Short answer
Unlikely. BLS rates the work's exposure to AI as moderate, below the middle of the pack, and still projects employment to grow.
AI and jobs
Will AI Replace Multiple Machine Tool Setters? (2026)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics places multiple machine tool setters in its moderate AI exposure category, below the middle of the pack: some of the work overlaps with what AI can do, much of it does not. BLS projects employment to change by +0.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 11,600 openings a year.
- BLS AI exposure
- ModerateBLS EP supplemental table
- AI-resilience score
- 50/100Higher than 61% of jobs · NueCareer
- Projected change
- +0.6%BLS EP 2025–2035; all jobs 3.5%
- Openings a year
- 11,600BLS EP 2025–2035
The federal measure
How exposed multiple machine tool setters are to AI
The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes a relative AI exposure category for each occupation it projects, built from five public measures of where AI could be, or already is, used to assist with or complete the work. Multiple Machine Tool Setters land in the moderate category: below the middle of the pack: some of the work overlaps with what AI can do, much of it does not.
Where this job sits on the BLS scale
786 occupations in the NueCareer bank, in BLS's four relative categories; width shows how many fall in each
- Low203 occupations · 26%
- Moderate · this job194 occupations · 25%
- High190 occupations · 24%
- Very high199 occupations · 25%
Source: BLS Employment Projections, AI exposure categories supplemental table.
- Exposure is relative. The categories rank occupations against each other; they are not a probability that a job is automated.
- BLS says exposure does not imply job loss, productivity gains, automation probability or wage effects. A highly exposed job can still grow if AI makes the people in it more productive.
- The classification reflects AI capabilities as the underlying studies measured them. Read the BLS method and limitations.
Inside the work
What AI can and cannot do in this job
O*NET rates how important each work activity is to an occupation and how often each working condition comes up. The ratings below are the ones that move the job's NueCareer AI-resilience score the most: the ones that pull it up, and the ones that pull it down. Only ratings clearly above the midpoint count.
What holds up
Physical, hands-on and person-to-person work
- Face-to-face discussions4.9/5O*NET work context, frequency or level
- Handling and moving objects4.2/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Performing general physical activities3.9/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Repairing and maintaining mechanical equipment3.8/5O*NET work activity, importance
What AI reaches first
Routine, repeatable and screen-based work
- Processing information4.2/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Documenting/recording information3.9/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Evaluating information to determine compliance with standards4.3/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Getting information4.4/5O*NET work activity, importance
The tasks O*NET lists for multiple machine tool setters
- Inspect workpieces for defects, and measure workpieces to determine accuracy of machine operation, using rules, templates, or other measuring instruments.
- Select, install, and adjust alignment of drills, cutters, dies, guides, and holding devices, using templates, measuring instruments, and hand tools.
- Instruct other workers in machine set-up and operation.
- Observe machine operation to detect workpiece defects or machine malfunctions, adjusting machines as necessary.
- Position, adjust, and secure stock material or workpieces against stops, on arbors, or in chucks, fixtures, or automatic feeding mechanisms, manually or using hoists.
- Perform minor machine maintenance, such as oiling or cleaning machines, dies, or workpieces, or adding coolant to machine reservoirs.
O*NET 31.0 Database task statements, most important first.
The jobs
Will there still be jobs?
Exposure says where AI meets the work. The BLS projection says what the labor market is expected to do over 2025–2035. BLS projects +0.6% change in employment over the decade, against 3.5% across all occupations, and about 11,600 openings a year once retirements and career changes are counted. About 124,590 people work in the job today, at a median of $47,180 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Options
Related careers less exposed to AI than multiple machine tool setters
Careers O*NET lists as related to the work, or in the same field at similar pay, that BLS places in a lower exposure category.
Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter
Production
- Median pay
- $46,680median a year
- Growth
- −2.9%
- Openings / yr
- 6,900
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 59/100
- resilience
Cut, shape, and assemble wooden articles or set up and operate a variety of woodworking machines, such as power saws, jointers, and mortisers to surface, cut, or shape lumber or to fabricate parts for wood products.
- Median pay
- $50,270median a year
- Growth
- −3.6%
- Openings / yr
- 9,000
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 58/100
- resilience
Set up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, forming, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets into pro…
- Median pay
- $48,990median a year
- Growth
- −6.1%
- Openings / yr
- 7,900
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 58/100
- resilience
Set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.
Helpers--Production Worker
Production
- Median pay
- $39,070median a year
- Growth
- −8.2%
- Openings / yr
- 20,900
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 57/100
- resilience
Help production workers by performing duties requiring less skill.
- Median pay
- $48,250median a year
- Growth
- +2.5%
- Openings / yr
- 15,300
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 52/100
- resilience
Set up, operate, or tend spraying or rolling machines to coat or paint any of a wide variety of products, including glassware, cloth, ceramics, metal, plastic, paper, or wood, with lacquer, silver, copper, rubber, var…
- Median pay
- $60,020median a year
- Growth
- −5.7%
- Openings / yr
- 10,000
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 52/100
- resilience
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
Questions
Will AI Replace Multiple Machine Tool Setters? FAQ
Will AI replace multiple machine tool setters?
Unlikely. BLS rates the work's exposure to AI as moderate, below the middle of the pack, and still projects employment to grow. BLS defines exposure as AI being able to assist with or complete some of the work, and says it does not imply job loss, productivity gains or wage effects. BLS projects employment to change by +0.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 11,600 openings a year.
How exposed are multiple machine tool setters to AI?
BLS sorts 786 occupations into four relative categories: low, moderate, high and very high. Multiple Machine Tool Setters are in the moderate category, alongside 193 other occupations. The categories combine five public measures of where AI could be or already is used, and they compare occupations with each other rather than giving an absolute risk.
What parts of a multiple machine tool setter, operator, and tender, metal and plastic's job can AI do?
In O*NET's description of the work, the parts that overlap most with what AI handles well are processing information, documenting/recording information and evaluating information to determine compliance with standards. The parts that hold up best are face-to-face discussions, handling and moving objects and performing general physical activities. These come from O*NET ratings of how important each activity is to the job, read through NueCareer's AI-resilience method.
Is being a multiple machine tool setter, operator, and tender, metal and plastic a safe career from AI?
On NueCareer's AI-resilience score, built from O*NET work activities, multiple machine tool setters score 50 out of 100, higher than 61% of the occupations we score. The job pays a median of $47,180 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No job is fully safe from technological change, but the federal exposure category and the projected openings are the two numbers worth weighing.
What careers similar to multiple machine tool setters are less exposed to AI?
Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter (low exposure, $46,680 median), Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender (low exposure, $50,270 median), Mixing and Blending Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender (low exposure, $48,990 median), Helpers--Production Worker (low exposure, $39,070 median). Each is in a lower BLS exposure category than multiple machine tool setters, and most are listed by O*NET as related to the work.
The AI exposure category is the Bureau of Labor Statistics'. The AI-resilience score and the activity breakdown are NueCareer's analysis of O*NET 31.0 Database data (method), not a federal figure. More: jobs most exposed to AI, jobs least exposed to AI, or check any job.