13 jobs that don't require a college degree -- and won't be replaced by AI

USA Today

17-05-2025

13 jobs that don't require a college degree -- and won't be replaced by AI
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What are the toughest occupations in America?
According to a new nationwide survey, America's toughest jobs are firefighting, construction, military service, and emergency medicine, all demanding physical risk and high stress.
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If you think most Americans finish college, think again.
Going to college is an American rite of passage. But not everyone goes to college, and many students never make it to graduation. Among Americans ages 25 and over, only 38% are college graduates, according to the Education Data Initiative.
A new report from the resume-writing service Resume Now identifies 13 careers that offer good pay and long-term stability, and that don't require a college degree. Better still, none of the jobs is likely to be replaced by AI.
The analysis 'focused on three or four fears that people have right now,' said Keith Spencer, a career expert at Resume Now. Americans worry about potential signs of a softening job market. They're concerned about the cost of college, and whether a degree is still worth it. And workers in many fields fear that AI – or robots, or other nonhuman hands – might sweep in to replace them.
Despite the slow creep of automation, many fields still require the human touch. To build out this list, Resume Now found careers that require only a high school diploma, that pay at least $50,000 a year, and that represent growing fields with high-demand skills. The report draws on Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
'They sort of all have some similarities, in terms of the need for significant human interaction,' Spencer said. 'Maybe they require manual dexterity in unpredictable environments, or high levels of creativity.'
The list comes in two parts: Jobs with relatively low AI risk, and positions with 'moderate' AI risk, based on the need for human decision-making, manual labor, personal interactions and other factors.
Some of the jobs listed below require 'a level of relevant experience,' Resume Now reports. But none, apparently, requires a college degree.
Here's the list, including job descriptions for less familiar positions, and median salaries for all.
Jobs with low AI risk
According to Resume Now, these careers offer a good income and strong job security, because they require skills that go well beyond the capabilities of AI.
Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
Job description: Judge fire hazards, investigate wildfire causes and enact prevention strategies.
Why it's AI-resistant: Fire prevention requires humans in the field and cannot be entirely automated.
Median pay: $71,420 a year
Flight attendants
Why it's AI-resistant: AI can't serve meals. In-flight customer service requires a human touch.
Median pay: $68,370 a year
Lodging managers
Job description: Think 'White Lotus.' Oversee lodging operations, manage the staff and keep the guests happy.
Why it's AI-resistant: AI can't unclog a guest-room toilet. You need people to provide the personal touch.
Median pay: $65,360 a year
Electricians
Why it's AI-resistant. AI can't install your chandelier. Electrical work requires a human presence.
Median pay: $61,590 a year
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
Job description: Plumbers and their ilk install and service water and gas systems in homes and businesses.
Why it's AI-resistant: Plumbing is unpredictable work. AI-controlled robots could handle some of it, but not all of it.
Median pay: $61,550 a year
Industrial machinery mechanics
Job description: Maintain mechanical systems in industrial workplaces.
Why it's AI-resistant: AI would struggle with the real-time problem-solving demands of the work.
Median pay: $61,170 per year
Chefs and head cooks
Why it's AI-resistant: AI can't taste the soup. Recipe development and food prep require a creative touch.
Median pay: $58,920 a year
Hearing aid specialists
Job description: Work with hearing aids and provide patient care.
Why it's AI-resistant: AI can't handle the hands-on requirements of the job.
Median pay: $58,670
Personal service managers
Job description: Oversee wellness programs, event planning or luxury concierge services.
Why it's AI-resistant: The work requires personal interactions, emotional intelligence and decision-making that AI cannot handle.
Median pay: $57,570
Jobs with moderate AI risk
These careers entail tasks that could eventually be automated, Resume Now reports. But, for now, they still rely on human judgment and adaptability.
Maintenance workers, machinery
Job description: Close cousins to the industrial machinery mechanic, listed above, machinery maintenance workers perform routine upkeep on industrial machinery.
Why it's AI-resistant: Complex repairs require real-time problem-solving by human workers.
Median pay: $61,170 per year
Insurance sales agents
Why it's AI-resistant: AI can handle some underwriting tasks, but this career requires personal service.
Median pay: $59,080 a year
Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
Why it's AI-resistant: AI can handle some aircraft cargo tasks, but you need human supervisors to handle the unexpected.
Median pay: $58,920
Security and fire alarm systems installers
Why it's AI-resistant: Installing and troubleshooting security and fire systems requires humans.
Median pay: $56,430 a year