Side-by-Side Comparison
Carpet Installers leads 4–1| Metric | Carpet Installers | Sheet Metal Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Score | 15.5% | 24.2% |
| Risk Tier | Low Risk | Low Risk |
| Risk Percentile | 1th | 17th |
| Tasks at Risk (>50%) | 3 / 15 | 7 / 15 |
| Median Salary | $49,850 | $60,850 |
| Employment | 15K | 117K |
Skill Comparison
|
Sorted by largest difference
Handling and Moving Objects
Customer and Personal Service
Mechanical
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Performing General Physical Activities
Static Strength
Auditory Attention
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
Extent Flexibility
Reaction Time
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Protective Factors
Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement
Carpet Installers
26%
total discount
Sheet Metal Workers
27%
total discount
Task Risk Comparison
Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable
Carpet Installers
3 of 15 at risk87%Take measurements and study floor sketches to calculate the area to be carpeted and the amount of material needed.
85%Draw building diagrams and record dimensions.
57%Plan the layout of the carpet, allowing for expected traffic patterns and placing seams for best appearance and longest wear.
45%Clean up before and after installation, including vacuuming carpet and discarding remnant pieces.
9%Cut and install vinyl composition tile or vinyl base.
Sheet Metal Workers
7 of 15 at risk86%Develop or lay out patterns, using computerized metalworking equipment.
86%Verify that heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are designed, installed, and calibrated in accordance with green certification standards, such as those of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
85%Select gauges or types of sheet metal or nonmetallic material, according to product specifications.
84%Convert blueprints into shop drawings to be followed in the construction or assembly of sheet metal products.
63%Inspect individual parts, assemblies, or installations, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, scales, or micrometers.
Wage Comparison
Sheet Metal Workers earns +$11,000(+22%) vs Carpet Installers
Carpet InstallersSheet Metal Workers
10th
$32,830$38,030
25th
$39,140$47,290
Median
$49,850$60,850
75th
$65,530$79,620
90th
$83,200$102,680
Premium Head-to-Head Analysis
Displacement Timeline Comparison
Carpet Installers2028–2035
Sheet Metal Workers2028–2035
20242030203520402045
Carpet Installers has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Sheet Metal Workers.
Risk-Adjusted Salary
Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)
Carpet Installers
$42,133
from $49,850
Sheet Metal Workers
$46,112
from $60,850
After adjusting for AI risk, Sheet Metal Workers offers $3,979 more in risk-adjusted pay.
Transition Feasibility
1%
Skill Overlap
Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition
0
Unique to Carpet
0
Unique to Sheet
Combined Protection Strategy
Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors
Fine Manipulation
Creativity
Decision Complexity
Social Intelligence
Carpet InstallersSheet Metal Workers