# The best paid jobs AI cannot do that need no degree

O*NET Job Zone 1 or 2, in the untouched band, with a published median wage, ranked from the highest pay downward. Release v2026.Q3, capability reference date 2026-09-15, built on O*NET 31.0. Published by A.I.T. Multiverse Consulting Ltd under CC BY 4.0.

The combination most people are actually looking for: work a machine cannot produce, that pays, and that does not start with four years of tuition.

| # | Occupation | Exposed | Assisted | Median pay | Rank of 923 | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/first-line-supervisors-of-police-and-detectives) | 26.4% | 18.8% | $106,040 | 476 | untouched |
| 2 | [Power Plant Operators](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/power-plant-operators) | 22.9% | 15.9% | $102,040 | 533 | untouched |
| 3 | [Biomass Plant Technicians](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/biomass-plant-technicians) | 19.7% | 14.3% | $102,040 | 604 | untouched |
| 4 | [Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/petroleum-pump-system-operators-refinery-operators-and-gaugers) | 25.4% | 15.1% | $96,710 | 485 | untouched |
| 5 | [Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/electrical-power-line-installers-and-repairers) | 5.1% | 5.9% | $95,320 | 872 | untouched |
| 6 | [Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/transportation-vehicle-equipment-and-systems-inspectors-except-aviation) | 21.0% | 20.9% | $92,100 | 573 | untouched |
| 7 | [Gas Plant Operators](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/gas-plant-operators) | 26.2% | 19.6% | $87,820 | 479 | untouched |
| 8 | [Locomotive Engineers](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/locomotive-engineers) | 24.2% | 17.2% | $81,410 | 502 | untouched |
| 9 | [Roof Bolters, Mining](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/roof-bolters-mining) | 2.8% | 4.5% | $78,540 | 898 | untouched |
| 10 | [Non-Destructive Testing Specialists](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/non-destructive-testing-specialists) | 27.9% | 18.8% | $78,350 | 462 | untouched |
| 11 | [Chemical Plant and System Operators](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/chemical-plant-and-system-operators) | 28.1% | 19.0% | $78,120 | 457 | untouched |
| 12 | [Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/gas-compressor-and-gas-pumping-station-operators) | 32.6% | 16.1% | $77,320 | 401 | untouched |
| 13 | [Boilermakers](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/boilermakers) | 4.6% | 4.8% | $76,410 | 881 | untouched |
| 14 | [Terrazzo Workers and Finishers](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/terrazzo-workers-and-finishers) | 2.8% | 1.0% | $76,170 | 897 | untouched |
| 15 | [Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/loading-and-moving-machine-operators-underground-mining) | 10.9% | 6.8% | $74,500 | 776 | untouched |
| 16 | [Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/telecommunications-line-installers-and-repairers) | 9.1% | 4.7% | $74,330 | 813 | untouched |
| 17 | [Pile Driver Operators](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/pile-driver-operators) | 2.0% | 3.0% | $73,300 | 904 | untouched |
| 18 | [Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/rail-track-laying-and-maintenance-equipment-operators) | 1.0% | 1.2% | $70,070 | 914 | untouched |
| 19 | [Wellhead Pumpers](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/wellhead-pumpers) | 18.0% | 10.5% | $69,960 | 644 | untouched |
| 20 | [Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/railroad-brake-signal-and-switch-operators-and-locomotive-firers) | 15.3% | 11.5% | $68,840 | 704 | untouched |
| 21 | [Tapers](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/tapers) | 3.0% | 2.8% | $68,270 | 894 | untouched |
| 22 | [Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/rotary-drill-operators-oil-and-gas) | 5.1% | 4.2% | $67,890 | 873 | untouched |
| 23 | [Rail Car Repairers](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/rail-car-repairers) | 9.7% | 6.3% | $67,530 | 800 | untouched |
| 24 | [Transportation Security Screeners](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/transportation-security-screeners) | 19.5% | 23.2% | $66,770 | 610 | untouched |
| 25 | [Athletes and Sports Competitors](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/athletes-and-sports-competitors) | 8.4% | 6.2% | $66,710 | 821 | untouched |
| 26 | [Millwrights](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/millwrights) | 4.7% | 3.3% | $65,700 | 879 | untouched |
| 27 | [Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/aircraft-structure-surfaces-rigging-and-systems-assemblers) | 3.4% | 2.4% | $65,380 | 892 | untouched |
| 28 | [Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/layout-workers-metal-and-plastic) | 17.1% | 6.4% | $63,870 | 660 | untouched |
| 29 | [Flight Attendants](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/flight-attendants) | 31.7% | 12.6% | $63,580 | 412 | untouched |
| 30 | [Structural Iron and Steel Workers](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/structural-iron-and-steel-workers) | 2.6% | 2.2% | $62,780 | 900 | untouched |
| 31 | [Riggers](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/riggers) | 7.8% | 4.4% | $62,640 | 832 | untouched |
| 32 | [Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/timing-device-assemblers-and-adjusters) | 9.0% | 4.9% | $62,620 | 816 | untouched |
| 33 | [Biofuels Processing Technicians](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/biofuels-processing-technicians) | 19.8% | 16.8% | $62,470 | 600 | untouched |
| 34 | [Brickmasons and Blockmasons](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/brickmasons-and-blockmasons) | 7.2% | 6.2% | $62,120 | 845 | untouched |
| 35 | [Continuous Mining Machine Operators](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/continuous-mining-machine-operators) | 7.4% | 11.5% | $61,810 | 840 | untouched |
| 36 | [Sheet Metal Workers](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/sheet-metal-workers) | 6.8% | 7.2% | $61,800 | 850 | untouched |
| 37 | [Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/pump-operators-except-wellhead-pumpers) | 28.4% | 14.5% | $61,770 | 456 | untouched |
| 38 | [Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/explosives-workers-ordnance-handling-experts-and-blasters) | 9.1% | 7.0% | $61,390 | 811 | untouched |
| 39 | [Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/refractory-materials-repairers-except-brickmasons) | 0.0% | 0.0% | $61,290 | 919 | untouched |
| 40 | [Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers](https://taskexposure.org/jobs/rail-yard-engineers-dinkey-operators-and-hostlers) | 18.2% | 11.5% | $60,600 | 636 | untouched |

Exposure is not displacement. This measures what current AI systems can produce and what structurally stands in the way, not what an employer will do.

Web page: https://taskexposure.org/lists/best-paid-jobs-ai-cannot-do-without-a-degree