Will “Pick and Shovel Man” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

88% Chance of Automation

“Pick and Shovel Man” will probably be replaced by robots.

This job is ranked #512 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.

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Job Description

Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 47-2061.00
The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 37,890.00
The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 18.00
Currently, there are 912,100 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Construction Laborers”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Pick and Shovel Man”

Mix, pour, or spread concrete, using portable cement mixers.
Install sewer, water, or storm drain pipes, using pipe-laying machinery or laser guidance equipment.
Raze buildings or salvage useful materials.
Mix ingredients to create compounds for covering or cleaning surfaces.
Smooth or finish freshly poured cement or concrete, using floats, trowels, screeds, or powered cement finishing tools.
Position, join, align, or seal structural components, such as concrete wall sections or pipes.
Erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures.
Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
Tend machines that pump concrete, grout, cement, sand, plaster, or stucco through spray guns for application to ceilings or walls.
Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones.
Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
Apply weather-stripping to reduce energy loss.
Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
Use computers or other input devices to control robotic pipe cutters or cleaners.
Transport or set explosives for tunnel, shaft, or road construction.
Mop, brush, or spread paints, cleaning solutions, or other compounds over surfaces to clean them or to provide protection.
Operate or maintain air monitoring or other sampling devices in confined or hazardous environments.
Position or dismantle forms for pouring concrete, using saws, hammers, nails, or bolts.
Grind, scrape, sand, or polish surfaces, such as concrete, marble, terrazzo, or wood flooring, using abrasive tools or machines.
Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt.
Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
Identify, pack, or transport hazardous or radioactive materials.
Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes.
Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
Place, consolidate, or protect case-in-place concrete or masonry structures.
Apply caulking compounds by hand or caulking guns to protect against entry of water or air.
Perform site activities required of green certified construction practices, such as implementing waste management procedures, identifying materials for reuse, or installing erosion or sedimentation control mechanisms.
Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
Perform building weatherization tasks, such as repairing windows, adding insulation, or applying weather-stripping materials.
Spray materials, such as water, sand, steam, vinyl, paint, or stucco, through hoses to clean, coat, or seal surfaces.
Operate jackhammers or drills to break up concrete or pavement.
Provide assistance to craft workers, such as carpenters, plasterers, or masons.
Perform construction laborer duties at green building sites, such as renewable energy plants or wind turbine installations.

Related Technology & Tools

Slings
Smoke testers
Snowplows
Smudge pots
Air monitoring equipment
Skid steer loaders
Liquid propane torches
Asphalt saws
Dump trucks
Road rollers
Picks
Paddle mixers
Pneumatic staplers
Cutoff saws
Salamanders
Screwdrivers
Walk-behind compacting equipment
Walk-behind saws
Sewer rodding machines
Hammer drills
Pavement breakers
Sidewalk sweepers
Pressure washers
Mortar hoes
Brick carrier forks
Welding hoods
Adjustable wrenches
Steam jennies
Two way radios
Circular saws
Trenchers
Saber saws
Remote pipe cameras
Temperature probes
Swing stages
Screeds
Floor saws
Surveying rods
Laser measuring devices
Hand trucks
Crawler shovels
Floor sanders
Demolition saws
Tripods
Water tank trucks
Plumb bobs
Bale hooks
Power buggies
Mowing equipment
Disc grinders
Nail guns
Plaster mixers
Paint sprayers
Scissor lifts
Oxygen/acetylene torches
Chip spreaders
Carpenters' levels
Pneumatic drills
Pedestal grinders
Floats
Gin poles
Hydraulic speed shoring equipment
Winches
Steam cleaning equipment
Electric boring machines
Drill presses
Carpenters' squares
Plasma cutters
Crowbars
Chipping guns
Manlifts
Hydraulic booms
Protective suits
Jet trucks for cleaning sewer lines
Electric drills
Earth tampers
Belt conveyors
Jackhammers
Water levels
Jig saws
Rough terrain forklifts
Post hole augers
Masonry forklifts
Power sanders
Tappers
Coring machines
Fencing pliers
Stucco spray guns
Asphalt mops
Fall arrest systems
Ladders
Power drills
Vibratory plate compactors
Robotic pipe cleaners
Laser screeds
Rotary hammers
Bandsaws
Kerosene burners
Transit levels
Hydraulic chainsaws
Axes
Measuring wheels
Concrete pumpers
Forklifts
Oil distributors
Air drills
Levels
Power screwdrivers
Air compressors
Spirit levels
Brick tongs
Respirators
Hydraulic track-guided wall saws
Mortar mixers
Laser levels
Reciprocating saws
Laser guidance equipment for pipe placement
Cutout saws
Water spraying equipment
Sandblasters
Mattocks
Suction sweepers
Tampers
Chain saws
Swing chairs
Stump cutters
Bosun chairs
Hydraulic rock drills
Trowels
Calipers
Scarifiers
Tuck pointers
Impact wrenches
Bench grinders
Shovels
Shielded arc welding tools
Brick hammers
Concrete mixers
Pickup trucks
Dynamite blasters
Scaffolding
Impact hammers
Wagon drills
Hole cutters
Cable pullers
Generators
Wire stretchers
Hoists
Sewer cleaner vactors
Asphalt kettles
Adjustable widemouth pliers
Guniting machines
Ride-on vacuum cleaners
Saws
Tape measures
Caulking guns
Theodolites
Hydraulic boring machines
Cold chisels
Mud jacks
Spades
Weed sprayers
Loaders
Motor graders
Torches
Gas leak detection devices
Water samplers
Punches
Hammers
Hand grinders
Rakes
Robotic pipe cutters
Micrometers
Forks
Concrete saws

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