Takeover Tracker
18%low risk
Tree Trimmers and Pruners
vs

53 shared · 14 different

core competencies

18%low risk
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricTree Trimmers and PrunersPaving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Risk Score18.3%18.1%
Risk TierLow RiskLow Risk
Risk Percentile4th4th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)2 / 150 / 15
Median Salary$50,430$51,650
Employment48K46K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

Controlling Machines and Processes
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
Manual DexterityAI-Resistant
Dynamic Strength
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
Extent Flexibility
Customer and Personal Service
Public Safety and Security
Reaction Time
InstructingAI-Resistant
Transportation
Static Strength

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Tree Trimmers and Pruners

28%

total discount

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

25%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Tree Trimmers and Pruners

2 of 15 at risk
55%Plan and develop budgets for tree work, and estimate the monetary value of trees.
55%Inspect trees to determine if they have diseases or pest problems.
43%Provide information to the public regarding trees, such as advice on tree care.
39%Operate shredding and chipping equipment, and feed limbs and brush into the machines.
39%Load debris and refuse onto trucks and haul it away for disposal.

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

0 of 15 at risk
45%Light burners or start heating units of machines, and regulate screed temperatures and asphalt flow rates.
41%Start machine, engage clutch, and push and move levers to guide machine along forms or guidelines and to control the operation of machine attachments.
39%Observe distribution of paving material to adjust machine settings or material flow, and indicate low spots for workers to add material.
39%Fill tanks, hoppers, or machines with paving materials.
37%Shovel blacktop.

Wage Comparison

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators earns +$1,220(+2%) vs Tree Trimmers and Pruners
Tree Trimmers and PrunersPaving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
10th
$37,660$38,030
25th
$43,690$44,740
Median
$50,430$51,650
75th
$63,130$66,060
90th
$78,900$90,110

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Tree Trimmers and Pruners2028–2035
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators2028–2035
20242030203520402045

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Tree Trimmers and Pruners.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Tree Trimmers and Pruners

$41,201

from $50,430

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

$42,301

from $51,650

After adjusting for AI risk, Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators offers $1,100 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Tree

0

Unique to Paving,

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Creativity
Fine Manipulation
Social Intelligence
Regulatory Barriers
Tree Trimmers and PrunersPaving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Find transitions from Tree Trimmers and PrunersFind transitions from Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators