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Manufacturing & Production · Updated Aug 2026

Machinists

Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
61/100
High

How much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.

Replacement Risk
54/100
Moderate

How likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.

Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured

Evidence quality
Confidence82/100
Task coverage87%

Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.

Task-level evidence

What is driving the score?

Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments, such as micrometers or vernier calipers.High
78
Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders.High
73
Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.High
68
Program computers or electronic instruments, such as numerically controlled machine tools.High
73
Confer with numerical control programmers to check and ensure that new programs or machinery will function properly and that output will meet specifications.High
78
Separate scrap waste and related materials for reuse, recycling, or disposal.Medium
80
Dispose of scrap or waste material in accordance with company policies and environmental regulations.High
80
Evaluate machining procedures and recommend changes or modifications for improved efficiency or adaptability.High
77
Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products.High
62
Check work pieces to ensure that they are properly lubricated or cooled.Medium
80
Support metalworking projects from planning and fabrication through assembly, inspection, and testing, using knowledge of machine functions, metal properties, and mathematics.High
60
Design fixtures, tooling, or experimental parts to meet special engineering needs.High
78
Confer with engineering, supervisory, or manufacturing personnel to exchange technical information.High
80
Establish work procedures for fabricating new structural products, using a variety of metalworking machines.Medium
77
Prepare working sketches for the illustration of product appearance.Medium
80
Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.High
39
Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.High
37
Test experimental models under simulated operating conditions, for purposes such as development, standardization, or feasibility of design.Medium
79
Diagnose machine tool malfunctions to determine need for adjustments or repairs.High
50
Advise clients about the materials being used for finished products.Medium
61
Dismantle machines or equipment, using hand tools or power tools to examine parts for defects and replace defective parts where needed.High
51
Align and secure holding fixtures, cutting tools, attachments, accessories, or materials onto machines.High
23
Lay out, measure, and mark metal stock to display placement of cuts.High
23
Set up or operate metalworking, brazing, heat-treating, welding, or cutting equipment.Medium
21
Install repaired parts into equipment or install new equipment.High
22
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.

  1. Separate scrap waste and related materials for reuse, recycling, or disposal.80
  2. Dispose of scrap or waste material in accordance with company policies and environmental regulations.80
  3. Check work pieces to ensure that they are properly lubricated or cooled.80
  4. Confer with engineering, supervisory, or manufacturing personnel to exchange technical information.80
Hardest to automate

Where people still matter

These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.

  1. Set up or operate metalworking, brazing, heat-treating, welding, or cutting equipment.01
  2. Align and secure holding fixtures, cutting tools, attachments, accessories, or materials onto machines.02
  3. Lay out, measure, and mark metal stock to display placement of cuts.03
  4. Install repaired parts into equipment or install new equipment.04
  5. Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.05
Where else this work leads

Related occupations

Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.

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AI risk 45

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Closely related work

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AI risk 49

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Closely related work

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Beyond AI capability

Adoption and labour-market outlook

Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.

Human dependency58
Physical dependency63
Adoption pressure56
Labour-market resilience59
Methodology & sources

O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.

Confidence82/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →