Machinists

Most exposed tasks

Highest structured exposure values in this role’s task mix — the work AI systems can already do most of.

• Check work pieces to ensure that they are properly lubricated or cooled.61

Augmentable tasks

Work where AI assists rather than replaces — the productivity frontier of this role.

• Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments, such as micrometers or vernier calipers.59
• Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products.59
• Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.58

Most durable tasks

Lowest exposure — typically judgment, relationships, physical presence, or accountability. This is the human moat.

• Design fixtures, tooling, or experimental parts to meet special engineering needs.34

Task exposure values and classifications come from the versioned data release — they are structured data, not model output. Bars show exposure contribution relative to this role’s task mix.

What this means

A score of 50 puts Machinists in the third quartile of analyzed occupations. In practice, exposure this high is about the mix: 1 of 20 analyzed tasks lean automatable, 18 augmentable, and 1 durable. The useful question isn’t “will AI take this job” — it’s which tasks go first, which get faster, and where to reposition time. That’s what the personalized report maps against your actual week.

One next move: audit how much of your week sits in the exposed tasks above — then shift time toward the durable set or investigate the adjacent roles below.

Lower-exposure adjacent roles

Shown only when the target is at least 10 points lower under the same score version and skill overlap is at least 50%. These are adjacent roles with lower task exposure — not guaranteed “safe careers”.

Labor-market context

• $58,750median wage
• 287,050employed
• 29,500annual openings
• +0.0%projected growth

Context only — labor statistics are not inputs to the exposure score. See methodology.

Related roles

Adjacent by skills or family — no exposure claim implied.

• Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 59
• Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 47
• Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 45
• Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 52
• Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers 65
• Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers 41

FAQ — Machinists

What does a score of 50 mean for a Machinists?

It means that, weighted across the 20 tasks we analyzed for this role, the task mix sits at 50 on a 0–100 exposure scale — in the third quartile of analyzed occupations. It measures task exposure to current and near-term AI capabilities, not the probability of losing a job.

Which tasks in this role are most exposed to AI?

The highest-exposure tasks are: Check work pieces to ensure that they are properly lubricated or cooled. Exposure is scored per task from structured data, not generated by a language model.

Which parts of this job are most durable?

The most durable responsibilities are: Design fixtures, tooling, or experimental parts to meet special engineering needs. Durable tasks typically depend on judgment, relationships, physical presence, or accountability.

Is this score personalized to me?

No — this page shows the occupation-level baseline. Two people with the same title often do different work. The $9 personalized report recalculates the score from the tasks you actually do and builds a concrete 7/30/90-day plan around them.