Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners vs Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

medium risk

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

60 shared · 6 different

core competencies

medium risk

Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Side-by-Side Comparison

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners leads 4–1

Metric	Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners	Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Risk Score	38.5%	40.8%
Risk Tier	Medium Risk	Medium Risk
Risk Percentile	77th	83th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	8 / 15	7 / 15
Median Salary	$48,970	$46,630
Employment	6K	5K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Interacting With Computers

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Equipment MaintenanceAI-Resistant

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment

Processing Information

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

27%

total discount

Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

26%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

8 of 15 at risk

84%Study blueprints or layouts of metal workpieces to determine grinding procedures, and to plan machine setups and operational sequences.

78%Compute numbers, widths, and angles of cutting tools, micrometers, scales, and gauges, and adjust tools to produce specified cuts.

76%Inspect dies to detect defects, assess wear, and verify specifications, using micrometers, steel gauge pins, and loupes.

61%Monitor machine operations to determine whether adjustments are necessary, stopping machines when problems occur.

59%Remove finished workpieces from machines and place them in boxes or on racks, setting aside pieces that are defective.

Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

7 of 15 at risk

87%Select and set cutting speeds, feed rates, depths of cuts, and cutting tools, according to machining instructions or knowledge of metal properties.

84%Lay out reference lines and machining locations on work, using layout tools, and applying knowledge of shop math and layout techniques.

72%Study machining instructions, job orders, or blueprints to determine dimensional or finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements.

63%Observe drilling or boring machine operations to detect any problems.

61%Move machine controls to lower tools to workpieces and to engage automatic feeds.

Wage Comparison

Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earns -$2,340(-5%) vs Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersDrilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

10th

$33,770$35,360

25th

$39,520$41,100

Median

$48,970$46,630

75th

$60,210$56,820

90th

$74,120$65,200

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2028–2035

Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

$30,097

from $48,970

Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

$27,596

from $46,630

After adjusting for AI risk, Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners offers $2,501 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Tool

Unique to Drilling

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Fine Manipulation

Social Intelligence

Regulatory Barriers

Creativity

Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersDrilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Find transitions from Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Find transitions from Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic