Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.
AI Impact Summary
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 42/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 84% of all analyzed occupations. Of 15 analyzed tasks, 4 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
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Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Cybersecurity Fundamentals Path
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Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
15 tasks analyzed
Position and secure workpieces on machines, using holding devices, measuring instruments, hand tools, and hoists.
Remove workpieces from machines, and check to ensure that they conform to specifications, using measuring instruments such as microscopes, gauges, calipers, and micrometers.
Verify alignment of workpieces on machines, using measuring instruments, such as rules, gauges, or calipers.
Move cutters or material manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to mill workpieces to specifications.
Observe milling or planing machine operation and adjust controls to ensure conformance with specified tolerances.
Select cutting speeds, feed rates, and depths of cuts, applying knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
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 controls to set cutting specifications, to position cutting tools and workpieces in relation to each other, and to start machines.
Replace worn tools, using hand tools, and sharpen dull tools, using bench grinders.
Select and install cutting tools and other accessories according to specifications, using hand tools or power tools.
Turn valves or pull levers to start and regulate the flow of coolant or lubricant to work areas.
Record production output.
Mount attachments and tools, such as pantographs, engravers, or routers to perform other operations, such as drilling or boring.
Make templates or cutting tools.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position and secure workpieces on machines, using holding devices, measuring instruments, hand tools, and hoists. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 12% | |
| Remove workpieces from machines, and check to ensure that they conform to specifications, using measuring instruments such as microscopes, gauges, calipers, and micrometers. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 12% | |
| Verify alignment of workpieces on machines, using measuring instruments, such as rules, gauges, or calipers. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 8% | |
| Move cutters or material manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to mill workpieces to specifications. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 15% | |
| Observe milling or planing machine operation and adjust controls to ensure conformance with specified tolerances. | 60Estimated | 57.0% | 15% | |
| Select cutting speeds, feed rates, and depths of cuts, applying knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 5% | |
| Study blueprints, layouts, sketches, or work orders to assess workpiece specifications and to determine tooling instructions, tools and materials needed, and sequences of operations. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 5% | |
| Compute dimensions, tolerances, and angles of workpieces or machines, according to specifications and knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 5% | |
| Move controls to set cutting specifications, to position cutting tools and workpieces in relation to each other, and to start machines. | 50Estimated | 53.0% | 6% | |
| Replace worn tools, using hand tools, and sharpen dull tools, using bench grinders. | 25Estimated | 43.0% | 4% | |
| Select and install cutting tools and other accessories according to specifications, using hand tools or power tools. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 4% | |
| Turn valves or pull levers to start and regulate the flow of coolant or lubricant to work areas. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 3% | |
| Record production output. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 2% | |
| Mount attachments and tools, such as pantographs, engravers, or routers to perform other operations, such as drilling or boring. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 2% | |
| Make templates or cutting tools. | 15Estimated | 15.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 24.2%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$48,310
per year
Mean Wage
$52,940
per year
Employment
14K
workers
Wage Range
$36,810 - $75,000
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change