What are the highest-paying Jobs that AI cannot replace?
- Portugal Business News - Valerie Charoux
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Jobs & Salaries News - Here are the highest-paying Jobs that AI cannot replace, as well as the Top sectors with the highest-paying Jobs that are AI-proof, according to a study by JobZone Risk published in August 2026:
Top 20 highest-paying Jobs that AI cannot replace:
1 - Surgeon
A job as a Surgeon ranks No. 1 highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 417,000.
2 - Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
A job as a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) ranks 2nd highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 243,000.
3 - Airline Pilot (Mid-to-Senior Captain/First Officer)
A job as an Airline Pilot ranks 3rd highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 223,790.
4 - AI Governance Lead
A job as an AI Governance Lead ranks 4th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 221,000.
5 - Doctor - General & Family Medicine
A job as a Doctor ranks 5th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 214,370.
6 - CEO
A job as a CEO ranks 6th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 206,680.
7 - AI Solutions Architect
A job as an AI Solutions Architect ranks 7th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 185,000.
8 - Dentist
A job as a Dentist ranks 8th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 167,160.
9 - Cybersecurity AI/ML Engineer
A job as a Cybersecurity AI/ML Engineer ranks 9th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 165,200.
10 - ML/AI Engineer
A job as an ML/AI Engineer ranks 10th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 165,200.
11 - Cyber Security Architect - Senior level
A job as a Cyber Security Architect ranks 11th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 157,632.
12 -AI Safety Researcher
A job as an AI Safety Researcher ranks 12th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 150,000.
13 - AI Security Engineer
A job as an AI Security Engineer ranks 13th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 140,000.
14 - Teacher in the Health Specialties sector
A job as a Teacher in the Health Specialties sector ranks 14th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 130,120.
15 - Physician Assistant
A job as a Physician Assistant ranks 15th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 127,960.
16 - Nurse Practitioner
A job as a Nurse Practitioner ranks 16th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 126,260.
17 - Veterinarian
A job as a Veterinarian ranks 17th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 119,100.
18 - Professor in the field of Cybersecurity
A job as a Professor in the field of Cybersecurity ranks 18th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 110,000.
19 - Dental Hygienist
A job as a Dental Hygienist ranks 19th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 94,260.
20 - Registered Nurse
A job as a Registered Nurse ranks 20th highest-paying Job that AI cannot replace with a median salary of USD 86,070.
What are the Top sectors with the highest-paying Jobs that AI cannot replace?
1 - Healthcare sector
The Healthcare sector ranks No. 1 Top sector with the highest-paying Jobs that AI cannot replace.
2 - Cybersecurity sector
The Cybersecurity sector ranks 2nd Top sector with the highest-paying Jobs that AI cannot replace.
The fastest-entry high-paying jobs are in the Cybersecurity sector as a CompTIA Security+ job, that is an entry-level cybersecurity certification, can be obtained after only 3-6 months of studies, and entry-level Security Operations Center (SOC) analyst jobs in cybersecurity accept certifications without degrees.
3 - Engineering sector
The Engineering sector ranks 3rd Top sector with the highest-paying Jobs that AI cannot replace.
4 - Skilled Trades sector
The Skilled Trades sector ranks 4th Top sector with the highest-paying Jobs that AI cannot replace.
The Skilled Trades sector provides high-paying jobs without a degree, including Aircraft Mechanic, Electrician, Plumber, Heating & Air-Conditioning mechanic, construction, technicians in the Renewable Energy sector.
A person with no qualifications can get a job as an Apprentice in the Trades sector and earn a salary while learning.
5 - Aviation sector
The Aviation sector ranks 5th Top sector with the highest-paying Jobs that AI cannot replace.
