These 5 AI-proof jobs are hiring — here’s how much they pay and how to get them

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If you’re feeling stuck in this job market, you’re not alone.

The hiring landscape is tough right now, especially for younger workers and those in white-collar fields. As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, more than 90,000 tech employees across at least 98 companies have been laid off so far this year according to Layoffs.fyi, a project by startup founder Roger Lee tracking layoffs in the tech sector.

Employment shakeups at major tech companies in April alone have included 8,000 jobs cut at Meta META -0.08% and voluntary buyouts offered to 7% of Microsoft’s MSFT -1.01% U.S. workforce. Oracle ORCL -1.55% also began the process of laying off 30,000 people to cut costs as the cloud-services company builds out expensive AI data centers.

Despite the recent wave of tech layoffs, AI adoption is still concentrated in certain parts of the economy, particularly industries like information services, finance and professional services, where firms are more likely to integrate the technology into day-to-day work. About 19% of U.S. companies have integrated AI into their day-to-day operations, a number that is expected to rise to 22.3% in the next six months, according to a March 2026 Goldman Sachs GS -2.50% report citing Census Bureau data.

Careers that are resilient to AI right now share a few common traits: They require a physical presence, specialized training or real-time human interaction, which AI still struggles to replicate.

“You want your nurse to be a human, but you are probably OK with an AI running your software,” said Sneha Puri, an economist at Indeed Hiring Lab.

But that doesn’t mean jobs that look safe from AI for now will remain insulated forever. It’s worth thinking about how quickly change can happen, said Roy Cohen, a career counselor and former Wall Street executive based in New York.

“At the turn of the 20th century, people were still in horses and buggies … they didn’t likely envision that there’d be an automobile to replace a buggy. But that’s what happened,” Cohen said. “Long term, none of us can ever predict with any certainty what it’s going to look like. We can just appreciate that it’s going to be different.”

For now, though, some roles are holding up better than others.

Whether you are a career changer, have a kid deciding on a college major or just got laid off yourself and are looking for some stability in an ever-changing AI world, here are five AI-resilient jobs that aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Pay figures come from Indeed’s estimated median annual salary for each role.

Job: Cardiac medical technician 

Salary: $133,907 

Requirement: Associate’s degree, specialized certification

The healthcare industry was “basically the only sector driving any job growth across the labor market in the United States” over the past year, Puri said, partly because of the country’s aging population. The data backs her up: The job market has added an average of about 56,000 healthcare jobs per month for the past three months, accounting for a large share of the roughly 68,000 total jobs added monthly over the same period, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

So it’s no surprise that the role at the top of Indeed’s 2026 index of the best jobs in the U.S. falls within the sector. Cardiac medical technicians assist physicians in diagnosing and treating blood-vessel diseases, and the field has seen a significant boost in job postings over the past three years. The job requires operating specialized equipment, monitoring patients and responding in real time, making it difficult to automate.

Wages for cardiac medical techs have grown 34% over the past three years to a six-figure salary, though many of the highest-paying roles are highly specialized. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists median pay in 2024 for cardiovascular technicians, a broader category that includes heart-test and imaging technicians, much lower at about $67,000.

Pay can vary widely depending on specialization, setting and hours. Hospital-based roles, for example, often come with overtime, bonuses and higher pay for night or weekend shifts that can push total earnings well above base pay.

Job: HVAC technician 

Salary: $70,085

Requirements: State-mandated certification

Some of the most AI-resilient jobs are in the skilled trades, where work must be done in person.

HVAC technicians install and repair heating and cooling systems in homes, offices and industrial buildings — work that requires physical labor and problem-solving in real-world environments.

Demand is also getting a boost from AI itself. Data centers, which power AI systems, require extensive cooling infrastructure, driving additional need for technicians. Job postings for HVAC roles have surged 93% over the past three years, according to Indeed data.

Job: Pest-control technician

Salary: $52,253

Requirements: State-mandated certification

The job targeting cockroaches, ants, mice and rats is  less vulnerable to being replaced by AI. Pest control requires specialized expertise and non-repetitive work that’s done in the real world. It also involves the ability to communicate with stressed customers who want insects and vermin gone — and the stomach to accomplish the task.

“For jobs that require physical skills, AI replacement risk is still quite low,” said Felix Aidala, an economist at Indeed Hiring Lab. But pest control has an extra advantage. AI’s top risk for many blue-collar workers is that the technology provides customers with the ability to solve problems instead of calling a professional, he said.

Perhaps people could use AI to identify the weird bug crawling under their bed, he said. But “it’s hard to see homeowners putting up their own fumigation tents.”

As another bright spot, there’s no shortage of bugs — and pest control companies are looking for employees. More than one-third of pest-control businesses said their growth last year was constrained by having too few technicians, according to the National Pest Management Association.

Real earnings, including overtime and bonuses, routinely exceed the $48,000 to $55,000 range and jobs have good insurance benefits with room to grow, according to the organization. Some technicians make up to $100,000 and possibly more at the right company, according to one Reddit thread. “The potential to build a long-term, well-compensated career in this industry is very real,” the National Pest Management Association told MarketWatch.

Job: Licensed professional counselor 

Salary: $107,812 

Requirements: Master’s degree and state licensure

Jobs that rely on emotional intelligence are also less exposed to AI disruption.

Licensed professional counselors work directly with patients to address mental-health challenges that require trust, communication and real-time judgment — areas where AI tools can assist but not replace professionals.

“Right now [these roles are] just not replaceable, because AI is not sophisticated enough to present not a voice so much as a profile that can be compassionate,” Cohen said.

The role typically requires a master’s degree and state license, which can create a higher barrier to entry, but also supports more stable demand.

Job: Owner-operator truck driver 

Salary: $160,000 

Requirements: Commercial driver’s license

Driving roles have also remained relatively insulated from AI, even as automation advances. While self-driving technology continues to develop, widespread adoption — especially for long-haul routes and under unpredictable conditions — is still limited.

Owner-operator truck drivers, who typically own or lease their own vehicles, play a critical role in moving goods across the country. The job requires navigating real-world conditions, managing schedules and maintaining equipment.

Pay can be high, but it varies widely depending on demand, operating costs and how much drivers are able to work.

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