Plumbers vs Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

low risk

Plumbers

57 shared · 18 different

core competencies

low risk

Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall

Side-by-Side Comparison

Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall leads 4–1

Metric	Plumbers	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
Risk Score	18.7%	13.4%
Risk Tier	Low Risk	Low Risk
Risk Percentile	5th	1th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	2 / 15	1 / 10
Median Salary	$62,970	$48,680
Employment	456K	39K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Mechanical

Design

Building and Construction

MathematicsAI-Vulnerable

Education and Training

Repairing

Scheduling Work and Activities

Inductive Reasoning

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public

Public Safety and Security

Customer and Personal Service

Problem Sensitivity

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Plumbers

29%

total discount

Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall

26%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Plumbers

2 of 15 at risk

87%Keep records of work assignments.

54%Estimate time, material, or labor costs for use in project plans.

48%Review blueprints, building codes, or specifications to determine work details or procedures.

45%Inspect structures to assess material or equipment needs, to establish the sequence of pipe installations, or to plan installation around obstructions, such as electrical wiring.

38%Maintain or repair plumbing by replacing defective washers, replacing or mending broken pipes, or opening clogged drains.

Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall

1 of 10 at risk

85%Read blueprints and select appropriate insulation, based on space characteristics and the heat retaining or excluding characteristics of the material.

47%Move controls, buttons, or levers to start blowers and regulate flow of materials through nozzles.

47%Fill blower hoppers with insulating materials.

11%Measure and cut insulation for covering surfaces, using tape measures, handsaws, power saws, knives, or scissors.

11%Fit, wrap, staple, or glue insulating materials to structures or surfaces, using hand tools or wires.

Wage Comparison

Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall earns -$14,290(-23%) vs Plumbers

PlumbersInsulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall

10th

$40,670$35,950

25th

$48,860$40,270

Median

$62,970$48,680

75th

$81,900$60,420

90th

$105,150$77,160

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Plumbers2028–2035

Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Plumbers.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Plumbers

$51,195

from $62,970

Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall

$42,142

from $48,680

After adjusting for AI risk, Plumbers offers $9,052 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Plumbers

Unique to Insulation

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Decision Complexity

Creativity

Regulatory Barriers

Fine Manipulation

PlumbersInsulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall

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