The hands-on nature of their work, as well as the need for interaction with patients, makes physical therapy resistant to automation. While AI diagnostic tools may enhance treatment options in the future, they won’t replace the human touch that physical therapists bring to patient care.

6. Occupational therapists

• Median annual salary: $96,370
• Number of jobs (2022): 139,600
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 12% (Much faster than average)
• Typical education level/certifications: Master’s degree
• AI job takeover risk: 0%

Advancement opportunities: Specialization, healthcare administrator

Why they’re AI-proof: Occupational therapists help patients develop, recover, and improve the physical skills needed for employment and daily life. This role requires a high degree of personal interaction and adaptability to each patient’s needs, making it difficult to automate.

Advances in AI technology will support better and more efficient treatment, but simply won’t replace the need for human health practitioners.

7. Speech-language pathologists

• Median annual salary: $89,290
• Number of jobs (2022): 171,400
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 19% (Much faster than average)
• Typical education level/certifications: Master’s degree
• AI job takeover risk: 8.7%

Advancement opportunities: Department head, rehabilitation director

Why they’re AI-proof: Speech-language pathologists diagnose, treat, and prevent speech, language, and swallowing disorders. The job requires a high degree of personal interaction and emotional intelligence to tailor treatments to each patient’s unique needs and circumstances.

This level of personalized care is challenging to replicate with AI. While tools can be used to assist with progress tracking and diagnostic assessments, they’re unlikely to replace the need for skilled SLPs who can adapt their approaches based on nuanced clinical judgment.

8. Audiologists

• Median annual salary: $87,740
• Number of jobs (2022): 14,400
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 11% (Much faster than average)
• Typical education level/certifications: Doctoral or professional degree
• AI job takeover risk: 12.5%

Advancement opportunities: Lead audiologist, consultant audiologist

Why they’re AI-proof: Audiologists must assess and interpret a variety of auditory and balance tests, consider a patient’s unique medical history, and make decisions that require a deep understanding of human behavior and biology.

Along with the emotional and psychological support provided by audiologists to their patients, this is something that AI lacks the capability to offer although it can help improve diagnostic precision.

9. Epidemiologists

• Median annual salary: $81,390
• Number of jobs (2022): 10,000
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 27% (Much faster than average)
• Typical education level/certifications: Master’s degree
• AI job takeover risk: 6.7%

Advancement opportunities: Senior epidemiologist, public health director

Why they’re AI-proof: Epidemiologists require a deep understanding of disease patterns and health outcomes that involve complex data analysis and interpretation. Research shows that AI tools increase the power of epidemiological research, but these professionals require a level of human judgment and ethical consideration that AI can’t replicate.

10. Orthotists and prosthetists

• Median annual salary: $78,100
• Number of jobs (2022): 9,500
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 15% (Much faster than average)
• Typical education level/certifications: Master’s degree
• AI job takeover risk: 1.8%

Advancement opportunities: Senior practitioner, healthcare executive

Why they’re AI-proof: Orthotists and prosthetists are considered AI-proof because their roles require a high level of manual dexterity and clinical judgment that AI cannot imitate. These professionals are responsible for designing and fitting orthotic devices and prosthetic limbs.

While technologies like AI-powered prosthetic limbs that adapt to the user’s movements or environment are becoming integrated into the field, these tools are meant to enhance the capabilities of orthotists and prosthetists, not replace them.

How to stay “AI-proof” in the job market

Worried AI will come for your job? Below, we’ve outlined three steps you can take to prevent this from happening.

1. Develop your soft skills

Experts agree that AI will likely create more jobs than it eliminates. At the same time, the ability to continuously adapt and develop new skills will be crucial to success in the job market of the future.

Professionals who only excel in creativity, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving will always be in high demand because AI struggles to imitate soft skills like these.

2. Use AI to your advantage

Remember, AI isn’t your enemy. Instead of viewing AI as a threat, use it as a tool to increase your productivity. Employers love efficient workers because they can tackle tasks quickly and save the company money.

AI can help automate repetitive tasks, allowing you to focus on more complex and creative aspects of your job that require human judgment. By familiarizing yourself with AI-powered tools rather than avoiding them, you’re ensuring you remain competitive in the job market.

3. Stay up-to-date on industry trends

Monitor technological advancements in your field by reading industry news and attending professional events to stay informed about how AI and other technologies are impacting your field. Understanding these trends will help you anticipate changes and adapt your skills accordingly.

Additionally, consider taking courses or attending workshops that focus on emerging technologies and methodologies in your industry to stay ahead of your peers.

Methodology

We sourced data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to compare the fastest-growing and highest-paying occupations with an automation risk probability calculator. Our primary objective was to identify occupations that are less likely to be taken over by AI, while showing faster-than-average job growth and high median annual earnings.

To assess automation risk, we applied the methodology developed by Frey and Osborne (2013) which predicts the likelihood of jobs being automated. Specifically, we used the “Will Robots Take My Job?” third-party tool to calculate these probabilities, factoring in attributes like manual dexterity, creative thinking, and social perceptiveness.

Our selection was based on three criteria: a minimum U.S. median annual salary of $48,060, an estimated job growth rate of over 10% for the 2022–2032 period, and a less than 20% risk of automation. We then ranked these occupations in descending order according to their median annual wage, as reported in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook. We selected the highest-paying occupations that met our criteria from this list for further analysis.

To maintain accuracy and relevance, we excluded occupations lacking available wage data.

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Sources

Check out these sources for more information on the role AI will play in these careers and the job market.

• AI & Society, “Ethics of Using AI in Veterinary Medicine”
• Analytics Insight, “AI in Prosthetics and Orthotics: Enhancing Assistive Devices”
• Brookings Institute, “How AI-Powered Software Development May Affect Labor Markets”
• ClinicSource, “The Impact of AI on Speech and Language Therapy”
• Forbes, “AI’s Impact In Its First Year in Software Engineering”
• Forbes, “Cybersecurity Trends & Statistics for 2023; What You Need To Know”
• Future Healthcare Journal, “The Potential for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare”
• McKinsey & Company, “Transforming Healthcare with AI: The Impact on the Workforce and Organizations”
• Nursing Health Science, “Technological Machines and Artificial Intelligence in Nursing Practice”
• OT Dude, “Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology or Robot OTs A Threat to Occupational Therapy Jobs?”
• The Hearing Review, “Diagnostic Applications for Artificial Intelligence in Audiology”
• U.S. Government Accountability Office, “Which Workers Are the Most Affected by Automation and What Could Help Them Get New Jobs?”
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics”
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment Projections — 2022-2032”
• VetRadar, “Automation in Veterinary Care: Streamlining Processes for Improved Patient Care”
• Yearbook of Medical Informatics, “Public Health and Epidemiology Informatics: Can Artificial Intelligence Help Future Global Challenges?”