The Mentra Publication
Good Jobs for Autistic People & Adults – 2025 Career Guide
With an 85% unemployment rate, we are perceived as a minority that needs to be "fixed" in order to fit into the larger community. But, with the right accommodations and support, autistic people have unique gifts that can sometimes even allow us to outcompete neurotypicals in many different types of roles. So what are the best jobs for autistic adults?
Given the right role and environment, neurodivergents are an untapped talent group in today's economy. If you or a loved one is struggling to launch a career as an autistic individual, here are roles to consider where your autistic traits might not need to be "masked", but rather recognized and utilized as a competitive asset.
Why Tech Roles Make Excellent Jobs for Autistic People
Tech careers often revolve around clear rules, logical structures, and measurable outcomes which are all elements that resonate with many autistic individuals. Whether writing code, tuning machine-learning models, or securing networks, these roles turn “restrictive and repetitive interests” into professional superpowers.
In our interview with Zach Wilson, Founder of DataExpert.io, he and Jhillika Kumar, Founder of Mentra discuss the rising job market shift to hire for these in demand roles and the importance of using your inherent interests and skills to showcase your career readiness for these roles.
AI & Software Engineering: Top Jobs for Neurodivergent Professionals
Why it fits ND traits: Both AI engineering and software development demand precision in syntax, algorithmic logic, and deep, sustained focus. Autistic people frequently excel at breaking problems into discrete steps and iterating until perfection.​
Growth outlook: Software developers are projected to see 17% growth (2023–2033), with roughly 140,100 annual openings . AI-related roles in computer systems design (including model training and deployment) are set to expand 19.5% by 2033 .
Our tip: In her conversation with Fritz Johnson, a self-taught, autistic software engineer with close to 700K followers, Jhillika explores how leveraging a supportive network and showcasing cognitive strengths (beyond diagnosis) can accelerate advancement in these jobs for autistic people.
Cybersecurity & Data Management: Jobs for Autistic People That Thrive on Detail
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Why it fits ND traits: Information Security Analysts and Data Center Technicians both rely on methodical log review, anomaly detection, and strict adherence to protocols. These roles transform hyper-focus and love of routine into critical defenses against cyber threats and downtime.
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Growth outlook: Cybersecurity analysts will grow 33% through 2033, adding about 17,300 openings per year. Data Center Technician postings exceed 7,300 annually, with average salaries around $70,500 .
As cloud and AI infrastructures proliferate, these jobs for autistic people not only offer stability but also a clear, rule-based environment where ND professionals can excel.
UX Design & Data Roles: Ideal Jobs for Neurodivergent creatives
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Why it fits ND traits:
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UX Design: Combines structured user-research methodologies (interviews, usability tests) with visual creativity. Strong visual acuity and systematic problem-solving are hallmarks of many autistic designers.
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Data Scientist & Data Engineer: Requires pattern-spotting, statistical analysis, and pipeline automation. Autistic people’s persistence and love of repetitive tasks drive high-quality data insights.
Growth outlook:
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Web and digital designers (including UX) will grow 8% through 2033, adding ~16,500 openings annually .
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Data scientists are set for 36% growth, with roughly 20,800 annual openings.
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In the Mentra Podcast with Grace Ling of Design Buddies, Jhillika and Grace emphasize that building hands-on portfolios and mastering core problem-solving skills matter far more than tool-specific expertise, key advice for anyone exploring jobs for autistic people in UX.
Manufacturing
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Manufacturing roles involve creating commodities by hand or machine that a business then sells to customers. Oftentimes, this involves repetition, as tools or assembly lines have strict procedures to be used repeatedly to create the product. The atmosphere in a manufacturing company is usually quite strict, as the execution of the company is frequently governed by a "manufacturing schedule".
This schedule dictates what activities are to be performed in what time frame by the workers. Additionally, working in manufacturing requires strong attention to detail, as the machines, product, and materials have to be accounted for and assured for quality. Being overly social can distract from the task at hand. Many neurotypical people would find such an environment stressful, but many autistic individuals thrive in manufacturing. Autistic people tend to love clearly defined rules and dislike ambiguity, something that a manufacturing schedule can easily provide. Attention to detail and the need for alone time is also found in many autistic people, as is a visual acuity that lends itself perfectly to a career of creating goods for consumers. Many autistic people make proud and loyal employees, and are eager to help people in such a tangible way. Manufacturing is a perfect fit for many autistic people!
Researcher or Research Scientist
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Researchers and research scientists can be found in many industries, where they help gather information, write, and come up with new theories. Oftentimes, they need to become highly specialized, as they are to become the "go to" experts in a topic by their company or entity. For example, a microbiology researcher might be expected to know everything there is to know about bacteria to help fight an infection, while a market or UX researcher is highly valuable if they become experts on psychology and the needs of their company. This career also takes strong writing skills to document findings, and the creativity to find connections and offer new ideas based on findings.
Many autistic people discover they have a love of research from a very young age. One of the symptoms of autism is "restrictive and repetitive interests", so while neurotypical people might find a wide variety of things "pretty interesting", autistic people often have only a few things that they instead find insanely interesting.
With a love of information, many autistics find themselves "accidentally" researching and retaining information on their topic for hours on end. Obviously, this is exactly what a researcher does! An autistic researcher gives a gift to society by fully engrossing themselves in a topic, which many neurotypical people simply cannot do. With divergent and creative minds, many autistics can connect this information and make breakthroughs that others can't. Many autistics also love to share what they learn through writing or speaking. The famous researchers Alfred Kinsey, Barbara McClintock, and Isaac Newton have displayed marked signs of autism.
Accountant or Financial Advisor
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Accountants and financial analysts keep records and crunch numbers on the business transactions of a company or individual in any given year to help them make wise decisions. They usually conduct research on spending options and law to keep themselves and their clients informed. They have to be very organized, as losing information or documents can be detrimental to the companies they serve. Lastly, accountants and financial analysts need to be interested in communication, as they are expected to share their insights with their employer or other stakeholders.
With the detail-oriented mind of autistic people, this is often a perfect fit. In other industries, being overly literal might be seen as a liability, but to an accountant or financial analyst, it's critical, as they are dealing with black and white information to make sure their company is on the correct financial track. Many of us love organizing things, as it can be a form of stimming, which is repetitive action to relieve anxiety. Additionally, autistic people tend to love becoming experts on a topic and sharing that information with others, making many autistic people a natural fit for accounting or financial advisoring, while many neurotypical people wouldn't be able to succeed.
Information Technology
Information technology is a computer-oriented profession that includes creating a company's communications networks, ensuring data and information security, creating and maintaining databases, and helping a company's employees troubleshoot their computers.
As computers are highly literal and detail-oriented, this naturally fits the mind of neurodivergents, often better than neurotypicals.
This job requires strong persistence to figure out why something isn't working, which our “repetitive interests” give us in abundance. It requires the willingness to specialize and gain a strong knowledge base, both in general about IT and specific to the company we are working for. Not only do autistics frequently love research, but they make more loyal employees on average, meaning having an autistic IT worker onboard means that there is always a "go to" expert for the entire team.
Mathematician or Engineer
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Mathematicians and engineers use math and background knowledge to solve problems, whether that's a new proof or formula, or a new bridge to overcome. This requires pattern recognition, attention to detail when solving mathematical problems, visual acuity, and an interest in logic. Studies show that ALL of these traits are found in autistics more frequently than average!
In fact, the reverse is also accurate. Psychologists created a test called the autistic quotient (AQ) test to help identify people on the spectrum. Not only was the questionnaire a success in helping psychiatrists, but the researchers also discovered that workers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) tend to have a higher AQ score on average, regardless of whether or not they meet full criteria for a diagnosis.
Visual Artists
Visual artists include everything from illustrators to sculptors, to cartoonists, to car designers. It takes strong creativity and visual acuity. Many famous artists are or were autistic, such as Andy Warhol, Mikaela Sheldt, and Anna Berry.
Many autistic people have comorbidities, such as ADHD and dyslexia, related to poor working memory. In fact, 50-75% of autistic people have ADHD, where poor working memory is a chief symptom. Working memory is the ability to remember and work with new information given all at once, such as the ability to quickly remember a spoken set of numbers.
Although, for a long time, many psychologists thought this was only an example of pathology, they're now discovering that people with poor working memory are more creative on average.
Maybe this is the secret as to why genius artists are often neurodivergent, including those who have historically been considered “artistic savants”.
Skilled Trades
Trades are careers that need specialized skills and knowledge acquired through experience and vocational schools. Usually, they require the ability to work with your hands. They include jobs like plumbing, welding, culinary arts, and many more.
Many autistic people absolutely adore understanding and working with systems, due to their love of logic, information, and pattern recognition abilities. This makes the trades a perfect option for us. Additionally, the opportunity to specialize and become experts in a specific topic entices many of us, while the ability to work with our hands on a familiar task is something that we enjoy that neurotypicals don't always understand.
Bringing It All Together
These jobs for autistic people combine robust labor-market demand with work environments that celebrate clarity, structured tasks, and deep expertise. Whether you’re coding AI models, securing networks, or designing intuitive interfaces, you can harness your neurodivergent strengths for lasting career success.
If you’d like to learn more about how your unique neurodivergence may lend itself to certain roles, check out “Easy Jobs for Autistic Adults (Low-Stress, Low-Sensory)”
If you’re ready to explore which roles align best with your profile, check out Mentra’s quick career quiz or if you’re ready for a more in-depth analysis, sign up for a free account, where we’ll help map your cognitive strengths and your technical skills to these high-growth opportunities so you can find not just any job, but the right job for autistic people like you.
Autistic individuals who have excelled in their careers:
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Alfred Kinsey (famous biologist and sexologist, including early LGBT advocate)
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Barbara McClintock (Nobel prize winning biologist and botanist)
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Isaac Newton (famous physicist and mathematician)
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Andy Warhol (famous popular/graphic artist)
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Mikaela Sheldt (famous modern facial artist)
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Anna Berry (famous modern photographer)
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Most common skills that autistic individuals have:
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Special interests
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Memory for information
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Persistence
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Loyalty
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Love of logic
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Literal thinking
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Visual acuity
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Connecting with animals and children
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Pattern-recognition
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Attention to detail
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Working with one’s hands
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Creativity and/or savantism
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Systems thinking
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Rule/structure orientation
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