Takeover Tracker
22%low risk
Pipelayers
vs

49 shared · 13 different

core competencies

45%medium risk
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricPipelayersWelding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Risk Score21.6%44.6%
Risk TierLow RiskMedium Risk
Risk Percentile10th90th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)3 / 1411 / 15
Median Salary$48,710$47,060
Employment34K36K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

Building and Construction
Mechanical
Public Safety and Security
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Customer and Personal Service
MathematicsAI-Vulnerable
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Controlling Machines and Processes
Processing Information
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Training and Teaching Others
Performing General Physical Activities

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Pipelayers

28%

total discount

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

25%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Pipelayers

3 of 14 at risk
84%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.

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

11 of 15 at risk
87%Observe meters, gauges, or machine operations to ensure that soldering or brazing processes meet specifications.
87%Compute and record settings for new work, applying knowledge of metal properties, principles of welding, and shop mathematics.
86%Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications.
63%Inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices.
63%Turn and press knobs and buttons or enter operating instructions into computers to adjust and start welding machines.

Wage Comparison

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earns -$1,650(-3%) vs Pipelayers
PipelayersWelding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
10th
$36,840$35,780
25th
$42,320$39,480
Median
$48,710$47,060
75th
$60,980$55,870
90th
$80,710$66,190

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Pipelayers2028–2035
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders2028–2035
20242030203520402045

Pipelayers has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Pipelayers

$38,189

from $48,710

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$26,085

from $47,060

After adjusting for AI risk, Pipelayers offers $12,103 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Pipelayers

0

Unique to Welding,

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Social Intelligence
Regulatory Barriers
Fine Manipulation
Decision Complexity
PipelayersWelding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Find transitions from PipelayersFind transitions from Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders