Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
Construction and Extraction Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 47-2152.00
Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. May install heating and cooling equipment and mechanical control systems. Includes sprinkler fitters.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Moderate· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.012
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.18
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Show 35 hidden tasks30 rated tasks · 5 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (16.7%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Tasks of O*NET-SOC 2010 occupations 47-2152.01 Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters; 47-2152.02 Plumbers, linked to this occupation by the O*NET-SOC 2010 to 2019 crosswalk
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % | APIRaw / share % |
|---|---|---|
Prepare cost estimates for clients.47-2152.01 | 0.016831.7 | —0 |
Maintain or repair plumbing by replacing defective washers, replacing or mending broken pipes, or opening clogged drains.47-2152.02 | 0.011321.3 | —0 |
Plan pipe system layout, installation, or repair, according to specifications.47-2152.01 | 0.007914.9 | 0.003727.2 |
Review blueprints, building codes, or specifications to determine work details or procedures.47-2152.02 | 0.005310.0 | 0.009972.8 |
Calculate costs or savings for water- or energy-efficient appliances or systems.47-2152.02 | 0.00397.4 | —0 |
Install pipe assemblies, fittings, valves, appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters, or fixtures such as sinks or toilets, using hand or power tools.47-2152.02 | 0.00305.7 | —0 |
Compile information on governmental incentive programs related to the installation of energy or water saving plumbing systems or devices.47-2152.02 | 0.00244.5 | —0 |
Inspect structures to assess material or equipment needs, to establish the sequence of pipe installations, or to plan installation around obstructions such as electrical wiring.47-2152.02 | 0.00244.5 | —0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Keep records of work assignments.O*NET Task ID 23470 | 1.0 |
Lay out full scale drawings of pipe systems, supports, or related equipment, according to blueprints.O*NET Task ID 23460 | 0.5 |
Review blueprints, building codes, or specifications to determine work details or procedures.O*NET Task ID 23475 | 0.5 |
Estimate time, material, or labor costs for use in project plans.O*NET Task ID 23477 | 0.5 |
Inspect work sites for obstructions or holes that could cause structural weakness.O*NET Task ID 23482 | 0.5 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (30)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe threaders, or pipe benders. | Core |
| Lay out full scale drawings of pipe systems, supports, or related equipment, according to blueprints. | Core |
| Inspect, examine, or test installed systems or pipe lines, using pressure gauge, hydrostatic testing, observation, or other methods. | Core |
| Plan pipe system layout, installation, or repair, according to specifications. | Core |
| Attach pipes to walls, structures, or fixtures, such as radiators or tanks, using brackets, clamps, tools, or welding equipment. | Core |
| Modify, clean, or maintain pipe systems, units, fittings, or related machines or equipment, using hand or power tools. | Core |
| Select pipe sizes, types, or related materials, such as supports, hangers, or hydraulic cylinders, according to specifications. | Core |
| Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment. | Core |
| Install pipe assemblies, fittings, valves, appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters, or fixtures such as sinks or toilets, using hand or power tools. | Core |
| Install automatic controls to regulate pipe systems. | Core |
| Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches. | Core |
| Keep records of work assignments. | Core |
| Direct helpers engaged in pipe cutting, preassembly, or installation of plumbing systems or components. | Core |
| Fill pipes or plumbing fixtures with water or air and observe pressure gauges to detect and locate leaks. | Core |
| Maintain or repair plumbing by replacing defective washers, replacing or mending broken pipes, or opening clogged drains. | Core |
| Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels. | Core |
| Review blueprints, building codes, or specifications to determine work details or procedures. | Core |
| Anchor steel supports from ceiling joists to hold pipes in place. | Core |
| Estimate time, material, or labor costs for use in project plans. | Core |
| Install underground storm, sanitary, or water piping systems, extending piping as needed to connect fixtures and plumbing. | Core |
| Inspect structures to assess material or equipment needs, to establish the sequence of pipe installations, or to plan installation around obstructions, such as electrical wiring. | Core |
| Install green plumbing equipment, such as faucet flow restrictors, dual-flush or pressure-assisted flush toilets, or tankless hot water heaters. | Core |
| Cut openings in structures to accommodate pipes or pipe fittings, using hand or power tools. | Core |
| Repair or remove and replace system components. | Core |
| Inspect work sites for obstructions or holes that could cause structural weakness. | Supplemental |
| Install fixtures, appliances, or equipment designed to reduce water or energy consumption. | Supplemental |
| Install pipe systems to support alternative energy-fueled systems, such as geothermal heating or cooling systems. | Supplemental |
| Weld small pipes or special piping, using specialized techniques, equipment, or materials, such as computer-assisted welding or microchip fabrication. | Supplemental |
| Operate motorized pumps to remove water from flooded manholes, basements, or facility floors. | Supplemental |
| Repair hydraulic or air pumps. | Supplemental |
0.51/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe threaders, or pipe benders. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Lay out full scale drawings of pipe systems, supports, or related equipment, according to blueprints. | E2 structured facilities |
| Inspect, examine, or test installed systems or pipe lines, using pressure gauge, hydrostatic testing, observation, or other methods. | E0 none |
| Attach pipes to walls, structures, or fixtures, such as radiators or tanks, using brackets, clamps, tools, or welding equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Modify, clean, or maintain pipe systems, units, fittings, or related machines or equipment, using hand or power tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment. | E0 none |
| Install pipe assemblies, fittings, valves, appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters, or fixtures such as sinks or toilets, using hand or power tools. | E0 none |
| Install automatic controls to regulate pipe systems. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Fill pipes or plumbing fixtures with water or air and observe pressure gauges to detect and locate leaks. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Maintain or repair plumbing by replacing defective washers, replacing or mending broken pipes, or opening clogged drains. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels. | E3 unstructured settings |
| Anchor steel supports from ceiling joists to hold pipes in place. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Install underground storm, sanitary, or water piping systems, extending piping as needed to connect fixtures and plumbing. | E0 none |
| Inspect structures to assess material or equipment needs, to establish the sequence of pipe installations, or to plan installation around obstructions, such as electrical wiring. | E0 none |
| Install green plumbing equipment, such as faucet flow restrictors, dual-flush or pressure-assisted flush toilets, or tankless hot water heaters. | E0 none |
| Cut openings in structures to accommodate pipes or pipe fittings, using hand or power tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Repair or remove and replace system components. | E0 none |
| Inspect work sites for obstructions or holes that could cause structural weakness. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Install fixtures, appliances, or equipment designed to reduce water or energy consumption. | E0 none |
| Install pipe systems to support alternative energy-fueled systems, such as geothermal heating or cooling systems. | E0 none |
| Weld small pipes or special piping, using specialized techniques, equipment, or materials, such as computer-assisted welding or microchip fabrication. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate motorized pumps to remove water from flooded manholes, basements, or facility floors. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Repair hydraulic or air pumps. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
Values for the whole SOC 47-2152 group (Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters), not for this O*NET occupation alone.
- Employment, 2025
- 511K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 545K
- Change (2025–35)
- +6.8%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $63,800
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 79211 | 상·하수 배관공 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 79212 | 가스 배관공 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 79221 | 플랜트 배관공 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 79222 | 선박 배관공 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 79223 | 항공기 배관공 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 7126Plumbers and Pipe Fitters
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Plumbers and pipe fitters assemble, install, repair and maintain pipe systems, drains, gutters, ducts and related fittings and fixtures for water, gas, drainage, sewerage, heating cooling and ventilation systems, and for hydraulic and pneumatic equipment.
Tasks
- (a) examining blueprints, drawings and specifications to determine the layout of plumbing and ventilation systems and materials required;
- (b) measuring, cutting, threading, bending, jointing, assembling, installing, maintaining and repairing pipes, fittings and fixtures of drainage, heating, ventilation, water supply and sewerage systems;
- (c) installing gas appliances, dishwashers and water heaters, sinks and toilets using hand and power tools;
- (d) laying clay, concrete or cast-iron pipes in ditches to form sewers, drains or water mains, or for other purposes;
- (e) inspecting, examining and testing installed systems and pipes, using pressure gauge, hydrostatic testing, observation or other methods.
Example occupations
Drain technician · Gas fitter · Pipe fitter · Pipe layer · Plumber · Ventilation pipe fitter
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- plumberESCO 7126.8This occupation is broader
Plumbers maintain and install water, gas and sewage systems. They inspect pipes and fixtures on a regular basis or make repairs as needed. They bend, cut, and install pipes. They test systems and make adjustments safely and following regulations. They place sanitary equipment.
- sprinkler fitterESCO 7126.12This occupation is broader
Sprinkler fitters are responsible for the installation of fire protection systems that sprinkle water. They connect pipes, tubing and the necessary accessories. Sprinkler system installers also test the systems for leaks.
- pipe welderESCO 7212.3.3Overlapping, not the same
Pipe welders assemble and install parts and components of pipelines for the transport of goods such as water, steam and chemicals through them. They interpret specs such as pneumatics, hydraulics, for installation on site according to the safety and production requirements.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| F1603 | Plombier / Plombière sanitaire | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| H2914 | Tuyauteur / Tuyauteuse | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| F1620 | Installateur / Installatrice chauffage et climatisation | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| K2314 | Technicien / Technicienne de maintenance de systèmes d'irrigation | Related, not a match |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 7221 | Fontaneros | Same scopeprovisional |
| 7222 | Montadores-instaladores de gas en edificios | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 7250 | Mecánicos-instaladores de refrigeración y climatización | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 34212 | Berufe in der Sanitär-, Heizungs- und Klimatechnik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
| 34302 | Berufe in der Ver- und Entsorgung (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 34322 | Berufe im Rohrleitungsbau - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the same |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 666 | 配管従事者 | Same scopeprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources