Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
Occupation · SOC 49-9012.00
Install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.
Also called: Instrument and Electrical Technician (I and E Technician) · Measurement Technician · Meter Technician · Valve Technician · Control Valve Mechanic · Control Valve Technician · Electric Meter Technician · Instrument Technician · Service Technician · Water Plant Maintenance Mechanic · Air Valve Mechanic · Air Valve Repairer
Job family: Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
Take this to your AI
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-49-9012-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- About average employment outlook (+1.3% by 2034)
- 3,900 openings/yr
- Moderate AI exposure
- Median pay $74,690/yr
- Work is mostly on-site (not teleworkable)
- 2013 flagged this for computerization (53rd); today's AI task-overlap is comparatively low (31st)
31st-percentile task overlap — yet about 3,900 openings a year (+1.3% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Low | 26th | -0.8 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Low | 21st | 0.2 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Moderate | 51st | 0.1 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.1), with simple added tooling (β 0.1), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.2). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
This job mostly cannot be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman) — its hands-on tasks sit outside what software-based AI reaches.
Historical automation estimate (2013)
A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
Frey–Osborne probability 0.6 · 53rd percentile among occupations · Moderate
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | About average · +1.3% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 3,900 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 47,700 → 48,300 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Where this work sits on the global GenAI gradient
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door sits at the 24th percentile of 427
occupations on the global GenAI task-exposure gradient
— exposure rose from 2023 to 2025. Each dot is one occupation; the
ringed one is this work. Exposure is task overlap, not automation or jobs lost.
17% mean task exposure (2025)
24th percentile of 427 placed occupations
+4 pts shift 2023 → 2025
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Mechanics and Fitters · 7412 | 17% | Not exposed |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
Tasks
All 39 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Record maintenance information, including test results, material usage, and repairs made. Core · importance 4.1
- Calibrate instrumentation, such as meters, gauges, and regulators, for pressure, temperature, flow, and level. Supplemental · importance 4.0
- Install, inspect and test electric meters, relays, and power sources to detect causes of malfunctions and inaccuracies, using hand tools and testing equipment. Supplemental · importance 4.0
- Test valves and regulators for leaks and accurate temperature and pressure settings, using precision testing equipment. Supplemental · importance 4.0
- Record meter readings and installation data on meter cards, work orders, or field service orders, or enter data into hand-held computers. Supplemental · importance 4.0
- Turn meters on or off to establish or close service. Supplemental · importance 4.0
- Shut off service and notify repair crews when major repairs are required, such as the replacement of underground pipes or wiring. Supplemental · importance 3.9
- Install regulators and related equipment such as gas meters, odorization units, and gas pressure telemetering equipment. Supplemental · importance 3.9
- Cut seats to receive new orifices, tap inspection ports, and perform other repairs to salvage usable materials, using hand tools and machine tools. Supplemental · importance 3.9
- Disassemble and repair mechanical control devices or valves, such as regulators, thermostats, or hydrants, using power tools, hand tools, and cutting torches. Core · importance 3.9
- Turn valves to allow measured amounts of air or gas to pass through meters at specified flow rates. Supplemental · importance 3.9
- Report hazardous field situations and damaged or missing meters. Supplemental · importance 3.9
- Vary air pressure flowing into regulators and turn handles to assess functioning of valves and pistons. Supplemental · importance 3.9
- Examine valves or mechanical control device parts for defects, dents, or loose attachments, and mark malfunctioning areas of defective units. Supplemental · importance 3.8
- Mount and install meters and other electric equipment such as time clocks, transformers, and circuit breakers, using electricians' hand tools. Supplemental · importance 3.8
- Connect regulators to test stands, and turn screw adjustments until gauges indicate that inlet and outlet pressures meet specifications. Supplemental · importance 3.8
- Investigate instances of illegal tapping into service lines. Supplemental · importance 3.8
- Trace and tag meters or house lines. Supplemental · importance 3.8
- Repair electric meters and components, such as transformers and relays, and replace metering devices, dial glasses, and faulty or incorrect wiring, using hand tools. Supplemental · importance 3.8
- Lubricate wearing surfaces of mechanical parts, using oils or other lubricants. Core · importance 3.8
- Replace defective parts, such as bellows, range springs, and toggle switches, and reassemble units according to blueprints, using cam presses and hand tools. Supplemental · importance 3.7
- Measure tolerances of assembled and salvageable parts for conformance to standards or specifications, using gauges, micrometers, and calipers. Supplemental · importance 3.7
- Clean internal compartments and moving parts, using rags and cleaning compounds. Supplemental · importance 3.7
- Disconnect or remove defective or unauthorized meters, using hand tools. Supplemental · importance 3.7
- Dismantle meters, and replace or adjust defective parts such as cases, shafts, gears, disks, and recording mechanisms, using soldering irons and hand tools. Supplemental · importance 3.7
- Attach air hoses to meter inlets, plug outlets, and observe gauges for pressure losses to test internal seams for leaks. Supplemental · importance 3.6
- Make adjustments to meter components, such as setscrews or timing mechanisms, so that they conform to specifications. Supplemental · importance 3.6
- Repair leaks in valve seats or bellows of automotive heater thermostats, using soft solder, flux, and acetylene torches. Supplemental · importance 3.5
- Splice and connect cables from meters or current transformers to pull boxes or switchboards, using hand tools. Supplemental · importance 3.4
- Advise customers on proper installation of valves or regulators and related equipment. Supplemental · importance 3.4
- Clean plant growth, scale, paint, soil, or rust from meter housings, using wire brushes, scrapers, buffers, sandblasters, or cleaning compounds. Supplemental · importance 3.1
- Connect hoses from provers to meter inlets and outlets, and raise prover bells until prover gauges register zero. Supplemental · importance 3.1
- Attach pressurized meters to fixtures which submerge them in water, and observe meters for leaks. Supplemental
- Calibrate thermostats for specified temperature or pressure settings. Supplemental
- Clamp regulator units into vises on stages above water tanks, and attach compressed air hoses to intake ports. Supplemental
- Collect money due on delinquent accounts. Supplemental
- Reassemble repaired equipment, and solder top, front, and back case panels in place, using soldering guns, power tools, and hand tools. Supplemental
- Recommend and write up specifications for changes in hardware, such as house wiring. Supplemental
- Recondition displacement type gas meters and governors, fabricating, machining, or modifying parts needed for repairs. Supplemental
Work activities
- Control power supply connections.
- Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.
- Confer with coworkers to coordinate work activities.
- Enter codes or other information into computers.
- Document operational activities.
- Adjust the tension of nuts or bolts.
- Connect electrical components or equipment.
- Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair.
- Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
- Maintain repair or maintenance records.
- Remove parts or components from equipment.
- Lubricate equipment to allow proper functioning.
- Test mechanical equipment to ensure proper functioning.
- Install metering equipment.
- Communicate with coworkers to coordinate installations or repairs.
- Inspect mechanical equipment to locate damage, defects, or wear.
- Connect hoses to equipment or piping.
- Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
- Train customers in the use of products.
- Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
- Inspect electrical or electronic systems for defects.
- Install electrical components, equipment, or systems.
- Repair electrical circuits or wiring.
- Measure distances or dimensions.
- Repair non-engine automotive or vehicle components.
- Clean equipment, parts, or tools to repair or maintain them in good working order.
- Repair electrical components.
- Cut materials according to specifications or needs.
- Calibrate equipment to specifications.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
| Mechanical | 4.1 | |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.6 | |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.5 | |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.3 | |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.3 | |
| Mathematics | 3.2 | |
| Design | 3.2 | |
| Production and Processing | 3.0 |
Abilities
| Oral Comprehension | 3.6 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.6 | |
| Near Vision | 3.6 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.5 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.4 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.4 | |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.4 | |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.3 | |
| Written Comprehension | 3.1 | |
| Written Expression | 3.1 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.1 | |
| Category Flexibility | 3.1 | |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.1 | |
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.1 | |
| Extent Flexibility | 3.1 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.1 | |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.0 |
Essential skills
| Critical Thinking | 3.4 | |
| Active Listening | 3.1 | |
| Speaking | 3.1 | |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 | |
| Writing | 3.0 |
Transferable skills
| Repairing | 3.3 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.1 | |
| Troubleshooting | 3.1 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 | |
| Coordination | 3.0 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 | |
| Operation and Control | 3.0 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Showing the top 40 of 43.
Tools & technology
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Preparation level
- SVP (6.0 to < 7.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
What to study: Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| High School Diploma | 47.0% | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 41.8% | |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 6.8% | |
| Some College Courses | 3.0% | |
| Bachelor's Degree | 1.4% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Realistic | 7.0 | |
| Conventional | 4.5 | |
| Investigative | 2.9 |
Interest areas
| Mechanics/Electronics | 6.1 | |
| Physical/Manual Labor | 4.7 | |
| Engineering | 4.5 | |
| Information Technology | 1.7 | |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | 1.7 | |
| Mathematics/Statistics | 1.6 | |
| Construction/Woodwork | 1.5 | |
| Physical Science | 1.4 | |
| Accounting | 1.3 |
Work styles
| Dependability | 3.0 | |
| Attention to Detail | 2.5 | |
| Cautiousness | 2.2 | |
| Integrity | 1.8 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $43,840 |
| 25th percentile | $53,060 |
| Median (50th) | $74,690 |
| 75th percentile | $97,400 |
| 90th percentile | $109,050 |
| People employed | 46,920 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities · Sector | 22,360 | $91,370 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 3,670 | $49,300 |
| Construction · Sector | 2,970 | $61,180 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction · Sector | 2,360 | $59,390 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation · National industry | 1,820 | $101,710 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 1,820 | $59,560 |
| Transportation and Warehousing · Sector | 1,480 | $82,960 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 1,470 | $54,000 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 1,260 | $57,340 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors · National industry | 810 | $62,690 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 640 | $50,100 |
| Retail Trade · Sector | 460 | $48,790 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities · Sector | 126.81× | 22,360 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation · National industry | 83.89× | 1,820 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction · Sector | 13.52× | 2,360 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors · National industry | 2.1× | 810 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 2× | 3,670 |
| Construction · Sector | 1.2× | 2,970 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors · National industry | 1.13× | 370 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 1.09× | 1,470 |
Related occupations
Part of the Construction career cluster.
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers · 49-2092.00 Compare →
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics · 49-9041.00 Compare →
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers · 51-2031.00 Compare →
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators · 51-8021.00 Compare →
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay · 49-2095.00 Compare →
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers · 51-2011.00 Compare →
- Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment · 49-2093.00 Compare →
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment · 49-2094.00 Compare →
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery · 49-9043.00 Compare →
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters · 47-2152.00 Compare →
- Rail Car Repairers · 49-3043.00 Compare →
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers · 51-2022.00 Compare →
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- High school diploma or equivalent · typical entry level
- Job zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed · preparation tier
- Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians · field of study
Zoom out
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 24th percentile of 427 international occupations.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door show 31st-percentile AI task overlap — and about 3,900 annual U.S. openings
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door rank in the 31st percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 3,900 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be about average (+1.3%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $74,690, across about 46,920 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door show 31st-percentile AI task overlap — and about 3,900 annual U.S. openings • Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door rank in the 31st percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 3,900 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be about average (+1.3%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $74,690, across about 46,920 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-9012-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
- AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans academic
- ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025 International Labour Organization
- IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022 Institute for Structural Research (IBS)
- Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation academic
- Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-9012-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-9012-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-49-9012-00,
title = {Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-9012-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.