Dental hygienists are among the high-paying jobs projected to grow and have relatively low exposure to AI.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics classified how exposed a job is to AI based on research published by various authors over the past few years. BLS classified 213 of 831 occupations as having low exposure.
“‘Low’ relative AI exposure generally indicates that the requirements of an occupation do not match well with the current capabilities of AI models, and that LLMs have not been observed performing many of the occupation’s tasks,” BLS said. Exposure doesn’t “imply job loss, productivity gains, automation probability, or wage effects.”
Twenty of the low-exposure jobs had a median annual wage of at least $75,000 last year. Employment for a few of those high-paying jobs, including chemical plant and system operators, is projected to decline between 2025 and 2035. Below are 10 high-paying jobs with low AI exposure that are projected to increase over the decade, based on new BLS projections, sorted by their projected job growth.
On the other end are occupations that are very highly exposed to AI. Over a hundred of those jobs are high-paying, with many expected to grow between 2025 and 2035, including for software developers, financial managers, and human resources specialists.
“‘Very high’ relative AI exposure generally indicates that, compared to other occupations, a larger fraction of an occupation’s tasks can be completed or assisted by AI technology, and that LLMs have been observed performing some of the occupation’s tasks,” BLS said.
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Over the past few years, AI has become more prominent in the workplace and in the job search process. Postings containing AI terms have soared, people are being asked about their AI usage in interviews, and employers may expect their workers to incorporate AI into their duties to be more productive.
Americans think jobs are at stake. In a Pew Research Center survey this year, 71% of US adults think AI will lead to fewer jobs in the country over the next 20 years, more than the 64% who said this two years ago. The share of adults who believe there will be more jobs was steady between the two survey periods, at 5%.
