Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators
Operate machinery such as longwall shears, plows, and cutting machines to cut or channel along the face or seams of coal mines, stone quarries, or other mining surfaces to facilitate blasting, separating, or removing minerals or materials from mines or from the Earth's surface. Includes shale planers.
AI Impact Summary
Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 38/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 76% of all analyzed occupations. Of 22 analyzed tasks, 5 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 Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization 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.
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.
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)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Google UX Design Professional Certificate
by Google
Estimated Impact
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
22 tasks analyzed
Position jacks, timbers, or roof supports, and install casings, to prevent cave-ins.
Move planer levers to control and adjust the movement of equipment, the speed, height, and depth of cuts, and to rotate swivel cutting booms.
Reposition machines and move controls to make additional holes or cuts.
Cut entries between rooms and haulage ways.
Cut slots along working faces of coal, salt, or other non-metal deposits to facilitate blasting, by moving levers to start the machine, and to control the vertical reciprocating drills.
Cut and move shale from open pits.
Signal that machine plow blades are properly positioned, using electronic buzzers or two-way radios.
Drive mobile, truck-mounted, or track-mounted drilling or cutting machine in mines and quarries or on construction sites.
Observe indicator lights and gauges, and listen to machine operation to detect binding or stoppage of tools or other equipment problems.
Move controls to start and position drill cutters or torches and advance tools into mines or quarry faces to complete horizontal or vertical cuts.
Advance plow blades through coal strata by remote control, according to electronic or radio signals from the tailer.
Replace worn or broken tools and machine bits and parts, using wrenches, pry bars, and other hand tools, and lubricate machines, using grease guns.
Press buttons to activate conveyor belts, and push or pull chain handles to regulate conveyor movement so that material can be moved or loaded into dinkey cars or dump trucks.
Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut.
Signal crew members to adjust the speed of equipment to the rate of installation of roof supports, and to adjust the speed of conveyors to the volume of coal.
Remove debris such as loose shale from channels and planer travel areas.
Charge and set off explosives in blasting holes.
Signal truck drivers to position their vehicles for receiving shale from planer hoppers.
Monitor movement of shale along conveyors from hoppers to trucks or railcars.
Guide and assist crews in laying track for machines and resetting planer rails, supports, and blocking, using jacks, shovels, sledges, picks, and pinch bars.
Free jams in planer hoppers, using metal pinch bars.
Monitor methane gas levels in mines to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position jacks, timbers, or roof supports, and install casings, to prevent cave-ins. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 6% | |
| Move planer levers to control and adjust the movement of equipment, the speed, height, and depth of cuts, and to rotate swivel cutting booms. | 65Estimated | 59.0% | 8% | |
| Reposition machines and move controls to make additional holes or cuts. | 65Estimated | 59.0% | 8% | |
| Cut entries between rooms and haulage ways. | 60Estimated | 57.0% | 6% | |
| Cut slots along working faces of coal, salt, or other non-metal deposits to facilitate blasting, by moving levers to start the machine, and to control the vertical reciprocating drills. | 70Estimated | 61.0% | 5% | |
| Cut and move shale from open pits. | 75Estimated | 63.0% | 3% | |
| Signal that machine plow blades are properly positioned, using electronic buzzers or two-way radios. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% | |
| Drive mobile, truck-mounted, or track-mounted drilling or cutting machine in mines and quarries or on construction sites. | 80Estimated | 65.0% | 6% | |
| Observe indicator lights and gauges, and listen to machine operation to detect binding or stoppage of tools or other equipment problems. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 8% | |
| Move controls to start and position drill cutters or torches and advance tools into mines or quarry faces to complete horizontal or vertical cuts. | 70Estimated | 61.0% | 6% | |
| Advance plow blades through coal strata by remote control, according to electronic or radio signals from the tailer. | 75Estimated | 63.0% | 4% | |
| Replace worn or broken tools and machine bits and parts, using wrenches, pry bars, and other hand tools, and lubricate machines, using grease guns. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 6% | |
| Press buttons to activate conveyor belts, and push or pull chain handles to regulate conveyor movement so that material can be moved or loaded into dinkey cars or dump trucks. | 85Estimated | 67.0% | 5% | |
| Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 4% | |
| Signal crew members to adjust the speed of equipment to the rate of installation of roof supports, and to adjust the speed of conveyors to the volume of coal. | 40Estimated | 31.0% | 3% | |
| Remove debris such as loose shale from channels and planer travel areas. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Charge and set off explosives in blasting holes. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 3% | |
| Signal truck drivers to position their vehicles for receiving shale from planer hoppers. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% | |
| Monitor movement of shale along conveyors from hoppers to trucks or railcars. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 3% | |
| Guide and assist crews in laying track for machines and resetting planer rails, supports, and blocking, using jacks, shovels, sledges, picks, and pinch bars. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 3% | |
| Free jams in planer hoppers, using metal pinch bars. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 3% | |
| Monitor methane gas levels in mines to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 27.9%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsRefractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
20%Median salary: $58,540
Higher risk than 7% of other occupations
Pipelayers
22%Median salary: $48,710
Higher risk than 10% of other occupations
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators
23%Higher risk than 13% of other occupations
Helpers--Extraction Workers
28%Median salary: $48,400
Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
30%Median salary: $67,370
Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Hoist and Winch Operators
34%Median salary: $52,310
Higher risk than 60% of other occupations
Roof Bolters, Mining
35%Higher risk than 66% of other occupations
Molding and Casting Workers
37%Median salary: $45,690
Higher risk than 72% of other occupations
Mine Shuttle Car Operators
41%Higher risk than 83% of other occupations
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
45%Higher risk than 92% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization 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.
- 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.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination 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.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring 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.
- Systems Analysis
Systems Analysis 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