Side-by-Side Comparison
Pipelayers leads 4–1| Metric | Pipelayers | Roustabouts, Oil and Gas |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Score | 21.6% | 24.0% |
| Risk Tier | Low Risk | Low Risk |
| Risk Percentile | 10th | 17th |
| Tasks at Risk (>50%) | 3 / 14 | 0 / 15 |
| Median Salary | $48,710 | $47,510 |
| Employment | 34K | 45K |
Skill Comparison
|
Sorted by largest difference
Building and Construction
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Mechanical
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
MathematicsAI-Vulnerable
Customer and Personal Service
Controlling Machines and Processes
Written Comprehension
Protective Factors
Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement
Pipelayers
28%
total discount
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
25%
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.
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
0 of 15 at risk49%Unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing, and pump rods, using hand and power wrenches and tongs.
49%Move pipes to and from trucks, using truck winches and motorized lifts, or by hand.
49%Dig drainage ditches around wells and storage tanks.
47%Clean trucks used in the fields.
45%Keep pipe deck and main deck areas clean and tidy.
Wage Comparison
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas earns -$1,200(-2%) vs Pipelayers
PipelayersRoustabouts, Oil and Gas
10th
$36,840$35,650
25th
$42,320$38,330
Median
$48,710$47,510
75th
$60,980$57,170
90th
$80,710$64,010
Premium Head-to-Head Analysis
Displacement Timeline Comparison
Pipelayers2028–2035
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas2028–2035
20242030203520402045
Pipelayers has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Roustabouts, Oil and Gas.
Risk-Adjusted Salary
Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)
Pipelayers
$38,189
from $48,710
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
$36,093
from $47,510
After adjusting for AI risk, Pipelayers offers $2,095 more in risk-adjusted pay.
Transition Feasibility
1%
Skill Overlap
Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition
0
Unique to Pipelayers
0
Unique to Roustabouts,
Combined Protection Strategy
Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors
Social Intelligence
Creativity
Decision Complexity
Regulatory Barriers
PipelayersRoustabouts, Oil and Gas