As of August 2026, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters has an AI-exposure score of 36/100 (Low exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Score inputs for this role: This role starts from O*NET 29.1 occupational descriptors and is empirically grounded by Penn/OpenAI GPTs are GPTs study, Anthropic Economic Index (June 26, 2026), Felten, Raj and Seamans AIOE index. BLS labor-market figures are separate context, not score inputs.

AI Exposure Score for

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

36/100
Low exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 4% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$63,800. About 44,000 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 - growth plus replacement).

Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) - your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.

Will AI replace Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters?

No exposure score can predict whether AI will replace this role. The 36/100 score means our current model estimates low task exposure from the sources listed on this page. It does not predict an employer decision, headcount, or an individual outcome. The task map below shows the work assessed and where human judgment remains important.

Early-career context (study ages 22-25)

This role is in our Low exposure band, not our highest-exposure bands. The study's 16% finding should not be applied directly to this role.

The November 2025 revision reports a 16% relative employment decline for workers ages 22-25 in the most AI-exposed U.S. occupations, after firm-level controls, relative to workers in less-exposed fields and more experienced workers in the same occupations.

Use the task map to identify durable work and the skills worth building early.

Stanford Digital Economy Lab, Canaries in the Coal Mine - November 2025 revision

This is group-level U.S. payroll evidence, not a personal forecast. The authors do not claim that AI alone caused the change, and this context does not alter the exposure score.

How this role compares to similar Construction roles

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (this role)
36
Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
36
Continuous Mining Machine Operators
36
Pipelayers
35
Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
37
Painters, Construction and Maintenance
37
See all roles by exposure →
Data sources, not endorsements: O*NET and curated role data; empirical AI signals where matched; BLS employment, pay, and demand as separate context.Methodology Data sources
Role snapshot

What this role usually involves

O*NET 29.1 exact occupation

Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. May install heating and cooling equipment and mechanical control systems. Includes sprinkler fitters.

Common titles
PipefitterPlumberSprinkler FitterSteamfitterDrain TechnicianFire Sprinkler Service Technician
O*NET job-zone preparation
Job Zone 3 · Medium Preparation Needed Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

Broad guidance for this preparation level; exact requirements vary by role and employer.

Skills and knowledge
Critical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingCoordinationOperation and Control
Work context
Decision latitudeFrequent contact with othersIndoor controlled settingRepeating tasksConsequence of error

Source: O*NET 29.1 exact occupation - Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, SOC 47-2152.00. Context describes the role; the AI-exposure score remains a separate task-exposure estimate.

Know someone whose job is changing? Share your score.
Post Share Score card
Every share sends them to their own free scan.

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable

No automatable tasks identified for this role - its individually-assessed tasks split 50% augmentable / 50% durable.

Augmentable
  • Keep records of work assignments.
  • Direct helpers engaged in pipe cutting, preassembly, or installation of plumbing systems or components.
8 more augmentable tasks locked in the report.
Durable
  • Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches.
  • Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels.
8 more durable tasks locked in the report.

We analyzed all 20 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters tasks - 10 augmentable and 10 durable. The full task map - every task with exactly what to do about each - is in your Career Report.

Create a free account - see 3 more tasks + 2 more adjacent paths, free No card required.

Your report unlocks three concrete artifacts

Full task map

Every task scored with what to automate, augment, or protect.

Adjacent path comparison

Related roles with exposure deltas, salary, demand, and reachability. Lower-exposure options appear only when the data supports them.

30/60/90 plan + PDF

A keepable roadmap plus resume and LinkedIn repositioning.

Grounded in O*NET-linked or curated role data, with Penn, Anthropic Economic Index, and AIOE signals where matched. BLS labor-market context is separate - not generic advice.

See a full sample report →

Adjacent career paths

This role is already among lower-exposure work. The adjacent paths below are shown for opportunity and skill transfer, not as lower-exposure alternatives.

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
80% skills overlap; 3 points lower - similar exposure within the 5-point model resolution; Low band; ~US$42,360
View path
33
7 more adjacent paths with exposure deltas, salary, demand, and reachability in your Career Report.
Agent Reality Check (on-site workflow preview)

Keep records of work assignments.

Check what deployed AI agents can attempt on tasks like this using dated capability evidence. You review the real task before any analysis runs.
Unlock the report to check this task

Your AI-Safe Career Report

Every task scored with what to do about it; adjacent paths with honest exposure deltas, salary, demand, and reachability; a skill-gap map; a 30/60/90-day roadmap; Agent Reality Check; plus a résumé and LinkedIn rewrite and professional PDF.
Grounded in O*NET-linked or curated role data, with Penn, Anthropic Economic Index, and AIOE signals where matched. BLS labor-market context is separate.

Workers with AI skills earn a roughly 62% wage premium - adapting pays. - PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer, 2026

Personalize it: paste your résumé & LinkedIn (optional) - your rewrite is included in the report
Used only to generate your report. You can delete it anytime via delete my data.
Optional preference: adds a clearly labeled tradeoff card. It never reorders or relabels the evidence-backed adjacent roles.
14-day money-back guarantee One-time · kept forever · no subscription

Generation starts after checkout; reports are typically ready within a few minutes.

Get ahead: a rising skill on this path is Critical Thinking. Explore courses →
Some course links are affiliate links - we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Unlock my report - $29
Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.

Scan your own job

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters - median pay by US state (BLS OEWS, USD)

New York: US$77,490California: US$72,830Texas: US$59,840Florida: US$52,910

Median annual wage, in USD. US national: US$63,800. More states are being added.

More Construction roles

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers Solar Energy Installation Managers Boilermakers Brickmasons and Blockmasons Stonemasons Carpenters
Browse all industries · Safest jobs from AI