As of June 2026, Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic has an AI-exposure score of 50/100 (Elevated exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.

AI Exposure Score for

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

50/100
Elevated exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 33% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$52,800. About 1,100 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).

Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.

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How you compare to similar Production roles

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (you)
50
Patternmakers, Wood
50
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
50
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
50
Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers
50
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
50
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Your tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable
  • Record production output.
Augmentable
  • Turn valves or pull levers to start and regulate the flow of coolant or lubricant to work areas.
  • Select cutting speeds, feed rates, and depths of cuts, applying knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
  • Select and install cutting tools and other accessories according to specifications, using hand tools or power tools.
  • Move controls to set cutting specifications, to position cutting tools and workpieces in relation to each other, and to start machines.
  • Observe milling or planing machine operation, and adjust controls to ensure conformance with specified tolerances.
  • Study blueprints, layouts, sketches, or work orders to assess workpiece specifications and to determine tooling instructions, tools and materials needed, and sequences of operations.
  • Compute dimensions, tolerances, and angles of workpieces or machines according to specifications and knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
  • Move cutters or material manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to mill workpieces to specifications.
  • Mount attachments and tools, such as pantographs, engravers, or routers, to perform other operations, such as drilling or boring.
  • Remove workpieces from machines, and check to ensure that they conform to specifications, using measuring instruments such as microscopes, gauges, calipers, and micrometers.
  • Replace worn tools, using hand tools, and sharpen dull tools, using bench grinders.
  • Position and secure workpieces on machines, using holding devices, measuring instruments, hand tools, and hoists.
  • Make templates or cutting tools.
  • Verify alignment of workpieces on machines, using measuring instruments such as rules, gauges, or calipers.
Durable

No durable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as augmentable (93%).

Safer adjacent roles

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$50,620
48
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
72% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$43,380
41
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
56% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$47,180
58
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
48% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$50,060
43
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$50,690
57
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$49,080
55
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$46,570
53

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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.