Business

14 High-Innovation, High-Growth Jobs Paying $60K To Six Figures

By Bryan Robinson,Contributor,Ph.D

Copyright forbes

14 High-Innovation, High-Growth Jobs Paying $60K To Six Figures

A new report highlights 14 high-innovation, high-growth careers where originality and human judgment still lead the way.

It seems that just about everybody is looking for jobs with higher salaries these days. No wonder with an uncertain economy, massive layoffs and a competitive market. Some workers are launching side hustles for extra pay, others are jumping ship. But most are job hugging instead of office frogging, because job hoppers no longer get the big salary bump. To the rescue, a new analysis showcases 14 high-innovation, high-growth jobs where originality and human judgment still lead the way over AI, some paying up to six figures.

High-Innovation, High-Growth Jobs AI Can’t Perform

In 2024, the so-called “doom loop” was creating anxiety as employees feared AI would take over their jobs. As that actually started to happen, employees still worry about what new technology could mean for their roles, which is stressing them out and affecting how they work. Companies are going all-in on AI, spending big and hoping for significant productivity boosts. The gap between what employees fear and their bosses expect is creating a tense loop that business leaders haven’t fully addressed.

This confusion around the implementation of AI has created a demand for AI resistant jobs, and I have reported on the ones that require only a high-school education in the past for Forbes.com. If you’re an innovative thinker and AI is transforming routine work and you want to avoid the chaos, you could qualify for a job where creative problem-solvers are thriving. Why? The jobs most resistant to AI displacement are those that demand originality, adaptability and big-picture mindsets.

According to analysts at Resume Now, innovation still pays. They analyzed hundreds of jobs using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Outlook Handbook (March, 2025), which measures how much a job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

The analysts used the O*NET Work Styles database to identify high-innovation, high-growth jobs that are resistant to AI displacement. Their goal was to spotlight imaginative roles that pay well and reward original thinking. Each role pays $60K+ (many roles paying six figures) and ranks high on O*NET’s Innovation Score, with growth projected to be as fast or faster than average through 2033.

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14 High-Innovation, High-Growth Jobs Paying $60K+

Analysts used five common factors to calculate Innovation Scores that reflect how much a job requires original thinking, problem-solving and the ability to generate new approaches–skills that are AI resistant. The 14 careers emphasize adaptability, emotional intelligence and human-centered insight—traits that remain uniquely human:

1. A median salary of $60,000 or more

2. A high Innovation Score of 78 or more

3. As fast or (much) faster than average growth rate

4. At least 16,000 total jobs in the U.S.

5. AI Resilience that require human ingenuity. Core responsibilities emphasize creativity, adaptability, emotional intelligence and strategic thinking—human skills that AI cannot easily replicate.

Each of the 14 careers are ranked by highest to lowest Innovation Scores, followed by the median salary, and growth rates.

1. Communications Teachers, Postsecondary (Innovation Score: 90). Median Salary: $79,910. Job Outlook: 8% (Faster than average)

2. Biochemists & Biophysicists (Innovation Score: 88). Median Salary: $103,650. Job Outlook: nine percent (Much faster than average)

3. Chefs and Head Cooks (Innovation Score: 88). Median Salary: $60,990. Job Outlook: eight percent (Faster than average)

4. Film & Video Editors (Innovation Score: 87). Median Salary: $70,570. Job Outlook: three percent (As fast as average)

5. Occupational Therapy Assistants (Innovation Score: 84). Median Salary: $66,050. Job Outlook: 21% (Much faster than average)

6. Art Directors (Innovation Score: 84). Median Salary: $111,040. Job Outlook: five percent (As fast as average)

7. Mathematicians (Innovation Score: 82). Median Salary: $104,350. Job Outlook: 11% (Much faster than average)

8. Operations Research Analysts (Innovation Score: 82). Median Salary: $91,290. Job Outlook: 23% (Much faster than average)

9. Recreational Therapists (Innovation Score: 82). Median Salary: $60,280. Job Outlook: four percent (As fast as average)

10. Chemical Engineers (Innovation Score: 80). Median Salary: $121,860. Job Outlook: 10% (Much faster than average)

11. Landscape Architects (Innovation Score: 80). Median Salary: $79,660. Job Outlook: five percent (As fast as average)

12. Astronomers (Innovation Score: 79). Median Salary: $166,290. Job Outlook: seven percent (Faster than average)

13. Marketing Managers (Innovation Score: 79). Median Salary: $159,660. Job Outlook: eight percent (Faster than average)

14. Fashion Designers (Innovation Score: 78). Median Salary: $80,690. Job Outlook: five percent (As fast as average)

A summary of the findings show that all 14 careers earn a median salary of $60,000 or more and score 78+ on Innovation. Several roles combine six-figure salaries with strong growth, including Marketing Managers ($159,660), Chemical Engineers ($121,860), Mathematicians ($104,350) and Biochemists ($103,650). The top earners among the 14 jobs are Astronomers ($166,290) and Marketing Managers ($159,660).

Fast-growth standouts show up in Operations Research Analysts (23%) and Occupational Therapy Assistants (21%). Some of the most inventive jobs are not what you would expect, notes Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now. “Chefs, Recreational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants actually outrank Fashion Designers on the innovation index. It’s a powerful reminder that creativity isn’t confined to studios or startups. It thrives in kitchens, classrooms and care centers too.”

A Final Takeaway On High-Innovation, High-Growth Jobs

According to Spencer, AI can streamline a lot of tasks, but it cannot replicate originality. He asserts that the most resilient jobs today are the ones where creativity, intuition and human connection are at the core.

“In a job market shaped by artificial intelligence, roles that depend on creative thinking skills, human insight and problem-solving continue to stand out,” Spencer points out. “These careers offer more than strong salaries and growth potential. They provide opportunities to do meaningful, imaginative work that machines cannot replace. For employees who want long-term success and job security, building skills tied to innovation and adaptability is a smart path forward.”

Spencer concludes that, whether designing new products, solving complex human challenges or making strategic decisions, these high-innovation, high-growth jobs show that the most future-proof skill may be the ability to think differently.

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