Headline risk
22%
Moderate RiskHeat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
AI displacement pressure score for United States AI Work Index, combining global AI task overlap with local wages, employment trends, and demand signals.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Set up, operate, or tend heating equipment, such as heat-treating furnaces, flame-hardening machines, induction machines, soaking pits, or vacuum equipment to temper, harden, anneal, or heat treat metal or plastic objects.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 47,450
Employment 2024
14.8K
Projected Change (2024–34)
-12.8%
Openings (2024–34)
1.2K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Overall employment of metal and plastic machine workers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2024 to 2034, decline.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Set up and operate or tend machines, such as furnaces, baths, flame-hardening machines, and electronic induction machines, that harden, anneal, and heat-treat metal. AI use: 0%
- 2. Read production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated. AI use: 0%
- 3. Instruct new workers in machine operation. AI use: 0%
- 4. Record times that parts are removed from furnaces to document that objects have attained specified temperatures for specified times. AI use: 0%
- 5. Adjust controls to maintain temperatures and heating times, using thermal instruments and charts, dials and gauges of furnaces, and color of stock in furnaces to make setting determinations. AI use: 0%
- 6. Remove parts from furnaces after specified times, and air dry or cool parts in water, oil brine, or other baths. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 39.3 · 53K employed
Under 25: 15% · 25–54: 66% · 55+: 19%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Data quality
Employment data available
Narrative & sources
Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate equipment that cuts, shapes, and forms metal and plastic materials or pieces.
Metal and plastic machine workers are employed mainly in factories. Workers must adhere to safety standards to protect themselves from workplace hazards. Most work full time, which for some includes evenings and weekends.
Metal and plastic workers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation and receive 1 year of on-the-job training. Computer numerically controlled (CNC) tool programmers typically need postsecondary training.
The median annual wage for metal and plastic machine workers was $46,800 in May 2024.
Overall employment of metal and plastic machine workers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2024 to 2034, decline.
Important context
This score measures structural AI displacement pressure, not actual job losses. Local wages and demand data are specific to United States AI Work Index; the underlying AI task overlap analysis is consistent across all countries.