Are better-paid jobs more exposed to AI? This page joins the median pay of each of the 328 jobs in our will AI take my job? series, as published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, with each job's generative AI exposure score from the International Labour Organization's 2025 index and the BLS projection for 2025 to 2035.
The short answer: in our series, higher-paid jobs tend to be more exposed to generative AI. The median ILO score is 0.36 for the 74 jobs paying $100,000 or more, against 0.25 for the 74 jobs paying less than the $50,980 median for all US workers. But high pay and low exposure do go together in many jobs: 47 jobs paying $100,000 or more are rated not exposed or minimal exposure, mostly in medicine, engineering and management.
How to read this page
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
Pay is the BLS median annual wage for May 2025, from the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025 to 2035 edition, checked 29 and 30 October 2026). Half of workers in the occupation earned more and half less; in May 2025 the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980. Where one of our pages covers several BLS occupations, the pay shown is for the main one, with the range across the others. Where the BLS publishes no annual wage, or a job has no BLS profile of its own, the pay is shown as not available and the job is left out of the counts (8 jobs).
Exposure and outlook by pay band
| Median pay 2025 | Jobs | Median ILO score | In exposed gradients | Projected to grow (BLS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $40,000 | 26 | 0.22 | 6 (23%) | 18 (69%) |
| $40,000 to $59,999 | 84 | 0.24 | 21 (25%) | 57 (68%) |
| $60,000 to $79,999 | 96 | 0.34 | 32 (33%) | 73 (76%) |
| $80,000 to $99,999 | 40 | 0.37 | 14 (35%) | 36 (90%) |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 62 | 0.36 | 24 (39%) | 55 (89%) |
| $150,000 or more | 12 | 0.36 | 3 (25%) | 12 (100%) |
High-paying jobs least exposed to AI
These 47 jobs have a median pay of $100,000 or more and are rated not exposed or minimal exposure by the ILO, sorted by pay.
| Job | Median pay 2025 (BLS) | ILO band and score | BLS outlook 2025 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| doctors | $275,930 | Not exposed, 0.29 | Grow 4% (physicians and surgeons) |
| radiologists | $275,930 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $81,390 to $275,930) | Not exposed, 0.27 | Grow 4% (physicians and surgeons) |
| pilots | $210,020 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $148,080 to $210,020) | Not exposed, 0.27 | Grow 7% (airline and commercial pilots) |
| dentists | $176,110 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $98,100 to $176,110) | Not exposed, 0.15 | Grow 6% |
| engineering managers | $171,270 | Minimal exposure, 0.40 | Grow 6% |
| natural sciences managers | $167,220 | Minimal exposure, 0.40 | Grow 8% |
| financial managers | $166,570 | Minimal exposure, 0.37 | Grow 10% |
| podiatrists | $160,300 | Not exposed, 0.20 | Grow 2% |
| lawyers | $159,670 | Minimal exposure, 0.36 | Grow 5% |
| compensation and benefits managers | $149,230 | Minimal exposure, 0.36 | Grow 1% |
| air traffic controllers | $148,080 | Minimal exposure, 0.31 | Grow 2% |
| medical dosimetrists | $147,470 | Not exposed, 0.22 | Grow 5% |
| petroleum engineers | $144,910 | Not exposed, 0.29 | Grow 2% |
| pharmacists | $140,910 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $45,750 to $140,910) | Minimal exposure, 0.33 | Grow 5% |
| optometrists | $136,570 | Not exposed, 0.24 | Grow 10% |
| public relations managers | $136,470 | Minimal exposure, 0.39 | Grow 6% |
| physician assistants | $135,880 | Not exposed, 0.23 | Grow 21% |
| aerospace engineers | $134,960 | Not exposed, 0.32 | Grow 8% |
| nurse practitioners | $134,920 | Not exposed, 0.25 | Grow 41% (nurse practitioners); 36% for all three APRN roles |
| nuclear engineers | $133,970 | Not exposed, 0.30 | Little or no change (0%) |
| training and development managers | $133,000 | Minimal exposure, 0.36 | Grow 6% |
| judges | $132,800 | Not exposed, 0.31 | Grow 2% |
| industrial production managers | $126,060 | Minimal exposure, 0.38 | Grow 3% |
| chemical engineers | $125,040 | Minimal exposure, 0.35 | Grow 5% |
| healthcare managers | $123,860 | Minimal exposure, 0.36 | Grow 24% |
| health and safety engineers | $115,160 | Not exposed, 0.28 | Grow 5% |
| construction managers | $114,990 | Minimal exposure, 0.34 | Grow 9% |
| materials engineers | $112,860 | Not exposed, 0.29 | Grow 8% |
| marine engineers | $112,230 | Not exposed, 0.32 | Grow 7% |
| nuclear technicians | $110,240 | Not exposed, 0.26 | Grow 1% |
| elevator installers | $109,910 | Not exposed, 0.17 | Grow 6% |
| biomedical engineers | $109,370 | Not exposed, 0.30 | Grow 8% |
| top executives | $108,780 | Minimal exposure, 0.38 | Grow 5% |
| distribution managers | $107,230 | Minimal exposure, 0.38 | Grow 6% |
| environmental engineers | $107,110 | Minimal exposure, 0.38 | Grow 6% |
| mining engineers | $106,220 | Not exposed, 0.29 | Grow 4% |
| principals | $105,870 | Minimal exposure, 0.36 | Little or no change (0%) |
| radiation therapists | $105,310 | Not exposed, 0.22 | Grow 3% |
| power plant operators | $105,080 | Not exposed, 0.28 | Decline 4% |
| college administrators | $104,590 | Minimal exposure, 0.36 | Grow 2% |
| physical therapists | $102,760 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $61,200 to $102,760) | Minimal exposure, 0.28 | Grow 12% |
| industrial engineers | $102,440 | Minimal exposure, 0.37 | Grow 12% |
| geoscientists | $101,920 | Minimal exposure, 0.36 | Grow 5% |
| nuclear medicine technologists | $101,370 | Not exposed, 0.22 | Grow 4% |
| engineers | $100,840 (main of 4 BLS jobs, range $68,090 to $125,040) | Not exposed, 0.30 | Grow 6% (civil engineers) |
| occupational therapists | $100,330 | Not exposed, 0.20 | Grow 15% |
| genetic counselors | $100,040 | Not exposed, 0.20 | Grow 10% |
Well-paid jobs without a degree and with low exposure
These 44 jobs typically need no college degree to start (BLS entry-level education, see AI exposure by education level), pay at least the $50,980 all-worker median, and are rated not exposed or minimal exposure. Most are skilled trades, mechanics and plant operators, sorted by pay.
| Job | Median pay 2025 (BLS) | ILO band and score | BLS outlook 2025 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| elevator installers | $109,910 | Not exposed, 0.17 | Grow 6% |
| distribution managers | $107,230 | Minimal exposure, 0.38 | Grow 6% |
| power plant operators | $105,080 | Not exposed, 0.28 | Decline 4% |
| power line workers | $95,320 | Not exposed, 0.15 | Grow 10% |
| farmers | $89,900 | Not exposed, 0.19 | Decline 3% |
| aircraft mechanics | $80,180 | Not exposed, 0.19 | Grow 6% |
| railroad workers | $78,820 | Not exposed, 0.20 | Grow 1% |
| stationary engineers | $78,620 | Not exposed, 0.20 | Grow 3% |
| boilermakers | $76,410 | Not exposed, 0.11 | Decline 2% |
| building inspectors | $74,690 | Not exposed, 0.28 | Little or no change |
| property managers | $69,990 | Minimal exposure, 0.35 | Grow 4% |
| restaurant managers | $69,390 | Minimal exposure, 0.36 | Grow 6% |
| athletes | $66,710 | Not exposed, 0.23 | Grow 6% |
| surgical technologists | $64,700 | Minimal exposure, 0.30 | Grow 5% |
| licensed practical nurses | $64,400 | Minimal exposure, 0.22 | Grow 3% |
| wind turbine technicians | $64,120 | Not exposed, 0.17 | Grow 30% |
| industrial machinery mechanics | $64,100 | Not exposed, 0.17 | Grow 18% |
| heavy equipment mechanics | $63,850 | Not exposed, 0.17 | Grow 7% |
| plumbers | $63,800 | Not exposed, 0.18 | Grow 7% (plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters) |
| flight attendants | $63,580 | Not exposed, 0.22 | Grow 9% |
| electricians | $63,190 | Not exposed, 0.19 | Grow 9% |
| ironworkers | $61,910 | Not exposed, 0.11 | Grow 1% |
| sheet metal workers | $61,800 | Not exposed, 0.21 | Grow 3% |
| diesel mechanics | $61,770 | Not exposed, 0.18 | Grow 4% |
| hvac technicians | $61,010 | Not exposed, 0.21 | Grow 11% |
| carpenters | $60,580 | Not exposed, 0.13 | Grow 4% |
| water treatment operators | $60,020 | Not exposed, 0.27 | Decline 6% |
| drywall installers | $59,780 | Not exposed, 0.11 | Grow 2% |
| heavy equipment operators | $59,600 | Not exposed, 0.13 | Grow 4% |
| firefighters | $59,280 | Not exposed, 0.18 | Grow 4% |
| correctional officers | $58,850 | Not exposed, 0.14 | Decline 7% |
| massage therapists | $58,450 | Not exposed, 0.17 | Grow 15% |
| real estate agents | $57,400 | Minimal exposure, 0.35 | Grow 2% (brokers and sales agents) |
| glaziers | $57,080 | Not exposed, 0.14 | Grow 2% |
| roofers | $55,440 | Not exposed, 0.13 | Grow 5% |
| flooring installers | $54,390 | Not exposed, 0.10 | Grow 4% |
| surveying and mapping technicians | $54,240 | Not exposed, 0.28 | Grow 6% |
| welders | $53,750 | Not exposed, 0.13 | Grow 2% |
| solar installers | $53,140 | Not exposed, 0.17 to 0.19 | Grow 37% |
| jewelers | $52,540 | Not exposed, 0.18 | Decline 3% |
| auto body repairers | $52,530 | Not exposed, 0.21 | Grow 4% |
| community health workers | $51,850 | Not exposed, 0.22 | Grow 13% |
| oil and gas workers | $51,650 | Not exposed, 0.19 | Grow 2% |
| semiconductor technicians | $51,430 | Minimal exposure, 0.38 | Grow 8% |
7 more no-degree jobs pay at least the all-worker median but sit in the ILO's exposed gradients: court reporters, hotel managers, advertising sales agents, mail carriers, dispatchers, private investigators, medical billing and coding.
High-paying jobs that are highly exposed
These 27 jobs pay $100,000 or more and sit in the ILO's exposed gradients, sorted by exposure. Many are analysis, software, finance and management jobs built on text, code and numbers.
| Job | Median pay 2025 (BLS) | ILO band and score | BLS outlook 2025 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| financial analysts | $103,570 | Gradient 4, 0.62 | Grow 7% |
| bankers | $103,570 (main of 4 BLS jobs, range $43,030 to $103,570) | Gradient 3, 0.58 | Decline 13% (tellers); loan officers grow 1%, financial analysts grow 7% |
| cybersecurity | $129,180 | Gradient 3, 0.57 | Grow 21% (information security analysts) |
| data analysts | $120,230 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $88,940 to $120,230) | Gradient 3, 0.57 | Grow 35% (data scientists) |
| database administrators | $126,760 | Gradient 3, 0.57 | Grow 4% |
| financial advisors | $105,070 | Gradient 3, 0.57 | Grow 1% |
| actuaries | $130,000 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $81,370 to $130,000) | Gradient 3, 0.56 | Grow 9% |
| statisticians | $105,720 | Gradient 3, 0.56 | Grow 11% |
| computer research scientists | $140,300 | Gradient 3, 0.55 | Grow 22% |
| economists | $124,720 | Gradient 3, 0.55 | Grow 5% |
| marketing | $165,780 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $78,760 to $165,780) | Gradient 3, 0.55 | Grow 6% (advertising, promotions and marketing managers) |
| software engineers | $134,040 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $100,390 to $134,040) | Gradient 3, 0.53 | Grow 10% (developers); programmers decline 7% |
| network architects | $134,050 | Gradient 3, 0.52 | Grow 8% |
| animators | $102,030 | Gradient 2, 0.49 | Little or no change (0%) |
| art directors | $114,850 | Gradient 2, 0.49 | Grow 4% |
| systems analysts | $105,850 | Gradient 2, 0.49 | Grow 8% |
| geographers | $102,040 | Gradient 2, 0.48 | Decline 2% |
| sociologists | $106,030 | Gradient 2, 0.48 | Grow 4% |
| political scientists | $142,080 | Gradient 2, 0.47 | Decline 2% |
| consultants | $101,860 | Gradient 2, 0.46 | Grow 10% (management analysts) |
| it managers | $175,140 | Gradient 2, 0.44 | Grow 16% |
| computer hardware engineers | $161,740 | Gradient 2, 0.42 | Grow 9% |
| facilities managers | $110,500 | Gradient 2, 0.42 | Grow 5% |
| project managers | $102,320 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $102,320 to $114,990) | Gradient 2, 0.42 | Grow 7% (project management specialists) |
| sales managers | $148,270 | Gradient 2, 0.41 | Grow 4% |
| biochemists | $127,410 | Gradient 2, 0.40 | Grow 12% |
| scientists | $103,410 (main of 4 BLS jobs, range $82,220 to $166,880) | Gradient 2, 0.40 | Grow 6% to 13% (medical, chemical, physical, environmental) |
All 328 jobs by pay band
Under $40,000 (26 jobs)
$40,000 to $59,999 (84 jobs)
$60,000 to $79,999 (96 jobs)
$80,000 to $99,999 (40 jobs)
$100,000 to $149,999 (62 jobs)
| Job | Median pay 2025 (BLS) | ILO band and score |
|---|---|---|
| financial analysts | $103,570 | Gradient 4, 0.62 |
| bankers | $103,570 (main of 4 BLS jobs, range $43,030 to $103,570) | Gradient 3, 0.58 |
| cybersecurity | $129,180 | Gradient 3, 0.57 |
| data analysts | $120,230 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $88,940 to $120,230) | Gradient 3, 0.57 |
| database administrators | $126,760 | Gradient 3, 0.57 |
| financial advisors | $105,070 | Gradient 3, 0.57 |
| actuaries | $130,000 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $81,370 to $130,000) | Gradient 3, 0.56 |
| statisticians | $105,720 | Gradient 3, 0.56 |
| computer research scientists | $140,300 | Gradient 3, 0.55 |
| economists | $124,720 | Gradient 3, 0.55 |
| software engineers | $134,040 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $100,390 to $134,040) | Gradient 3, 0.53 |
| network architects | $134,050 | Gradient 3, 0.52 |
| animators | $102,030 | Gradient 2, 0.49 |
| art directors | $114,850 | Gradient 2, 0.49 |
| systems analysts | $105,850 | Gradient 2, 0.49 |
| geographers | $102,040 | Gradient 2, 0.48 |
| sociologists | $106,030 | Gradient 2, 0.48 |
| political scientists | $142,080 | Gradient 2, 0.47 |
| consultants | $101,860 | Gradient 2, 0.46 |
| facilities managers | $110,500 | Gradient 2, 0.42 |
| project managers | $102,320 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $102,320 to $114,990) | Gradient 2, 0.42 |
| sales managers | $148,270 | Gradient 2, 0.41 |
| biochemists | $127,410 | Gradient 2, 0.40 |
| scientists | $103,410 (main of 4 BLS jobs, range $82,220 to $166,880) | Gradient 2, 0.40 |
| public relations managers | $136,470 | Minimal exposure, 0.39 |
| distribution managers | $107,230 | Minimal exposure, 0.38 |
| environmental engineers | $107,110 | Minimal exposure, 0.38 |
| industrial production managers | $126,060 | Minimal exposure, 0.38 |
| top executives | $108,780 | Minimal exposure, 0.38 |
| industrial engineers | $102,440 | Minimal exposure, 0.37 |
| college administrators | $104,590 | Minimal exposure, 0.36 |
| compensation and benefits managers | $149,230 | Minimal exposure, 0.36 |
| geoscientists | $101,920 | Minimal exposure, 0.36 |
| healthcare managers | $123,860 | Minimal exposure, 0.36 |
| principals | $105,870 | Minimal exposure, 0.36 |
| training and development managers | $133,000 | Minimal exposure, 0.36 |
| chemical engineers | $125,040 | Minimal exposure, 0.35 |
| construction managers | $114,990 | Minimal exposure, 0.34 |
| pharmacists | $140,910 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $45,750 to $140,910) | Minimal exposure, 0.33 |
| aerospace engineers | $134,960 | Not exposed, 0.32 |
| marine engineers | $112,230 | Not exposed, 0.32 |
| air traffic controllers | $148,080 | Minimal exposure, 0.31 |
| judges | $132,800 | Not exposed, 0.31 |
| biomedical engineers | $109,370 | Not exposed, 0.30 |
| engineers | $100,840 (main of 4 BLS jobs, range $68,090 to $125,040) | Not exposed, 0.30 |
| nuclear engineers | $133,970 | Not exposed, 0.30 |
| materials engineers | $112,860 | Not exposed, 0.29 |
| mining engineers | $106,220 | Not exposed, 0.29 |
| petroleum engineers | $144,910 | Not exposed, 0.29 |
| health and safety engineers | $115,160 | Not exposed, 0.28 |
| physical therapists | $102,760 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $61,200 to $102,760) | Minimal exposure, 0.28 |
| power plant operators | $105,080 | Not exposed, 0.28 |
| nuclear technicians | $110,240 | Not exposed, 0.26 |
| nurse practitioners | $134,920 | Not exposed, 0.25 |
| optometrists | $136,570 | Not exposed, 0.24 |
| physician assistants | $135,880 | Not exposed, 0.23 |
| medical dosimetrists | $147,470 | Not exposed, 0.22 |
| nuclear medicine technologists | $101,370 | Not exposed, 0.22 |
| radiation therapists | $105,310 | Not exposed, 0.22 |
| genetic counselors | $100,040 | Not exposed, 0.20 |
| occupational therapists | $100,330 | Not exposed, 0.20 |
| elevator installers | $109,910 | Not exposed, 0.17 |
$150,000 or more (12 jobs)
| Job | Median pay 2025 (BLS) | ILO band and score |
|---|---|---|
| marketing | $165,780 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $78,760 to $165,780) | Gradient 3, 0.55 |
| it managers | $175,140 | Gradient 2, 0.44 |
| computer hardware engineers | $161,740 | Gradient 2, 0.42 |
| engineering managers | $171,270 | Minimal exposure, 0.40 |
| natural sciences managers | $167,220 | Minimal exposure, 0.40 |
| financial managers | $166,570 | Minimal exposure, 0.37 |
| lawyers | $159,670 | Minimal exposure, 0.36 |
| doctors | $275,930 | Not exposed, 0.29 |
| pilots | $210,020 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $148,080 to $210,020) | Not exposed, 0.27 |
| radiologists | $275,930 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $81,390 to $275,930) | Not exposed, 0.27 |
| podiatrists | $160,300 | Not exposed, 0.20 |
| dentists | $176,110 (main of 2 BLS jobs, range $98,100 to $176,110) | Not exposed, 0.15 |
Pay not available (8 jobs)
| Job | Median pay 2025 (BLS) | ILO band and score |
|---|---|---|
| actors | Not available | Minimal exposure, 0.31 |
| broadcast announcers | Not available | Gradient 2, 0.47 |
| dancers | Not available | Not exposed, 0.19 |
| fishers | Not available | Not exposed, 0.17 |
| medical scribes | No BLS profile | Gradient 3, 0.53 |
| musicians | Not available | Not exposed, 0.28 |
| proofreaders | No BLS profile | Gradient 3, 0.51 |
| tax preparers | No BLS profile | Gradient 2, 0.49 |
What this means for workers
- High pay is not a shield: in this data, the best-paid jobs are on average more exposed to generative AI than lower-paid ones, because more of their work is text, code and analysis.
- Exposure is not job loss: the ILO score measures how much of the work generative AI could take on; many exposed jobs are still projected to grow.
- Checking the output: in exposed jobs, reviewing what AI produces becomes part of the work, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
See also jobs most exposed to AI, fastest-growing jobs and their AI exposure, AI exposure by job field, jobs with the most openings and jobs safe from AI? This page is general information, not career or financial advice.
Questions and answers
Are higher-paid jobs more exposed to AI?
On average, yes, in our series. Jobs paying $100,000 or more have a median ILO score of 0.36, against 0.25 for jobs paying below the $50,980 median for all US workers (BLS, May 2025).
Which high-paying jobs are least exposed to AI?
47 jobs in our series pay $100,000 or more and are rated not exposed or minimal exposure by the ILO. The table on this page lists them, sorted by pay.
Are there well-paid jobs without a degree that have low AI exposure?
Yes. 44 jobs in our series need no college degree to start, pay at least the all-worker median and have low exposure, mostly skilled trades, mechanics and plant operators.
Where does the pay data come from?
From the median pay figures of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025 to 2035 edition (May 2025 wages). Exposure scores are from ILO Working Paper 140 (2025).