Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Also called: CNC Machinist (Computer Numerical Control Machinist), Drill Operator, Drill Setup Operator, Machine OperatorSet up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.
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What the data says: AI couldn't halve the time on any of its 17 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 9.5% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 3.5% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other metal workers and plastic workers”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 90% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.4 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $53,110 | $45,610 to $53,200 | 140 |
| Arizona | $48,140 | $44,270 to $48,140 | 70 |
| Arkansas | $46,730 | $37,560 to $49,970 | 60 |
| California | $49,080 | $45,330 to $56,870 | 690 |
| Colorado | $51,280 | $40,890 to $57,730 | 40 |
| Connecticut | $41,080 | $37,610 to $49,620 | 50 |
| Florida | $66,340 | $46,670 to $67,780 | 80 |
| Georgia | $46,270 | $42,800 to $54,980 | 80 |
| Idaho | $69,590 | $57,240 to $81,760 | 70 |
| Illinois | $56,720 | $36,100 to $56,720 | 390 |
| Indiana | $39,110 | $33,220 to $50,180 | 300 |
| Iowa | $43,860 | $40,720 to $52,940 | 110 |
| Kentucky | $51,740 | $48,980 to $51,740 | not published |
| Massachusetts | $77,780 | $58,460 to $80,710 | 60 |
| Michigan | $60,410 | $43,370 to $64,830 | 190 |
| Minnesota | $47,010 | $42,290 to $50,610 | 110 |
| Mississippi | $49,930 | $40,490 to $51,280 | 50 |
| Missouri | $44,990 | $36,300 to $93,620 | 80 |
| New Hampshire | $59,800 | $46,250 to $67,660 | 40 |
| New Jersey | $47,870 | $46,320 to $53,000 | 70 |
| New York | $55,310 | $48,830 to $59,030 | 70 |
| North Carolina | $46,970 | $40,230 to $59,680 | 50 |
| Ohio | $51,670 | $47,180 to $58,600 | 200 |
| Oklahoma | $55,230 | $37,340 to $61,670 | 250 |
| Oregon | not published | not published | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,370 | $37,630 to $63,490 | 180 |
| South Carolina | $52,040 | $47,370 to $68,410 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $45,070 | $41,710 to $46,320 | 400 |
| Texas | $44,350 | $35,220 to $51,090 | 220 |
| Virginia | $90,390 | $43,570 to $90,390 | 100 |
| West Virginia | $45,060 | $39,350 to $49,780 | not published |
| Wisconsin | $49,640 | $47,650 to $68,990 | 60 |
Nationally: $49,080. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on none of its 17 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Verify conformance of machined work to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, micrometers, or fixed or telescoping gauges. | Not published |
| Not much | Study machining instructions, job orders, or blueprints to determine dimensional or finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements. | Not published |
| Not much | Change worn cutting tools, using wrenches. | Not published |
| Not much | Select and set cutting speeds, feed rates, depths of cuts, and cutting tools, according to machining instructions or knowledge of metal properties. | Not published |
| Not much | Move machine controls to lower tools to workpieces and to engage automatic feeds. | Not published |
| Not much | Establish zero reference points on workpieces, such as at the intersections of two edges or over hole locations. | Not published |
See all 17 tasks
| Not much | Observe drilling or boring machine operations to detect any problems. | Not published |
| Not much | Turn valves and direct flow of coolants or cutting oil over cutting areas. | Not published |
| Not much | Verify that workpiece reference lines are parallel to the axis of table rotation, using dial indicators mounted in spindles. | Not published |
| Not much | Install tools in spindles. | Not published |
| Not much | Position and secure workpieces on tables, using bolts, jigs, clamps, shims, or other holding devices. | Not published |
| Not much | Perform minor assembly, such as fastening parts with nuts, bolts, or screws, using power tools or hand tools. | Not published |
| Not much | Lift workpieces onto work tables either manually or with hoists or direct crane operators to lift and position workpieces. | Not published |
| Not much | Operate single- or multiple-spindle drill presses to bore holes so that machining operations can be performed on metal or plastic workpieces. | Not published |
| Not much | Lay out reference lines and machining locations on work, using layout tools, and applying knowledge of shop math and layout techniques. | Not published |
| Not much | Sharpen cutting tools, using bench grinders. | Not published |
| Not much | Operate tracing attachments to duplicate contours from templates or models. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 0 of the 17 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 17 tasks fall under 13 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Position materials or components for assembly | |||
| Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Position workpieces or materials on equipment | |||
| Drill holes in earth or materials | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment | |||
| Maintain tools or equipment | |||
| Assemble products or work aids |
Show all 13 activities
| Repair tools or equipment | |||
| Monitor equipment operation | |||
| Operate cutting or grinding equipment | |||
| Signal others to coordinate work activities | |||
| Operate lifting or moving equipment |
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 1,025 moves out
- 1 Management Analysts Very high +10.1% 13%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 10%
- 3 Sales Managers High +4.5% 9%
- 4 Medical and Health Services Managers High +24.2% 9%
- 5 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 5%
Where people moved in from
of 1,150 moves in
- 1 Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Low +0.8% 23%
- 2 Engineers, All Other Very high +3.7% 6%
- 3 Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers High +2.1% 5%
- 4 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 5 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 10% less than high school
- 57% high school
- 2% postsecondary certificate
- 12% some college
- 12% associate's
- 7% bachelor's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 26 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 14% less than high school
- 52% high school
- 21% some college
- 8% associate's
- 4% bachelor's
- 1% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other metal workers and plastic workers” · 3,391 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other metal workers and plastic workers”
1 program: Machine Tool Technology/Machinist.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
9.1% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | <0.5% | 19.1% |
| a certification | <0.5% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeships: DOL's list of apprenticeable occupations doesn't include this one.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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