Side-by-Side Comparison
Pipelayers leads 5–0| Metric | Pipelayers | Helpers--Carpenters |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Score | 21.6% | 23.8% |
| Risk Tier | Low Risk | Low Risk |
| Risk Percentile | 10th | 16th |
| Tasks at Risk (>50%) | 3 / 14 | 5 / 15 |
| Median Salary | $48,710 | $41,600 |
| Employment | 34K | 25K |
Skill Comparison
|
Sorted by largest difference
English Language
Transportation
Production and Processing
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Controlling Machines and Processes
Operation and Control
Building and Construction
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Protective Factors
Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement
Pipelayers
28%
total discount
Helpers--Carpenters
29%
total discount
Task Risk Comparison
Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable
Pipelayers
3 of 14 at risk84%Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors.
74%Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers.
74%Locate existing pipes needing repair or replacement, using magnetic or radio indicators.
49%Cover pipes with earth or other materials.
49%Dig trenches to desired or required depths, by hand or using trenching tools.
Helpers--Carpenters
5 of 15 at risk63%Hold plumb bobs, sighting rods, or other equipment to aid in establishing reference points and lines.
57%Cut timbers, lumber, or paneling to specified dimensions.
57%Smooth or sand surfaces to remove ridges, tool marks, glue, or caulking.
53%Glue and clamp edges or joints of assembled parts.
51%Perform tie spacing layout and measure, mark, drill or cut.
Wage Comparison
Helpers--Carpenters earns -$7,110(-15%) vs Pipelayers
PipelayersHelpers--Carpenters
10th
$36,840$31,540
25th
$42,320$35,870
Median
$48,710$41,600
75th
$60,980$46,780
90th
$80,710$52,380
Premium Head-to-Head Analysis
Displacement Timeline Comparison
Pipelayers2028–2035
Helpers--Carpenters2028–2035
20242030203520402045
Pipelayers has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Helpers--Carpenters.
Risk-Adjusted Salary
Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)
Pipelayers
$38,189
from $48,710
Helpers--Carpenters
$31,687
from $41,600
After adjusting for AI risk, Pipelayers offers $6,502 more in risk-adjusted pay.
Transition Feasibility
1%
Skill Overlap
Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition
0
Unique to Pipelayers
0
Unique to Helpers--Carpenters
Combined Protection Strategy
Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors
Creativity
Social Intelligence
Regulatory Barriers
Decision Complexity
PipelayersHelpers--Carpenters