Takeover Tracker
37%medium risk
Machinists
vs

56 shared · 3 different

core competencies

35%medium risk
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricMachinistsCutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Risk Score36.8%34.6%
Risk TierMedium RiskMedium Risk
Risk Percentile71th64th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)9 / 158 / 15
Median Salary$56,150$45,590
Employment299K174K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

MathematicsAI-Vulnerable
Handling and Moving Objects
Design

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Machinists

26%

total discount

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

24%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Machinists

9 of 15 at risk
86%Program computers or electronic instruments, such as numerically controlled machine tools.
84%Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products.
70%Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments such as micrometers or vernier calipers.
63%Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.
57%Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

8 of 15 at risk
86%Read work orders or production schedules to determine specifications, such as materials to be used, locations of cutting lines, or dimensions and tolerances.
84%Mark identifying data on workpieces.
67%Examine completed workpieces for defects, such as chipped edges or marred surfaces and sort defective pieces according to types of flaws.
65%Start machines, monitor their operations, and record operational data.
53%Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

Wage Comparison

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earns -$10,560(-19%) vs Machinists
MachinistsCutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
10th
$38,100$35,000
25th
$46,250$38,400
Median
$56,150$45,590
75th
$64,910$52,150
90th
$78,760$62,650

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Machinists2028–2035
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2028–2035
20242030203520402045

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Machinists.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)

Machinists

$35,492

from $56,150

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

$29,811

from $45,590

After adjusting for AI risk, Machinists offers $5,681 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Machinists

0

Unique to Cutting,

Combined Protection Strategy

Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors

Creativity
Social Intelligence
Regulatory Barriers
Decision Complexity
MachinistsCutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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