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How exposed to AI is a Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitter?

Of the 15 tasks O*NET lists for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters, 0 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 15 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Plumber's Helper
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
15
tasks rated for this occupation
10%
hold a degree, from a survey of 20
46k
people do this job in the US
47 of 61
least protected in construction

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Cannot be sped up

15
  • Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports
  • Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes
  • Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes
  • Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems
  • Cut pipe and lift up to fitters
  • Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools
  • Requisition tools and equipment, select type and size of pipe, and collect and transport materials and equipment to work site
  • Mount brackets and hangers on walls and ceilings to hold pipes, and set sleeves or inserts to provide support for pipes
  • Excavate and grade ditches, and lay and join pipe for water and sewer service
  • Disassemble and remove damaged or worn pipe
  • Clean shop, work area, and machines, using solvent and rags
  • Install gas burners to convert furnaces from wood, coal, or oil
  • Fill pipes with sand or resin to prevent distortion, and hold pipes during bending and installation
  • Immerse pipe in chemical solution to remove dirt, oil, and scale
  • Clean and renew steam traps
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.