Pipelayers

Pipelayers score 4 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #848 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 14 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 0 on its own and 1 more with extra software built on top of it. None of its tasks showed up in real AI use in April–May 2026.

4/ 100

Low

Rank: #848of 923 jobs
US workers: 33,050BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $49,000a year
In real AI use: 0 of 14tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 0 (0%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 1 (7%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 13 (93%)

Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Cut pipes to required lengths.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Cover pipes with earth or other materials.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Align and position pipes to prepare them for welding or sealing.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Operate mechanized equipment, such as pickup trucks, rollers, tandem dump trucks, front-end loaders, or backhoes.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Dig trenches to desired or required depths, by hand or using trenching tools.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Tap and drill holes into pipes to introduce auxiliary lines or devices.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Locate existing pipes needing repair or replacement, using magnetic or radio indicators.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Train or supervise others in laying pipe.Little or no AI speed-up · core task

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Questions about pipelayers and AI

Will AI replace pipelayers?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Pipelayers score 4 out of 100 (low exposure), #848 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 1 of the job's 14 tasks, 0 of them on its own, while 13 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which pipelayers tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors".

Which pipelayers tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels"; "Cut pipes to required lengths"; "Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Not much yet. None of the job's tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude in April–May 2026, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as pipelayers, and what do they earn?

About 33,050 people in the US, with median pay of $49,000 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.