Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters vs Construction Laborers AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

low risk

Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters

55 shared · 19 different

core competencies

low risk

Construction Laborers

Side-by-Side Comparison

Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters leads 4–0

Metric	Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters	Construction Laborers
Risk Score	17.8%	17.8%
Risk Tier	Low Risk	Low Risk
Risk Percentile	3th	4th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	3 / 15	3 / 15
Median Salary	$62,970	$46,730
Employment	456K	1.1M

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Design

Mechanical

Visualization

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Controlling Machines and Processes

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Static Strength

Administration and Management

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Quality Control Analysis

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters

29%

total discount

Construction Laborers

26%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters

3 of 15 at risk

86%Select pipe sizes, types, or related materials, such as supports, hangers, or hydraulic cylinders, according to specifications.

55%Lay out full scale drawings of pipe systems, supports, or related equipment, according to blueprints.

51%Plan pipe system layout, installation, or repair, according to specifications.

43%Inspect work sites for obstructions or holes that could cause structural weakness.

39%Inspect, examine, or test installed systems or pipe lines, using pressure gauge, hydrostatic testing, observation, or other methods.

Construction Laborers

3 of 15 at risk

71%Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.

70%Operate or maintain air monitoring or other sampling devices in confined or hazardous environments.

68%Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.

49%Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt.

47%Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones.

Wage Comparison

Construction Laborers earns -$16,240(-26%) vs Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters

Pipe Fitters and SteamfittersConstruction Laborers

10th

$40,670$34,200

25th

$48,860$38,100

Median

$62,970$46,730

75th

$81,900$58,910

90th

$105,150$77,530

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters2028–2035

Construction Laborers2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Construction Laborers.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters

$51,774

from $62,970

Construction Laborers

$38,412

from $46,730

After adjusting for AI risk, Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters offers $13,362 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Pipe

Unique to Construction

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Creativity

Decision Complexity

Social Intelligence

Regulatory Barriers

Pipe Fitters and SteamfittersConstruction Laborers

Find transitions from Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters Find transitions from Construction Laborers