Maintenance Workers, Machinery
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 49-9043.00
Lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Moderate· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.17
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only18 rated tasks · 3 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (16.7%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Record production, repair, and machine maintenance information.O*NET Task ID 11834 | 1.0 |
Read work orders and specifications to determine machines and equipment requiring repair or maintenance.O*NET Task ID 11835 | 1.0 |
Inventory and requisition machine parts, equipment, and other supplies so that stock can be maintained and replenished.O*NET Task ID 11838 | 0.5 |
Reassemble machines after the completion of repair or maintenance work.O*NET Task ID 11828 | 0.0 |
Start machines and observe mechanical operation to determine efficiency and to detect problems.O*NET Task ID 11829 | 0.0 |
Inspect or test damaged machine parts, and mark defective areas or advise supervisors of repair needs.O*NET Task ID 11830 | 0.0 |
Lubricate or apply adhesives or other materials to machines, machine parts, or other equipment according to specified procedures.O*NET Task ID 11831 | 0.0 |
Install, replace, or change machine parts and attachments, according to production specifications.O*NET Task ID 11832 | 0.0 |
Dismantle machines and remove parts for repair, using hand tools, chain falls, jacks, cranes, or hoists.O*NET Task ID 11833 | 0.0 |
Set up and operate machines, and adjust controls to regulate operations.O*NET Task ID 11836 | 0.0 |
Collaborate with other workers to repair or move machines, machine parts, or equipment.O*NET Task ID 11837 | 0.0 |
Transport machine parts, tools, equipment, and other material between work areas and storage, using cranes, hoists, or dollies.O*NET Task ID 11839 | 0.0 |
Collect and discard worn machine parts and other refuse to maintain machinery and work areas.O*NET Task ID 11840 | 0.0 |
Clean machines and machine parts, using cleaning solvents, cloths, air guns, hoses, vacuums, or other equipment.O*NET Task ID 11841 | 0.0 |
Replace or repair metal, wood, leather, glass, or other lining in machines, or in equipment compartments or containers.O*NET Task ID 11842 | 0.0 |
Remove hardened material from machines or machine parts, using abrasives, power and hand tools, jackhammers, sledgehammers, or other equipment.O*NET Task ID 11843 | 0.0 |
Measure, mix, prepare, and test chemical solutions used to clean or repair machinery and equipment.O*NET Task ID 11844 | 0.0 |
Replace, empty, or replenish machine and equipment containers such as gas tanks or boxes.O*NET Task ID 11845 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (18)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Reassemble machines after the completion of repair or maintenance work. | Core |
| Start machines and observe mechanical operation to determine efficiency and to detect problems. | Core |
| Inspect or test damaged machine parts, and mark defective areas or advise supervisors of repair needs. | Core |
| Lubricate or apply adhesives or other materials to machines, machine parts, or other equipment according to specified procedures. | Core |
| Install, replace, or change machine parts and attachments, according to production specifications. | Core |
| Dismantle machines and remove parts for repair, using hand tools, chain falls, jacks, cranes, or hoists. | Core |
| Record production, repair, and machine maintenance information. | Core |
| Read work orders and specifications to determine machines and equipment requiring repair or maintenance. | Core |
| Set up and operate machines, and adjust controls to regulate operations. | Core |
| Collaborate with other workers to repair or move machines, machine parts, or equipment. | Core |
| Inventory and requisition machine parts, equipment, and other supplies so that stock can be maintained and replenished. | Core |
| Transport machine parts, tools, equipment, and other material between work areas and storage, using cranes, hoists, or dollies. | Core |
| Collect and discard worn machine parts and other refuse to maintain machinery and work areas. | Core |
| Clean machines and machine parts, using cleaning solvents, cloths, air guns, hoses, vacuums, or other equipment. | Core |
| Replace or repair metal, wood, leather, glass, or other lining in machines, or in equipment compartments or containers. | Core |
| Remove hardened material from machines or machine parts, using abrasives, power and hand tools, jackhammers, sledgehammers, or other equipment. | Core |
| Replace, empty, or replenish machine and equipment containers such as gas tanks or boxes. | Core |
| Measure, mix, prepare, and test chemical solutions used to clean or repair machinery and equipment. | Supplemental |
0.71/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Reassemble machines after the completion of repair or maintenance work. | E0 none |
| Start machines and observe mechanical operation to determine efficiency and to detect problems. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect or test damaged machine parts, and mark defective areas or advise supervisors of repair needs. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Lubricate or apply adhesives or other materials to machines, machine parts, or other equipment according to specified procedures. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Install, replace, or change machine parts and attachments, according to production specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Dismantle machines and remove parts for repair, using hand tools, chain falls, jacks, cranes, or hoists. | E0 none |
| Set up and operate machines, and adjust controls to regulate operations. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Collaborate with other workers to repair or move machines, machine parts, or equipment. | E0 none |
| Inventory and requisition machine parts, equipment, and other supplies so that stock can be maintained and replenished. | E2 structured facilities |
| Transport machine parts, tools, equipment, and other material between work areas and storage, using cranes, hoists, or dollies. | E2 structured facilities |
| Collect and discard worn machine parts and other refuse to maintain machinery and work areas. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean machines and machine parts, using cleaning solvents, cloths, air guns, hoses, vacuums, or other equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Replace or repair metal, wood, leather, glass, or other lining in machines, or in equipment compartments or containers. | E0 none |
| Remove hardened material from machines or machine parts, using abrasives, power and hand tools, jackhammers, sledgehammers, or other equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Replace, empty, or replenish machine and equipment containers such as gas tanks or boxes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure, mix, prepare, and test chemical solutions used to clean or repair machinery and equipment. | E2 structured facilities |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 60K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 59K
- Change (2025–35)
- -1.9%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $60,850
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75320 | 공업기계 설치 및 정비원 | This occupation is narrower | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 7233Agricultural and Industrial Machinery Mechanics and Repairers
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Agricultural and industrial machinery mechanics and repairers fit, install, examine, service and repair engines, agricultural and industrial machinery and mechanical equipment, except motor vehicle, aircraft and electric motors.
Tasks
- (a) fitting, installing, examining, servicing and repairing engines, machinery and mechanical equipment;
- (b) oiling and greasing stationary engines and machinery;
- (c) inspecting and testing new machinery and mechanical equipment for conformity with standards and specifications;
- (d) disassembling machinery and equipment to remove parts and make repairs;
- (e) examining parts for defects such as breakage and excessive wear;
- (f) operating newly repaired machinery and equipment to verify the adequacy of repairs;
- (g) recording repairs and maintenance performed.
Example occupations
Construction machinery mechanic · Construction machinery repairer · Farm machinery repairer · Mining machinery fitter · Mining machinery repairer · Stationary engine fitter · Stationary engine repairer · Train engine fitter · Train engine repairer
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- greaserESCO 7233.6Same scope
Greasers make sure industrial machines are properly lubricated to maintain operations. They use grease guns to oil machines. Greasers also perform basic maintenance and repair duties.
- industrial machinery mechanicESCO 7233.7Overlapping, not the same
Industrial machinery mechanics work on new machinery and equipment in operation. They set up for the specific application and build accessories if necessary, perform maintenance and repair, and run diagnostics to find faults in systems or parts that need replacing.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| I1212 | Opérateur / Opératrice d'installation ou maintenance industrielle | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| I1310 | Mécanicien / Mécanicienne de maintenance industrielle | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 7403 | Mecánicos y ajustadores de maquinaria agrícola e industrial | This occupation is narrower |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 25101 | Berufe in der Maschinenbau- und Betriebstechnik (ohne Spezialisierung) - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| 25102 | Berufe in der Maschinenbau- und Betriebstechnik (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 551 | はん用・生産用・業務用機械器具整備・修理従事者 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources