Healthcare jobs least exposed to AI
SOC major groups 29 and 31, healthcare practitioners and support, ranked from the lowest exposed share upward. Release v2026.Q3, capability reference date 2026-09-15, built on O*NET 31.0.
Two frictions stack here: someone has to be in the room, and someone licensed has to be accountable for the decision.
| # | Occupation | Exposed | Assisted | Median pay | Rank of 923 | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Endoscopy Technicians | 3.0% | 5.4% | $48,430 | 896 | untouched |
| 2 | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | 4.1% | 12.3% | $352,220 | 887 | untouched |
| 3 | Prosthodontists | 4.6% | 10.1% | $311,180 | 882 | untouched |
| 4 | Histology Technicians | 6.0% | 9.8% | n/a | 866 | untouched |
| 5 | Home Health Aides | 6.0% | 6.7% | n/a | 862 | untouched |
| 6 | Surgical Assistants | 6.4% | 8.1% | $66,800 | 860 | untouched |
| 7 | Orderlies | 7.6% | 2.2% | $38,290 | 835 | untouched |
| 8 | Hearing Aid Specialists | 7.8% | 15.6% | $65,160 | 833 | untouched |
| 9 | Medical Equipment Preparers | 8.0% | 10.8% | $47,700 | 829 | untouched |
| 10 | Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | 8.1% | 15.4% | $45,570 | 826 | untouched |
| 11 | Optometrists | 9.3% | 22.2% | $136,570 | 809 | untouched |
| 12 | Physical Therapist Assistants | 9.3% | 15.3% | $68,380 | 807 | untouched |
| 13 | Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | 9.6% | 10.3% | $38,150 | 803 | untouched |
| 14 | Paramedics | 9.8% | 16.7% | $60,600 | 798 | untouched |
| 15 | Dentists, General | 10.0% | 13.4% | $170,950 | 794 | untouched |
| 16 | Anesthesiologist Assistants | 10.2% | 11.1% | $135,880 | 791 | untouched |
| 17 | Physical Therapist Aides | 10.4% | 11.0% | $35,240 | 786 | untouched |
| 18 | Nurse Anesthetists | 10.7% | 15.1% | $236,590 | 784 | untouched |
| 19 | Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 10.8% | 18.8% | $50,290 | 781 | untouched |
| 20 | Psychiatric Aides | 10.9% | 14.6% | $44,910 | 779 | untouched |
| 21 | Massage Therapists | 10.9% | 14.9% | $58,450 | 778 | untouched |
| 22 | Psychiatric Technicians | 11.6% | 19.1% | $45,130 | 763 | untouched |
| 23 | Nursing Assistants | 11.9% | 11.3% | $42,260 | 759 | untouched |
| 24 | Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians | 11.9% | 27.3% | $265,930 | 758 | untouched |
| 25 | Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 11.9% | 12.2% | $47,380 | 757 | untouched |
| 26 | Orthotists and Prosthetists | 12.2% | 17.9% | $81,110 | 752 | untouched |
| 27 | Occupational Therapy Assistants | 12.2% | 20.7% | $72,300 | 750 | untouched |
| 28 | Phlebotomists | 12.2% | 15.2% | $45,230 | 749 | untouched |
| 29 | Occupational Therapy Aides | 12.3% | 19.1% | $39,160 | 745 | untouched |
| 30 | Surgical Technologists | 12.6% | 9.9% | $64,650 | 741 | untouched |
| 31 | Emergency Medical Technicians | 12.8% | 20.5% | $44,470 | 736 | untouched |
| 32 | Urologists | 13.0% | 21.7% | $265,930 | 734 | untouched |
| 33 | Respiratory Therapists | 13.1% | 20.6% | $82,280 | 732 | untouched |
| 34 | Acupuncturists | 13.2% | 19.7% | $76,040 | 729 | untouched |
| 35 | Histotechnologists | 13.5% | 15.8% | n/a | 727 | untouched |
| 36 | Dental Assistants | 13.9% | 12.4% | $48,070 | 723 | untouched |
| 37 | Orthodontists | 14.0% | 26.9% | $289,140 | 721 | untouched |
| 38 | Neurodiagnostic Technologists | 14.2% | 22.6% | $50,290 | 719 | untouched |
| 39 | Anesthesiologists | 14.3% | 24.5% | $391,490 | 718 | untouched |
| 40 | Critical Care Nurses | 15.0% | 23.6% | $97,550 | 709 | untouched |
How to read this
Exposed is the share of an occupation’s weighted task load that a generally available AI system can produce today with little structural friction. Assisted is work it can produce but cannot finish alone, because somebody has to be present, accountable, or because checking the output costs as much as doing the work. Untouched is work it cannot produce at all.
Every figure here is computed from task level ratings, and every occupation links to the page that shows its own tasks. If a rating looks wrong, the task is the level to argue at: how this is measured.
Other cuts of the same data
Exposure is not displacement. This index measures what current systems can produce and what stands in the way. It does not forecast job losses, and it models no adoption, employment or wage effect.