Ship Engineers vs Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

medium risk

Ship Engineers

50 shared · 31 different

core competencies

medium risk

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Side-by-Side Comparison

Ship Engineers leads 4–1

Metric	Ship Engineers	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Risk Score	28.0%	38.1%
Risk Tier	Medium Risk	Medium Risk
Risk Percentile	30th	75th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	6 / 15	5 / 15
Median Salary	$101,320	$46,060
Employment	9K	130K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment

Administration and Management

Transportation

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment

Performing General Physical Activities

Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment

Mechanical

Thinking Creatively

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material

Public Safety and Security

Written Comprehension

Repairing

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Ship Engineers

30%

total discount

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

25%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Ship Engineers

6 of 15 at risk

87%Record orders for changes in ship speed or direction and note gauge readings or test data, such as revolutions per minute or voltage output, in engineering logs or bellbooks.

86%Monitor engine, machinery, or equipment indicators when vessels are underway and report abnormalities to appropriate shipboard staff.

86%Maintain complete records of engineering department activities, including machine operations.

85%Order and receive engine room stores, such as oil or spare parts, maintain inventories, and record usage of supplies.

77%Monitor the availability, use, or condition of lifesaving equipment or pollution preventatives to ensure that international regulations are followed.

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

5 of 15 at risk

86%Write programs for computer numerical control (CNC) machines to cut metal and plastic materials.

84%Read blueprints or job orders to determine product specifications and tooling instructions and to plan operational sequences.

67%Compute data, such as gear dimensions or machine settings, applying knowledge of shop mathematics.

57%Inspect workpieces for defects, and measure workpieces to determine accuracy of machine operation, using rules, templates, or other measuring instruments.

53%Observe machine operation to detect workpiece defects or machine malfunctions, adjusting machines as necessary.

Wage Comparison

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earns -$55,260(-55%) vs Ship Engineers

Ship EngineersMultiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

10th

$56,620$34,130

25th

$71,720$38,320

Median

$101,320$46,060

75th

$130,380$56,220

90th

$162,370$72,850

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Ship Engineers2028–2035

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Ship Engineers has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Ship Engineers

$72,950

from $101,320

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

$28,511

from $46,060

After adjusting for AI risk, Ship Engineers offers $44,439 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Ship

Unique to Multiple

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Regulatory Barriers

Creativity

Social Intelligence

Decision Complexity

Ship EngineersMultiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

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