Occupation · 2026 assessment

Rescue Worker

A Rescue Worker prevents or responds to hazardous situations, follows protocols under time pressure and is accountable for human safety. The assessment separates automation of individual tasks from accountability for the professional outcome.

Very low risk level Search jobs ↗
How risk may change

A forecast estimate, not a guaranteed scenario.

14%2026
17%2028
21%2030
27%2035

Which tasks are exposed

Risk applies to individual tasks—not to a person or an entire occupation.

TaskRisk
assessing the scene and hazards32%
selecting a safe response tactic27%
using emergency equipment23%
searching for and evacuating people18%
providing first aid12%
coordinating with emergency services3%
containing the hazard3%
post-incident review3%

Task map

AI replaces ↔ AI augments

Each task is positioned by AI capability and the degree of human involvement still required.

  1. 1assessing the scene and hazardsAI 32% · human 81%
  2. 2selecting a safe response tacticAI 27% · human 84%
  3. 3using emergency equipmentAI 23% · human 88%
  4. 4searching for and evacuating peopleAI 18% · human 86%
  5. 5providing first aidAI 12% · human 94%
  6. 6coordinating with emergency servicesAI 3% · human 89%
  7. 7containing the hazardAI 3% · human 94%
  8. 8post-incident reviewAI 3% · human 94%

Why technology can change this work

  • digital tools reduce preparation and control time
  • full automation is constrained by variable real-world conditions
  • many cases still require professional judgement
  • key information often emerges only through direct work

What protects the occupation

  • response to non-standard threats
  • security accountability
  • work in unpredictable environments

United States · before tax

Average pay and outlook

Estimated nominal monthly pay. The scenario reflects sector, demand and task resilience; it is not a guarantee of income.

2026$8 400per month
2035$12 550scenario estimate
2026: $8 40020262027: $8 80020272028: $9 20020282029: $9 60020292030: $10 05020302031: $10 50020312032: $10 95020322033: $11 45020332034: $12 00020342035: $12 5502035
Find jobs ↗The partner link may contain referral parameters. Data benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ↗

Job search and transitions

Find work with a lower risk index

Compare adjacent paths and open a current search for the selected occupation.

Skills you already have

  • rescue tactics
  • first aid
  • protective-equipment use
  • radio communications
  • stress tolerance
  • team coordination

Skills to build

  • drones and robotic reconnaissance
  • geographic information systems
  • wearable sensors
  • digital risk maps
  • incident management
  • incident-data analysis
CurrentRescue Worker · 14%
→
Keeprescue tactics · first aid · protective-equipment use
→
Adddrones and robotic reconnaissance · geographic information systems · wearable sensors

Sources and update

Updated: 2026-09-26 · Assessment confidence: Medium

International Labour Organization · 2025Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure

Nearly 30,000 tasks; a global assessment of GenAI exposure across detailed occupational groups.

World Economic Forum · 2025The Future of Jobs Report 2025

A survey of more than 1,000 employers representing over 14 million workers across 55 economies.

O*NET Resource Center · 2026O*NET Database

Occupational, task, skill and work-context structure.