Power Plant Operators vs Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

medium risk

Power Plant Operators

62 shared · 11 different

core competencies

medium risk

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

Side-by-Side Comparison

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers leads 4–1

Metric	Power Plant Operators	Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
Risk Score	46.3%	43.5%
Risk Tier	Medium Risk	Medium Risk
Risk Percentile	94th	89th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	11 / 15	6 / 14
Median Salary	$99,670	$60,020
Employment	31K	13K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Mechanical

Public Safety and Security

Production and Processing

Computers and Electronics

Handling and Moving Objects

Controlling Machines and Processes

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Static Strength

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

English Language

Oral Expression

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Power Plant Operators

28%

total discount

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

28%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Power Plant Operators

11 of 15 at risk

86%Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.

82%Inspect records or log book entries or communicate with plant personnel to assess equipment operating status.

80%Regulate equipment operations and conditions, such as water levels, based on instrument data or from computers.

80%Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals.

78%Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels.

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

6 of 14 at risk

88%Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, stocks used, gauging results, and operating times.

86%Monitor gauges and flowmeters and inspect equipment to ensure that tank levels, temperatures, chemical amounts, and pressures are at specified levels, reporting abnormalities as necessary.

86%Read operating schedules or instructions or receive verbal orders to determine amounts to be pumped.

78%Communicate with other workers, using signals, radios, or telephones, to start and stop flows of materials or substances.

77%Test materials and solutions, using testing equipment.

Wage Comparison

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers earns -$39,650(-40%) vs Power Plant Operators

Power Plant OperatorsPump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

10th

$59,930$37,850

25th

$77,400$47,270

Median

$99,670$60,020

75th

$111,980$75,160

90th

$128,760$89,660

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Power Plant Operators2028–2035

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Power Plant Operators.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Power Plant Operators

$53,483

from $99,670

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

$33,893

from $60,020

After adjusting for AI risk, Power Plant Operators offers $19,590 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Power

Unique to Pump

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Regulatory Barriers

Creativity

Fine Manipulation

Decision Complexity

Power Plant OperatorsPump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

Find transitions from Power Plant Operators Find transitions from Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers