Resilient
Last Update: 11/4/2026
AI Resilience Score for Plumbers & Pipefitters:
69.4%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
High
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
High
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
Most data sources align, with only minor variation. This is a well-supported result.
AI Resilience Report forPlumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
$63,800 median salary•42,000 annual openings•SOC Code: 47-2152.00
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters are more resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 8 sources.
Plumbing is labeled "Resilient" because the hands-on, physical work at the core of the job is simply too complex and unpredictable for AI or robots to handle. Squeezing into tight spaces, reading a unique situation on the fly, and making skilled decisions with your hands are things that even the most advanced technology struggles to replicate.
Learn more about how you can thrive in this position
This role is resilient
Plumbing is labeled "Resilient" because the hands-on, physical work at the core of the job is simply too complex and unpredictable for AI or robots to handle. Squeezing into tight spaces, reading a unique situation on the fly, and making skilled decisions with your hands are things that even the most advanced technology struggles to replicate.
Read full analysisAnalysis of current AI resilience
Plumbers & Pipefitters
Updated quarterly
How can Plumbers & Pipefitters prepare for AI?
Latest AI news for Plumbers & Pipefitters
These articles highlight the resilience of plumbing careers in the face of AI advancements. Mike Rowe emphasizes that trade jobs like plumbing are safe from AI disruption, reinforcing their importance. Additionally, industry leaders stress the growing need for skilled plumbers as demand surges in sectors like data center construction, where companies like BlackRock are investing heavily in training. For students entering this field, these insights underline the strong job security and potential for growth in plumbing, making it a promising career choice amidst technological change.
The world is betting on AI. It still needs a plumber.
www.digitaljournal.com • 10/13/2026
As AI-driven layoffs reshape white-collar work, plumbing is emerging as one of the clearest counterexamples: physical, judgment-based work...
Despite Rise of AI, More Skilled Trades Training Needed, Industry Leaders Say
www.the74million.org • 10/6/2026
Millions more plumbers, electricians and mechanics needed, say CEOs of Ford and other companies, with AI as another tool for the job.
BlackRock is splashing $100 million on training plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians
fortune.com • 3/11/2026
As BlackRock CEO Larry Fink warns the U.S. could run out of electricians needed to build AI data centers, his investment company is putting...
The Real AI Talent War Is for Plumbers and Electricians
www.wired.com • 1/15/2026
The AI boom is driving an unprecedented wave of data center construction, but there aren't enough skilled tradespeople in the US to keep up.
Mike Rowe reveals which essential jobs AI can't touch – and why Americans should pay attention
www.foxbusiness.com • 7/17/2025
Mike Rowe said that trade jobs like welding, plumbing and electrical work are safe from AI disruption, while construction faces a critical...
More Career Info
Career: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
They install and fix pipes that carry water, gas, or steam to make sure buildings have running water, heating, and cooling.
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Similar Careers
Alternate Titles
Pipefitter · Plumber · Sprinkler Fitter · Steamfitter · Drain Technician · Fire Sprinkler Service Technician · Pipe Welder · Plumbing Installer · Residential Plumber · Service Plumber
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$63,800
Jobs (2025)
510,600
Growth (2025-35)
+6.8%
Annual Openings
42,000
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-2035
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Attach pipes to walls, structures, or fixtures, such as radiators or tanks, using brackets, clamps, tools, or welding equipment.
2
Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.
3
Install pipe assemblies, fittings, valves, appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters, or fixtures such as sinks or toilets, using hand or power tools.
4
Anchor steel supports from ceiling joists to hold pipes in place.
5
Install underground storm, sanitary, or water piping systems, extending piping as needed to connect fixtures and plumbing.
6
Install pipe systems to support alternative energy-fueled systems, such as geothermal heating or cooling systems.
7
Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe threaders, or pipe benders.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
