---
title: "Will AI Replace Multiple Machine Tool Setters?"
description: "BLS rates multiple machine tool setters' exposure to AI as moderate. What that means, which parts of the work AI touches, and the 2025–2035 outlook…"
canonical: "https://nuecareer.com/careers/will-ai-replace-multiple-machine-tool-setters"
last-updated: "2026-10-15T08:19:32.066Z"
---

# Will AI Replace Multiple Machine Tool Setters? (2026)

**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.

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.

| Measure | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BLS relative AI exposure | Moderate | BLS Employment Projections, AI exposure categories |
| NueCareer AI-resilience score | 50/100 | NueCareer analysis of O\*NET 31.0 Database |
| Projected employment change | +0.6% | BLS EP 2025–2035 |
| Openings a year | 11,600 | BLS EP 2025–2035 |
| Median annual wage | $47,180 | BLS OEWS May 2025 |

## Exposure categories

| BLS category | Occupations |
| --- | --- |
| Low | 203 |
| Moderate (this job) | 194 |
| High | 190 |
| Very high | 199 |

Exposure means AI could be or has been used to assist with or complete some of the work. BLS says it does not imply job loss, productivity gains, automation probability or wage effects. Method: https://www.bls.gov/emp/publications/ai-exposure-categories.htm

## What holds up

- Face-to-face discussions: 4.9/5 (O\*NET work context)
- Handling and moving objects: 4.2/5 (O\*NET work activity importance)
- Performing general physical activities: 3.9/5 (O\*NET work activity importance)
- Repairing and maintaining mechanical equipment: 3.8/5 (O\*NET work activity importance)

## What AI reaches first

- Processing information: 4.2/5 (O\*NET work activity importance)
- Documenting/recording information: 3.9/5 (O\*NET work activity importance)
- Evaluating information to determine compliance with standards: 4.3/5 (O\*NET work activity importance)
- Getting information: 4.4/5 (O\*NET work activity importance)

## O\*NET tasks

- 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.

## Related careers less exposed to AI than multiple machine tool setters

- [Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter](https://nuecareer.com/careers/cabinetmaker-and-bench-carpenter): BLS exposure Low, median $46,680
- [Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender](https://nuecareer.com/careers/paper-goods-machine-setter-operator-and-tender): BLS exposure Low, median $50,270
- [Mixing and Blending Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender](https://nuecareer.com/careers/mixing-and-blending-machine-setter-operator-and-tender): BLS exposure Low, median $48,990
- [Helpers--Production Worker](https://nuecareer.com/careers/helpers-production-worker): BLS exposure Low, median $39,070; [Will AI replace production worker helpers?](https://nuecareer.com/careers/will-ai-replace-production-worker-helpers)
- [Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender](https://nuecareer.com/careers/coating-painting-and-spraying-machine-setter-operator-and-tender): BLS exposure Low, median $48,250; [Will AI replace coating?](https://nuecareer.com/careers/will-ai-replace-coating)
- [Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator](https://nuecareer.com/careers/water-and-wastewater-treatment-plant-and-system-operator): BLS exposure Low, median $60,020; [Will AI replace water treatment operators?](https://nuecareer.com/careers/will-ai-replace-water-treatment-operators)

## 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.

Full profile: https://nuecareer.com/careers/multiple-machine-tool-setter-operator-and-tender-metal-and-plastic.

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This bank includes information from the O\*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). O\*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. NueCareer has transformed the data by joining it to BLS wage and projection data and deriving facet, personality-fit and AI-resilience scores. BLS and BEA data are public domain (17 U.S.C. §105).

O\*NET content is used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). How these figures are sourced and derived: https://nuecareer.com/careers/methodology