Will AI replace Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters?

Task exposure to today's AI

Low exposure

This is the occupation's typical task mix. Your own score can be up to 30 points higher or lower depending on how you work: routine share, people contact, judgment and how much you already use AI.

Will AI replace Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters?

Not entirely. Today's AI tools can take on about 16% of the typical work in this occupation, mostly: locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels. The parts that stay human include: Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.; Install pipe assemblies, fittings, valves, appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters, or fixtures such as sinks or toilets, using hand or power tools.; Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe threaders, or pipe benders..

People who learn to use AI for the automatable parts keep the edge. The 3-phase plan below shows where to start.

Your human edge

• Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.
• Install pipe assemblies, fittings, valves, appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters, or fixtures such as sinks or toilets, using hand or power tools.
• Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe threaders, or pipe benders.

AI tools to try

Related roles

• Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
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• Pipelayers