Resilient
Last Update: 8/30/2026
AI Resilience Score for Plumbers & Pipefitters:
72.4%
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.
This result is backed by strong agreement across multiple data sources.
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 provide reassurance for aspiring Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters about the resilience of their careers in the face of AI advancements. They highlight that the physical and problem-solving nature of the trade—like adjusting slopes in walls or troubleshooting sounds in drains—cannot be easily automated. For instance, one article emphasizes that critical tasks such as field fabrication and installation occur in unpredictable environments, making them unsuitable for current AI tools. This suggests that while some automation may occur, the core functions of these trades remain secure and vital.
Will AI Replace Plumbers? Why the Trade Is Safe
coursiv.io • 9/20/2026
Sep 10, 2026 — Will AI replace plumbers? No. The core work is physical, performed in unstructured spaces that vary building by building, and robotics is far ... Read more
Will Plumbers Be Replaced by AI?
ai-job-risk.net • 9/20/2026
AI will not replace plumbers, because the work that actually defines the trade, finding the right slope inside a wall, deciding what a strange sound in a drain ... Read more
Will AI Replace Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters?
www.replacedbai.com • 9/20/2026
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters have a high AI replacement risk (63/100). With a risk score of 63/100, Some tasks will be automated or augmented by AI,
Will AI Replace Pipefitter / Steamfitter Jobs?
jobzonerisk.com • 9/20/2026
AI Tool Maturity, 2, No viable AI or robotic tools exist for core pipefitting tasks — field fabrication, fit-up, and installation in unstructured industrial ... Read more
Will AI Replace Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters ...
www.tagieff.ca • 9/20/2026
Feb 28, 2026 — No, AI will not replace helpers in the plumbing and pipefitting trades. This role requires physical labor, on-site problem-solving, and hands-on ... Read more
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.
Parent Careers
Similar Careers
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.
