The 15 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 — these indispensable jobs aren’t likely to be automated.

Whether or not you’re planning a career change, this ranking of the 15 fastest-growing, highest-paying jobs is a reminder that many human skills can’t be replaced.

By the numbers: the fastest-growing, highest-paying jobs

The table below ranks the 15 fastest-growing U.S. professions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), that pay above the median annual U.S. salary ($59,540).

The BLS estimates that the U.S. economy will add approximately 4.7 million jobs from 2022 to 2032.

The 15 fastest-growing, highest-paying jobs in the U.S.

1. Nurse practitioners

Advancement opportunities: Clinical specialization, administrative roles, healthcare management

Why they’re AI-proof: Nurse practitioners have a minimal risk of being automated due to 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.

2. Data scientists

Advancement opportunities: Senior data scientist, data science manager

Why they’re AI-proof: Data science roles are resistant to automation because they require complex problem-solving and high-level decision-making. Automation in data science aims to augment human capabilities rather than replace jobs, allowing employees to focus on more strategic and creative aspects of their roles. AI and machine learning will shape this field, but critical thinking, interpersonal communication, and ethical judgment can’t be replaced.

3. Statisticians

Advancement opportunities: Senior statistician, statistical team leader

Why they’re AI-proof: Statisticians’ work involves a truly creative process that can’t be fully automated. Their role requires designing studies, cleaning up “dirty” data, and interpreting results in context, which involves real-world knowledge and judgment beyond what current AI can replicate. While AI tools will automate some tasks, they won’t likely replace the complex problem-solving or strategic thinking of human statistical experts.

4. Information security analysts

Advancement opportunities: Chief security officer, IT project manager

Why they’re AI-proof: While there’s a moderate risk of automation for the professionals, information security analysts are critical for tasks that require human judgment and interaction, such as planning, implementing, upgrading, and monitoring security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Evolving cyber threats will ensure a steady demand for human information security analysts.

5. Medical and health services managers

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.

6. Epidemiologists

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.

7. Physician assistants

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.

8. Physical therapist assistants

Advancement opportunities: Physical therapist, healthcare administrator

Why they’re AI-proof: These professionals assist physical therapists in providing treatments that improve patient mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities. The hands-on nature of the work, as well as the need for personal interaction with patients, make it resistant to automation. AI diagnostic tools may enhance treatment options in the future, but won’t replace the need for assistants.

9. Software developers

Advancement opportunities: Senior developer, software architect, IT project manager

Why they’re AI-proof: In its first year of integration into software development, AI was met with a mix of enthusiasm, skepticism, and caution. The reason for this is that, unlike previous waves of industrial automation, AI is seemingly coming after jobs among higher-skilled, well-paid, and older workers.

Nonetheless, software companies have steadily adopted AI for its ability to enhance efficiency and creativity — ultimately to gain market advantage. However, while many aspects of software development can be automated, the core tasks of designing and writing new software are complex and ultimately require human ingenuity.

10. Occupational therapy assistants

Advancement opportunities: Occupational therapist, healthcare administrator

Why they’re AI-proof: Occupational therapy assistants work closely with occupational therapists to 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 resistant to automation. Advances in AI technology will support better and more efficient treatment, but simply won’t replace the need for human health practitioners.

11. Actuaries

Advancement opportunities: Senior actuary, actuarial director

Why they’re AI-proof: Actuaries analyze the financial costs of risk and uncertainty. They apply mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to forecast future events. This profession requires a deep understanding of business and economics, complex problem-solving, and communication skills. The consensus in this field is that software automates some calculations but not strategic decision-making. The most likely scenario is that actuaries themselves will continuously train AI to assist them in their work, but the technology itself will not replace them.

12. Computer and information research scientists

Advancement opportunities: Senior research scientist, IT director

Why they’re AI-proof: These scientists invent and design new approaches to computing technology and find innovative uses for existing technology. Their work involves a high level of creativity, theoretical knowledge, and problem-solving that is beyond the current capabilities of AI, making this one of the most secure technical fields for the future.

13. Operations research analysts

Advancement opportunities: Senior analyst, management consultant

Why they’re AI-proof: Operations research analysts use advanced mathematical and analytical methods to help organizations investigate complex issues, identify and solve problems, and make better decisions. AI and operations are therefore highly complementary fields. The complexity and variability of the problems they address make their roles difficult to automate. Software enhances analysis capabilities but doesn’t replace the need for creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and human intuition to interpret complex data and make strategic decisions.

14. Software quality assurance analysts and testers

Advancement opportunities: Test analyst, test automation engineer, test lead, test manager, or test consultant

Why they’re AI-proof: These professionals are responsible for ensuring that software operates as intended through meticulous testing and analysis. Their work requires a detailed understanding of both the software being tested and the potential ways it can fail, which involves critical thinking and creativity. AI is beneficial for automating testing processes and improving efficiency and accuracy, but AI is unlikely to completely replace the role of humans in exploratory testing and the ability to understand complex software interactions.

15. Veterinarians

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,s, 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.

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

Experts agree that AI will 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.

Career experts agree that professionals who not only excel in creativity, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving, but also take advantage of automation — leveraging AI’s efficiency, process optimization, and data-driven insights — will always be in high demand.

As the economy and its workforce continue to emerge from a global pandemic, there is a new landscape for businesses and employees to explore and adapt to. COVID-19 created a chance for professionals to change career paths and for organizations to innovate, therefore, creating a perfect formula for new opportunities.

Through a corporate lens, companies have emphasized focus on financial and operational leadership, meaning, [the] end-to-end process of product/service delivery. This includes positioning the company for economic stability and competitive advantages, which leads to increased visibility and profitability.

Information technology often works in tandem with strategy-focused roles, as they create, implement, and support online marketing applications and infrastructure, [while] capturing and analyzing customers’ interactions and engagement. Data is crucial for a company’s survival. Regardless of the industry, professionals excelling in productivity, efficiency, and optimization will continue to be in high demand.

Kate Zimmer, Kate Zimmer, SHRM-CP, PRC, CDR & Manager of Executive Recruiting, Discover Financial Services

Methodology

According to the Occupational Employment Projections published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, each ranked occupation in our listing is forecasted to grow from 2022 to 2032. Percentage growth calculated comparing employment figures in 2022 and 2032 forecasts. These positions pay above the annual median salary in the U.S., according to the Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers published in the fourth quarter of 2023. Assuming full-time employment for 52 weeks of the calendar year, the annual median salary for salaried U.S. workers was $59,540 at the end of 2023.

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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.

• Actuarial Review, “Four Futures for Actuaries in the Wake of AI”
• AI & Society, “Ethics of Using AI in Veterinary Medicine”
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners, “The Path to Becoming a Nurse Practitioner (NP)”
• Analytics Insight, “Ways in Which Big Data Automation is Changing Data Science”
• Brookings Institute, “How AI-Powered Software Development May Affect Labor Markets”
• Forbes, “AI’s Impact In Its First Year in Software Engineering”
• Forbes, “Cybersecurity Trends & Statistics for 2023; What You Need To Know”
• Forbes, “Will ChatGPT Put Data Analysts Out Of Work?”
• Future Healthcare Journal, “The Potential for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare”
• Katalon, “AI in Quality Assurance: Shifting From Manual to Autonomous Testing”
• London School of Economics, “10 Tech Careers With The Most Job Security in 2023”
• 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?”
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Usual Weekly Earnings Of Wage And Salary Workers Fourth Quarter 2023”
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment Projections — 2022−2032”
• U.S. Government Accountability Office, “Which Workers Are the Most Affected by Automation and What Could Help Them Get New Jobs?”
• 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?”