Takeover Tracker
18%low risk
Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters
vs

63 shared · 13 different

core competencies

30%medium risk
Maintenance Workers, Machinery

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricPipe Fitters and SteamfittersMaintenance Workers, Machinery
Risk Score17.8%29.7%
Risk TierLow RiskMedium Risk
Risk Percentile3th37th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)3 / 1510 / 15
Median Salary$62,970$60,500
Employment456K57K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

Building and Construction
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
Equipment MaintenanceAI-Resistant
Repairing
Design
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Operation Monitoring
Performing General Physical Activities
Operation and Control
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
Troubleshooting
Systems AnalysisAI-Augmented

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters

29%

total discount

Maintenance Workers, Machinery

27%

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.

Maintenance Workers, Machinery

10 of 15 at risk
88%Inventory and requisition machine parts, equipment, and other supplies so that stock can be maintained and replenished.
86%Read work orders and specifications to determine machines and equipment requiring repair or maintenance.
86%Record production, repair, and machine maintenance information.
61%Transport machine parts, tools, equipment, and other material between work areas and storage, using cranes, hoists, or dollies.
57%Set up and operate machines, and adjust controls to regulate operations.

Wage Comparison

Maintenance Workers, Machinery earns -$2,470(-4%) vs Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters
Pipe Fitters and SteamfittersMaintenance Workers, Machinery
10th
$40,670$40,080
25th
$48,860$48,600
Median
$62,970$60,500
75th
$81,900$72,260
90th
$105,150$83,560

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters2028–2035
Maintenance Workers, Machinery2028–2035
20242030203520402045

Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Maintenance Workers, Machinery.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters

$51,774

from $62,970

Maintenance Workers, Machinery

$42,562

from $60,500

After adjusting for AI risk, Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters offers $9,212 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Pipe

0

Unique to Maintenance

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Creativity
Social Intelligence
Fine Manipulation
Decision Complexity
Pipe Fitters and SteamfittersMaintenance Workers, Machinery
Find transitions from Pipe Fitters and SteamfittersFind transitions from Maintenance Workers, Machinery