Forest Firefighters vs Hazardous Materials Removal Workers AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

low risk

Forest Firefighters

66 shared · 39 different

core competencies

low risk

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

Side-by-Side Comparison

Forest Firefighters leads 5–0

Metric	Forest Firefighters	Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Risk Score	21.0%	22.1%
Risk Tier	Low Risk	Low Risk
Risk Percentile	9th	11th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	2 / 15	3 / 15
Median Salary	$59,530	$48,490
Employment	332K	51K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Assisting and Caring for Others

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public

Building and Construction

Coaching and Developing Others

Customer and Personal Service

Stamina

Spatial Orientation

Education and Training

Trunk Strength

Response Orientation

Performing General Physical Activities

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Forest Firefighters

35%

total discount

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

30%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Forest Firefighters

2 of 15 at risk

76%Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences.

74%Maintain contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies, or to detail any difficulties encountered.

49%Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.

49%Maintain fire equipment and firehouse living quarters.

49%Transport personnel and cargo to and from fire areas.

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

3 of 15 at risk

86%Record numbers of containers stored at disposal sites, specifying amounts or types of equipment or waste disposed.

77%Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.

52%Identify or separate waste products or materials for recycling or reuse.

49%Drive trucks or other heavy equipment to convey contaminated waste to designated sea or ground locations.

47%Load or unload materials into containers or onto trucks, using hoists or forklifts.

Wage Comparison

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers earns -$11,040(-19%) vs Forest Firefighters

Forest FirefightersHazardous Materials Removal Workers

10th

$34,490$37,330

25th

$44,180$42,710

Median

$59,530$48,490

75th

$77,410$62,150

90th

$101,330$82,480

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Forest Firefighters2028–2035

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Forest Firefighters has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Hazardous Materials Removal Workers.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)

Forest Firefighters

$47,029

from $59,530

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

$37,774

from $48,490

After adjusting for AI risk, Forest Firefighters offers $9,255 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Forest

Unique to Hazardous

Combined Protection Strategy

Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors

Fine Manipulation

Social Intelligence

Decision Complexity

Regulatory Barriers

Forest FirefightersHazardous Materials Removal Workers

Find transitions from Forest Firefighters Find transitions from Hazardous Materials Removal Workers