Who's on the clock?

Carpenters vs Construction Laborers

Carpenters spend 6m of a shift on tasks AI or robots touch; construction laborers spend 1h 35m. Here is how pay, outlook and training compare.

Time card for carpenters: 6m of an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robotsTime card: Carpenters →

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Carpenters or construction laborers: which will AI change more? AI and robots touch more of the day for construction laborers: 1h 35m of an 8-hour shift, against 6m for carpenters. Carpenters earn more, a median of $60,580 against $47,120.

Carpenters
6mof an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robotsLess AI time
  • 7h 54mDone by people
  • 0mPeople do it with AI's help
  • 0mAI mostly does it alone
  • 6mRobots have done it somewhere
Median pay
$60,580
U.S. workers
670,000
Outlook to 2035
+3.9%
Openings a year
63,000
Typical preparation
High school diploma, some training
See the full time card →
Construction Laborers
1h 35mof an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robots
  • 6h 25mDone by people
  • 0mPeople do it with AI's help
  • 12mAI mostly does it alone
  • 1h 23mRobots have done it somewhere
Median pay
$47,120
U.S. workers
1.1 million
Outlook to 2035
+7.3%
Openings a year
120,000
Typical preparation
High school diploma, some training
See the full time card →

Carpenters

Where AI or robots show up most

  • Bore boltholes in timber, masonry or concrete walls, using power drill. 6m

Biggest tasks still done by people

  • Assemble and fasten materials to make frameworks or props, using hand tools and wood screws, nails, dowel pins, or glue. 53m
  • Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws. 53m
  • Install structures or fixtures, such as windows, frames, floorings, trim, or hardware, using carpenters' hand or power tools. 53m

Construction Laborers

Where AI or robots show up most

  • Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications. 59m
  • Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities. 12m
  • Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed. 12m

Biggest tasks still done by people

  • Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards. 59m
  • Provide assistance to craft workers, such as carpenters, plasterers, or masons. 59m
  • Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes. 41m

Swap in a different job Highlighted numbers are the higher of the two. Hours are estimates from each job's time card.