AI exposure · official BLS categories
Jobs with low and high AI exposure: the official BLS categories, read correctly.
There is no official list of “AI-proof” jobs. There is a BLS classification of relative AI exposure for every occupation it projects. Here it is, with what it means, what it does not, and each occupation's projected growth shown separately.
Quick answer
BLS sorts all 831 detailed occupations it projects into four relative AI exposure categories: Low (213), Moderate (206), High (206) and Very high (206). Low means an occupation's requirements match current AI capabilities less well than most; it does not mean the job is safe from AI. High does not mean the job will disappear.
Low213occupations
Moderate206occupations
High206occupations
Very high206occupations
Read this first
What the categories do not mean
Data BLS interpretation limits.
- It is not a forecast of employment growth or decline.
- High or Very high exposure does not necessarily mean employment will decline.
- Low exposure does not mean the occupation will be unaffected by AI or is safe from future technological change.
- It is not a wage forecast, a productivity forecast or an estimate of AI adoption.
- It is not a worker replacement estimate, and it does not distinguish automation from augmentation.
- It is relative to other occupations, not an absolute level.
Low relative exposure
Large occupations with low relative AI exposure
Data The 40 largest by 2025 employment. Low exposure is not protection from change.
| Occupation | Employment 2025 | Growth 2025–35 | Median pay | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand | 2,940,300 | +1.8% | $40,240 | No formal educational credential |
| Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners | 2,432,600 | +2.2% | $36,840 | No formal educational credential |
| Maintenance and repair workers, general | 1,621,800 | +4.2% | $49,590 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Nursing assistants | 1,505,900 | +2.6% | $42,260 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Construction laborers | 1,489,300 | +7.3% | $47,120 | No formal educational credential |
| Maids and housekeeping cleaners | 1,332,100 | +0.6% | $35,510 | No formal educational credential |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | 1,188,600 | +4.7% | $39,150 | No formal educational credential |
| Food preparation workers | 908,500 | -3.0% | $35,320 | No formal educational credential |
| Carpenters | 889,700 | +3.9% | $60,580 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Industrial truck and tractor operators | 765,200 | +1.5% | $46,420 | No formal educational credential |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | 666,900 | +3.0% | $64,400 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Packers and packagers, hand | 555,500 | -5.0% | $36,280 | No formal educational credential |
| Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse | 546,800 | -2.4% | $35,660 | No formal educational credential |
| Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers | 546,600 | +5.3% | $33,980 | No formal educational credential |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators | 489,500 | +4.6% | $59,850 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Dishwashers | 480,400 | -1.0% | $34,810 | No formal educational credential |
| Cooks, institution and cafeteria | 454,000 | +2.8% | $37,450 | No formal educational credential |
| Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers | 437,700 | +2.4% | $53,750 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Cleaners of vehicles and equipment | 419,500 | +3.9% | $35,830 | No formal educational credential |
| Dental assistants | 388,600 | +7.4% | $48,070 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders | 377,700 | +4.1% | $43,220 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Firefighters | 355,300 | +3.7% | $59,280 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Painters, construction and maintenance | 326,900 | +3.0% | $49,400 | No formal educational credential |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | 316,000 | +3.6% | $61,770 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Dental hygienists | 225,300 | +8.0% | $98,100 | Associate's degree |
| Laundry and dry-cleaning workers | 204,900 | +4.3% | $34,890 | No formal educational credential |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers | 204,800 | +1.6% | $57,020 | No formal educational credential |
| Manicurists and pedicurists | 201,800 | +9.2% | $35,760 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Emergency medical technicians | 181,900 | +5.8% | $44,470 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines | 180,300 | +6.7% | $65,510 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 171,000 | -10.5% | $46,330 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Physician assistants | 168,900 | +21.1% | $135,880 | Master's degree |
| Helpers--production workers | 167,400 | -8.2% | $39,070 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Roofers | 166,900 | +5.3% | $55,440 | No formal educational credential |
| Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders | 164,800 | +2.5% | $48,250 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Automotive body and related repairers | 163,200 | +3.7% | $54,890 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers | 162,000 | +5.5% | $33,580 | No formal educational credential |
| Highway maintenance workers | 161,800 | +3.4% | $50,260 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Refuse and recyclable material collectors | 156,400 | +2.1% | $49,690 | No formal educational credential |
| Massage therapists | 155,400 | +15.3% | $58,450 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Very high relative exposure
Large occupations with very high relative AI exposure
Data The 40 largest by 2025 employment. High exposure is not a forecast of job loss.
| Occupation | Employment 2025 | Growth 2025–35 | Median pay | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail salespersons | 3,998,100 | -0.3% | $35,410 | No formal educational credential |
| Customer service representatives | 2,666,000 | -5.3% | $44,770 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Office clerks, general | 2,600,000 | -6.0% | $45,010 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive | 1,889,800 | -6.0% | $47,540 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Software developers | 1,717,800 | +10.2% | $135,980 | Bachelor's degree |
| Accountants and auditors | 1,595,200 | +5.0% | $83,680 | Bachelor's degree |
| Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks | 1,532,400 | -5.6% | $50,670 | Some college, no degree |
| First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers | 1,506,100 | +0.1% | $69,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products | 1,279,400 | -0.9% | $72,080 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel | 1,272,700 | +2.7% | $69,990 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Project management specialists | 1,094,300 | +6.7% | $102,320 | Bachelor's degree |
| Management analysts | 1,077,100 | +10.1% | $101,860 | Bachelor's degree |
| Medical secretaries and administrative assistants | 979,000 | +4.8% | $45,930 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Market research analysts and marketing specialists | 952,700 | +7.0% | $78,760 | Bachelor's degree |
| Receptionists and information clerks | 947,500 | -1.7% | $38,010 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Human resources specialists | 939,700 | +6.4% | $75,940 | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial managers | 879,700 | +9.7% | $166,570 | Bachelor's degree |
| Lawyers | 863,700 | +4.7% | $159,670 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Computer user support specialists | 750,600 | -3.5% | $61,860 | Some college, no degree |
| Computer and information systems managers | 685,800 | +15.8% | $175,140 | Bachelor's degree |
| Insurance sales agents | 572,600 | +3.3% | $62,280 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Computer systems analysts | 544,400 | +7.9% | $105,850 | Bachelor's degree |
| Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents | 531,000 | +1.4% | $78,660 | Bachelor's degree |
| Buyers and purchasing agents | 516,100 | +6.0% | $77,710 | Bachelor's degree |
| Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants | 489,300 | +0.0% | $76,590 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training and development specialists | 472,500 | +10.8% | $69,280 | Bachelor's degree |
| Compliance officers | 436,400 | +3.8% | $80,730 | Bachelor's degree |
| Real estate sales agents | 427,000 | +1.7% | $52,830 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Marketing managers | 421,600 | +6.9% | $166,790 | Bachelor's degree |
| Billing and posting clerks | 418,000 | -0.1% | $48,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Counter and rental clerks | 409,400 | +3.0% | $41,300 | No formal educational credential |
| Production, planning, and expediting clerks | 392,100 | -1.3% | $59,650 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors | 389,500 | +2.9% | $64,330 | Master's degree |
| Financial and investment analysts | 377,200 | +7.2% | $102,740 | Bachelor's degree |
| Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators | 376,100 | -5.5% | $78,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Industrial engineers | 365,100 | +12.4% | $102,440 | Bachelor's degree |
| Network and computer systems administrators | 323,600 | -4.1% | $99,130 | Bachelor's degree |
| Public relations specialists | 314,500 | +1.8% | $74,750 | Bachelor's degree |
| First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers | 311,900 | +0.5% | $87,520 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Personal financial advisors | 299,400 | +1.4% | $105,070 | Bachelor's degree |
What jobs are AI-proof?
No official dataset identifies AI-proof jobs. BLS's Low category groups occupations whose requirements match current AI capabilities less well, but BLS says this does not mean they will be unaffected by AI.
What jobs will AI replace?
BLS does not publish a replacement estimate, and says high exposure does not necessarily mean employment will decline.
How did BLS build the categories?
From five external measures, three theoretical and two based on observed AI usage, converted to percentile ranks and clustered into four groups.
Method
How this page is built
BLS combined three theoretical exposure measures and two observed-usage measures (one from Anthropic, one from Microsoft), converted each to percentile ranks, imputed 211 of 4,155 occupation-source values, and clustered occupations into four relative categories. Theoretical sources reflect AI capabilities through mid-2023. Growth figures are the separate BLS 2025–35 projections.
What this page can't tell you
Sources- Job loss, replacement, automation probability, wages or productivity.
- Changes in AI after the measurement period.
- Any individual job.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) exposure categories and ai-exposure-categories.xlsx (published with the 2025–35 projections, Aug 27, 2026; retrieved Oct 25, 2026).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, Occupational projections, 2025–35 (released Aug 27, 2026; occupation.xlsx, Tables 1.2 and 1.10; retrieved Oct 25, 2026). Definitions.