13 'AI-proof' jobs that don't require a college degree

Delta Air Lines flight attendant Caitlin Blair displays the prepackaged snack bag and a sanitizing wipe that is offered to passengers on Delta flights at Sky Harbor International Airport on Oct. 13, 2020.

Holiday travelers look for their luggage in baggage claim at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport on Wednesday November 22, 2023, in Milwaukee, Wis.

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 report released in May by 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 are 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 signs of a softening job market. They’re concerned about the cost of college, and whether a degree is still worth it. And employees in many fields fear that AI – or robots, or other nonhuman hands – might sweep in to replace them.

Their fears are not unfounded. One recent survey shows that some service companies in the New York-Northern New Jersey area have scaled back hiring or plan to do so in the next six months because of AI.

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.

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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 they're AI-resistant: Fire prevention requires humans in the field and cannot be entirely automated.

Median pay: $71,420 a year

Flight attendants

Why they're 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 "The White Lotus." Oversee lodging operations, manage the staff and keep the guests happy.

Why they're AI-resistant: AI can’t unclog a guestroom toilet. You need people to provide the personal touch.

Median pay: $65,360 a year

Electricians

Why they're 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 install and service water and gas systems in homes and businesses.

Why they're AI-resistant: Plumbing is unpredictable work. AI-controlled robots could handle some of it but not all.

Median pay: $61,550 a year

Industrial machinery mechanics

Job description: Maintain mechanical systems in industrial workplaces.

Why they're AI-resistant: AI would struggle with the real-time problem-solving demands of the work.

Median pay: $61,170 a year

Chefs and head cooks

Why they're 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 they're 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 they're 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 involve tasks that eventually could 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 they're AI-resistant: Complex repairs require real-time problem-solving by humans.

Median pay: $61,170 a year

Insurance sales agents

Why they're 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 they're 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 they're AI-resistant: Installing and troubleshooting security and fire systems requires humans.

Median pay: $56,430 a year

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 13 'AI-proof' jobs that don't require a college degree