Occupation baseline · Research consensus

Will AI replace Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters?

Lower risk

Baseline AI displacement risk for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, aggregated from 3 research sources.

What this score means

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters is among the least exposed roles in Construction & Trades. Most of what the job involves still sits outside what current AI can do, even as the tools around it keep changing. At 11 out of 100 it scores 3 points below the Construction & Trades average of 14. Across the 3 sources behind this baseline, individual estimates run from 5 to 20, so the score is a weighted consensus rather than any single figure.

The number is a consensus estimate for the typical version of the role, built from published academic and industry research scored occupation by occupation. It is not a prediction about any individual. How scoring works

What this job actually involves

Exposure follows the work itself rather than the job title, so it is worth seeing what the role is made of. These are the tasks O*NET records for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, most central first, showing 12 of 15.

01Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.
02Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes.
03Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes.
04Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems.
05Cut pipe and lift up to fitters.
06Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools.
07Requisition tools and equipment, select type and size of pipe, and collect and transport materials and equipment to work site.
08Mount brackets and hangers on walls and ceilings to hold pipes, and set sleeves or inserts to provide support for pipes.
09Excavate and grade ditches, and lay and join pipe for water and sewer service.
10Disassemble and remove damaged or worn pipe.
11Clean shop, work area, and machines, using solvent and rags.
12Install gas burners to convert furnaces from wood, coal, or oil.

Task statements from O*NET by the National Center for O*NET Development, used under CC BY 4.0. The tasks are descriptive; the exposure score above is ours.

The research behind this score

This baseline aggregates 3 research sources that scored Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters for AI and automation exposure. More recent, higher confidence studies carry more weight in the final number.

01Anthropic Economic Index 2026 - AI Task Exposure · 2026
02GPTs are GPTs: Labor Market Impact Potential of LLMs · 2024
03AI Occupational Exposure to Language Modeling · 2023

Also covers

Conduit Helper · Gas Main Fitter Helper · Hydraulic Plumber Helper · Industrial Gas Fitter Helper · Journeyman Plumber · Marine Pipefitter Helper · Marine Steam Fitter Helper · Pipe Coverer Helper and related titles

Estimated displacement window

The dated estimate for this role is included in the full personalised report.

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Informational guidance based on published research, not professional career or financial advice. Scores update as new research is ingested.