I Asked ChatGPT Which Six-Figure Jobs Will Pay Less in 10 Years: Here’s What It Said
Written by
Nicole Spector
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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Curious about what the technology-filled future means for those of us who rely on our careers to make money, I asked ChatGPT which six-figure jobs in 2025 would pay less in 2035. ChatGPT replied that six six-figure jobs would pay less, but two of those jobs (marketing manager and financial analyst) do not, according to July 2025 data from ZipRecruiter, pay quite six figures on average, nationally, so I took them off the list.
Next, I asked for a projected national average salary for each of these jobs in 2035. But the artificial intelligence (AI) bot contradicted itself by providing estimated six-figure salaries that were the same as is in 2025 but adjusted for inflation. So, the approximate anticipated 2035 pay for these jobs isn’t available, but we still got a pretty good idea of just how vulnerable AI is rendering some of the most high-paying and prestigious careers.
Lawyer
- National average salary in 2025: $100,626
We’re all familiar with the image of the impassioned lawyer pacing the floors of the courtroom as they make the case for a jury choosing one verdict or the other, but this is a very specific type of lawyer — a trial lawyer — and ChatGPT specifically noted that this type of lawyer, along with complex litigation lawyers and IP lawyers, are “safer.” Other lawyers, particularly in junior roles, are at risk of losing out to technology as AI becomes more sophisticated in handling research and contracts.
IT Manager
- National average salary in 2025: $109,707
If you’re not a tech savant in the workplace, you probably feel something close to a sense of worship for your company’s IT team. At the head of this team is the IT manager, who oversees a company’s information technology infrastructure and systems. Right now, these pros make six figures, but that could change, ChatGPT said, as cloud platforms and SaaS solutions reduce the need for in-house IT management. Cloud architects and DevOps engineers with automation expertise have the best chances at thriving in the predicted job climate of 2035.
Software Engineer
- National average salary in 2025: $147,524
Once upon a time not so very long ago, a software engineer was a pretty secure and typically lucrative role. Now, it still pays very well, on average, but it’s no longer as safe a bet. Over the past five years, software engineer job openings have plummeted in part because of the rise of AI tools that automate routine coding. As AI gets bigger and smarter, we’ll see this job lose even more talent. ChatGPT said that routine frontend/backend roles, especially in mature tech stacks, are most in danger, while pros in AI/ML, cybersecurity and highly specialized engineering should fare better.
Radiologist
- National average salary in 2025: $344,970
By far, radiologist is the highest-paying job on this list. The national average salary in 2025 is $344,970, but in some parts of the country you can make well over $400,000. It’s a complex medical job that involves working with specialized machinery and collaborating with doctors. But a lot of its complexity appears able to be outsourced, eventually, to technology.
“AI tools are becoming highly accurate at image recognition (X-rays, MRIs, pathology slides),” ChatGPT said. AI will specifically handle the routine tasks side of the role, leaving high-paying roles only to seasoned specialists involved in complex diagnoses or research.
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