Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters score 0 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #876 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 15 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 0 on its own and 0 more with extra software built on top of it. None of its tasks showed up in real AI use in April–May 2026.

0/ 100

Low

Rank: #876of 923 jobs
US workers: 44,330BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $42,360a year
In real AI use: 0 of 15tasks, April–May 2026

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 0 (0%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 0 (0%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 15 (100%)

Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Cut pipe and lift up to fitters.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Requisition tools and equipment, select type and size of pipe, and collect and transport materials and equipment to work site.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Mount brackets and hangers on walls and ceilings to hold pipes, and set sleeves or inserts to provide support for pipes.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Excavate and grade ditches, and lay and join pipe for water and sewer service.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Disassemble and remove damaged or worn pipe.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Clean shop, work area, and machines, using solvent and rags.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Install gas burners to convert furnaces from wood, coal, or oil.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Fill pipes with sand or resin to prevent distortion, and hold pipes during bending and installation.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Immerse pipe in chemical solution to remove dirt, oil, and scale.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Clean and renew steam traps.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters and AI

Will AI replace helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters score 0 out of 100 (low exposure), #876 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 0 of the job's 15 tasks, 0 of them on its own, while 15 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "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".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Not much yet. None of the job's tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude in April–May 2026, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters, and what do they earn?

About 44,330 people in the US, with median pay of $42,360 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Task by task

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Questions about helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters and AI

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