Will AI replace fence erectors?

Unlikely, though parts of the work are changing. About 1h 37m of an 8-hour shift goes to tasks touched by robots. The other 6h 23m (80%) stays with people. Separately, BLS expects about 5.6% more of these jobs by 2035 (all jobs: +3.5%).

None of this job's tasks show regular AI use yet. That can mean the work is hands-on or in person, or simply that it rarely comes up in AI usage data.

For some tasks, yes. Robots have done 3 of this job's tasks in workplaces like this one, about 1h 37m of a typical shift. 14 more tasks have only been done in factory setups built around the machine, so they stay with people here. For 2 physical tasks, no robot has shown it can do the work yet.

• Dig postholes, using spades, posthole diggers, or power-driven augers. (58m a shift; e.g. Epiroc SmartROC D65 MKII (autonomous surface drill), in use)
• Measure and lay out fence lines and mark posthole positions, following instructions, drawings, or specifications. (26m a shift; e.g. CivDot (Civ Robotics), in use)
• Establish the location for a fence, and gather information needed to ensure that there are no electric cables or water lines in the area. (13m a shift; e.g. CivDot, in use)

6h 23m of a typical shift, or 80%, goes to tasks with no AI or robot evidence yet. No AI usage or robot deployment has shown up for these so far. The biggest:

• Set metal or wooden posts in upright positions in postholes. (52m a shift)
• Stretch wire, wire mesh, or chain link fencing between posts, and attach fencing to frames. (52m a shift)
• Mix and pour concrete around bases of posts, or tamp soil into postholes to embed posts. (39m a shift)
• Assemble gates, and fasten gates into position, using hand tools. (26m a shift)
• Nail top and bottom rails to fence posts, or insert them in slots on posts. (26m a shift)

Much of it comes down to where and how the work happens. In-person, hands-on and high-stakes work is where AI and robots have made the least headway so far. In the official O*NET survey of people in this job:

• 95% carry high or very high responsibility for other workers' safety
• 93% spend more than half the day on their feet
• 89% work at arm's length or closer to other people

On Indeed, job postings in the Construction sector are at 129% of their February 2020 level (all U.S. postings: 104%), up 6.4% from a year earlier, as of Oct 9, 2026. BLS separately expects about 2,500 openings a year in this job through 2035. Across all U.S. postings, 7.3% now mention AI skills. Sector postings cover more than this one job and move for many reasons besides AI.

The median pay is about $47,980 a year ($23.07 an hour), 6% below the median for all U.S. jobs ($50,980). Most people in this job earn between $35,810 and $70,010 a year; that range covers the middle 80%. Pay figures are from BLS, May 2025, and vary a lot by state and employer. Pick a state to compare:

BLS projects growth of 5.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% growth for all jobs. That's about 32,000 jobs in 2035. It expects about 2,500 openings a year, mostly from people retiring or changing careers. These projections don't single out AI as a cause.

About 24,000 people in the U.S., roughly 0.02% of all workers (BLS, May 2025). That makes it the 511th largest of the 796 jobs on this site. BLS expects about 32,000 in 2035.

The most common requirement is a high school diploma: about 48% of people in the job said so in the official O*NET survey. O*NET rates the job at level 2 of 5 for preparation, which usually means: high school diploma, some training. Requirements vary by state and employer, especially for licensed work.

These come from the job's official skill ratings and from the tasks that AI and robots touch least today. Building them keeps you strong in the parts of the work that still need a person:

• Skills that matter more here than in most jobs: Time Management, Coordination, Monitoring, Speaking
• Get strong at the parts of the job that stay with people (listed above), which take 6h 23m of a typical shift
• Tools employers list: Autodesk AutoCAD, Facebook, Microsoft Excel

These use similar skills, with less of a typical shift touched by AI or robots. Matches come from 109 official ratings of skills, knowledge and work activities, and each needs the same or less preparation unless the official list relates the jobs directly:

• Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers (46m touched, $59k median pay)
• Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers (0m touched, $59k median pay)
• Mechanical Insulation Workers (12m touched, $58k median pay)
• Helpers for Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (0m touched, $42k median pay)

Each task carries its own evidence label. For this job: 3 with robots in real deployments, 17 with no AI or robot evidence found. The minutes per task are estimates, not measured hours, and "no evidence" doesn't prove a task is safe.