0
global employment exposed to AI [1]
IMF estimate of labor-market exposure, not total replacement.
The Work That Lasts
The jobs nobody wanted are the last ones standing. This is a directory of work that matters, pays well, and will still exist when everything else is a feature.
"Boring used to mean low status. Now it means job security. The trades won the culture war. They just do not know it yet."
The Shift
What the numbers already say
0
annual productivity potential (upper bound) [2]
McKinsey estimate for generative-AI-enabled annual value creation.
0
OECD jobs in high-risk occupations [3]
OECD framing of occupations in the highest automation-risk bracket.
"These are cited benchmarks, not vibes."
Interactive Atlas
Durability Field Lab
Explore how each career behaves as automation pressure rises. Click any point to open the full profile.
Salary ceiling
Durability under pressure
Directory Preview
The Jobs That Win
Sorted by durability, not prestige.
Elevator Mechanic
Keeps vertical cities moving.
Median Salary
$76,000 - 122,000/yr Salary source
AI Risk: Low Method
Plumber
Water systems fail on weekends too.
Median Salary
$49,000 - 86,000/yr Salary source
AI Risk: Low Method
Electrician
Grid complexity is job security.
Median Salary
$51,000 - 89,000/yr Salary source
AI Risk: Low Method
HVAC Technician
Climate control never goes out of style.
Median Salary
$45,000 - 79,000/yr Salary source
AI Risk: Low Method
Dental Hygienist
Tactile care plus patient trust.
Median Salary
$67,000 - 101,000/yr Salary source
AI Risk: Low Method
Occupational Therapist
Recovery is personal, not generic.
Median Salary
$76,000 - 118,000/yr Salary source
AI Risk: Low Method
Land Surveyor
Property lines still need legal humans.
Median Salary
$52,000 - 91,000/yr Salary source
AI Risk: Low Method
Court Reporter
Verbatim records are legal infrastructure.
Median Salary
$50,000 - 98,000/yr Salary source
AI Risk: Medium Method
Mobile Notary (Estate Focus)
Identity verification has to be witnessed.
Median Salary
$35,000 - 90,000/yr Salary source
AI Risk: Low Method
Soil Scientist (USDA/NRCS Track)
Healthy land is long-horizon work.
Median Salary
$51,000 - 89,000/yr Salary source
AI Risk: Medium Method
Methodology
How we decide what makes the list
Three questions. Every role has to pass all three.
Can a body be replaced? If the work requires physical presence, tactile judgment, or being a licensed human in a specific place, it gets a point.
Is someone legally liable? Accountability anchors jobs. When a plumber floods your basement, you know who to call.
Is supply constrained? A retirement wave and recruitment gap are problems for industries, not for workers in those fields.
Deep Dive
Featured Field Notes
One career. Practical details. Rotating every six seconds.
Skilled Trades
Elevator Mechanic
Install, maintain, and repair elevators, escalators, and moving walkways in commercial and residential buildings.
Salary range: $76,000 - $122,000 · BLS + union wage sheets
Training path: 4-year apprenticeship + state licensing where required.
Read full profileSkilled Trades
Plumber
Install and service pipe systems, fixtures, and code-compliant plumbing infrastructure in homes and businesses.
Salary range: $49,000 - $86,000 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
Training path: Apprenticeship route with journeyman and master progression.
Read full profileSkilled Trades
Electrician
Wire, inspect, and maintain power systems across residential, commercial, and industrial settings.
Salary range: $51,000 - $89,000 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Training path: Apprenticeship + licensing exam; optional specialization in solar and controls.
Read full profileSkilled Trades
HVAC Technician
Install and repair heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.
Salary range: $45,000 - $79,000 · BLS + industry salary surveys
Training path: Trade school or apprenticeship + EPA certification.
Read full profile