Metal and plastic machine workers set up and run machines that cut, shape, mold and cast metal and plastic parts. They read blueprints, adjust machine settings, load material, replace worn tools and inspect finished parts. Generative AI has little to do with this hands-on work. Automation does: computer-controlled tools and robots are the main reason the BLS projects fewer of these jobs.
The short answer: low exposure to generative AI, but automation is cutting demand. The ILO's 2025 index rates metal working machine tool setters and operators as not exposed at 0.18, and plastic products machine operators at 0.17. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7 percent decline from 2025 to 2035, with about 78,100 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed metal and plastic machine workers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Working Machine Tool Setters and Operators | Not exposed | 0.18 |
| Plastic Products Machine Operators | Not exposed | 0.17 |
The ILO index measures generative AI, not robots or automated machines.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Metal and plastic machine workers | Decline 7% | About 78,100 |
The BLS says firms are using computer numerically controlled (CNC) tools and robots to improve quality and lower costs, which reduces demand for manual operators while increasing demand for CNC programmers. Digital prototyping and 3D printing may reduce the need for patternmakers and model makers. Foreign competition limits orders, and new US plants are likely to be highly automated. All projected openings come from replacing workers who leave or retire.
What automation is taking on
- Running cutting and shaping work on CNC machines instead of manual machines.
- Loading and unloading parts with robots.
- Making prototypes and patterns with 3D printing and digital models.
What stays with machine workers
- Setup: reading blueprints and setting machines up for each job.
- Quality: measuring and inspecting parts and fixing the cause of defects.
- Tooling: spotting dull or damaged tools and replacing them.
- Checking AI help: generated settings or instructions can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
The BLS says demand is moving from manual operators toward CNC programmers. Workers who learn to program and run computer-controlled machines are better placed. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace machinists?, will AI replace factory workers? and will AI replace welders?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for metal and plastic machine workers at $47,700 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The BLS says the education needed to enter varies; its profile explains the routes in. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace metal and plastic machine workers?
Automation, more than generative AI, is reducing demand. The BLS projects a 7 percent decline from 2025 to 2035, citing CNC tools and robots.
How exposed are machine workers to generative AI?
The ILO rates metal working machine tool setters and operators as not exposed at 0.18, and plastic products machine operators at 0.17.
Are there still openings?
Yes. The BLS projects about 78,100 openings a year, all from replacing workers who leave or retire.
Which skills are in demand?
The BLS says demand is shifting toward CNC programmers as firms adopt computer-controlled tools.