Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-3093.00
Operate or tend cooking equipment, such as steam cooking vats, deep fry cookers, pressure cookers, kettles, and boilers, to prepare food products.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· 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
0.15· 2 ISCO-08 groups
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.
ILO value for each linked ISCO-08 group
- ISCO-08 7514Fruit, Vegetable and Related Preservers0.15
- ISCO-08 8160Food and Related Products Machine Operators0.15
Task-level exposure
Show 15 hidden tasks17 rated tasks · 2 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (11.8%)
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. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Record production and test data, such as processing steps, temperature and steam readings, cooking time, batches processed, and test results.O*NET Task ID 4944 | 1.0 |
Read work orders, recipes, or formulas to determine cooking times and temperatures, and ingredient specifications.O*NET Task ID 4948 | 1.0 |
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 (17)
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 |
|---|---|
| Record production and test data, such as processing steps, temperature and steam readings, cooking time, batches processed, and test results. | Core |
| Listen for malfunction alarms, and shut down equipment and notify supervisors when necessary. | Core |
| Collect and examine product samples during production to test them for quality, color, content, consistency, viscosity, acidity, or specific gravity. | Core |
| Observe gauges, dials, and product characteristics, and adjust controls to maintain appropriate temperature, pressure, and flow of ingredients. | Core |
| Read work orders, recipes, or formulas to determine cooking times and temperatures, and ingredient specifications. | Core |
| Clean, wash, and sterilize equipment and cooking area, using water hoses, cleaning or sterilizing solutions, or rinses. | Core |
| Set temperature, pressure, and time controls, and start conveyers, machines, or pumps. | Core |
| Tend or operate and control equipment, such as kettles, cookers, vats and tanks, and boilers, to cook ingredients or prepare products for further processing. | Core |
| Measure or weigh ingredients, using scales or measuring containers. | Core |
| Admit required amounts of water, steam, cooking oils, or compressed air into equipment, such as by opening water valves to cool mixtures to the desired consistency. | Core |
| Remove cooked material or products from equipment. | Core |
| Notify or signal other workers to operate equipment or when processing is complete. | Core |
| Turn valves or start pumps to add ingredients or drain products from equipment and to transfer products for storage, cooling, or further processing. | Core |
| Pour, dump, or load prescribed quantities of ingredients or products into cooking equipment, manually or using a hoist. | Core |
| Place products on conveyors or carts, and monitor product flow. | Supplemental |
| Activate agitators and paddles to mix or stir ingredients, stopping machines when ingredients are thoroughly mixed. | Supplemental |
| Operate auxiliary machines and equipment, such as grinders, canners, and molding presses, to prepare or further process products. | Supplemental |
1.18/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Listen for malfunction alarms, and shut down equipment and notify supervisors when necessary. | E2 structured facilities |
| Collect and examine product samples during production to test them for quality, color, content, consistency, viscosity, acidity, or specific gravity. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Observe gauges, dials, and product characteristics, and adjust controls to maintain appropriate temperature, pressure, and flow of ingredients. | E2 structured facilities |
| Clean, wash, and sterilize equipment and cooking area, using water hoses, cleaning or sterilizing solutions, or rinses. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Set temperature, pressure, and time controls, and start conveyers, machines, or pumps. | E2 structured facilities |
| Tend or operate and control equipment, such as kettles, cookers, vats and tanks, and boilers, to cook ingredients or prepare products for further processing. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure or weigh ingredients, using scales or measuring containers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Admit required amounts of water, steam, cooking oils, or compressed air into equipment, such as by opening water valves to cool mixtures to the desired consistency. | E2 structured facilities |
| Remove cooked material or products from equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Turn valves or start pumps to add ingredients or drain products from equipment and to transfer products for storage, cooling, or further processing. | E2 structured facilities |
| Pour, dump, or load prescribed quantities of ingredients or products into cooking equipment, manually or using a hoist. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Place products on conveyors or carts, and monitor product flow. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Activate agitators and paddles to mix or stir ingredients, stopping machines when ingredients are thoroughly mixed. | E2 structured facilities |
| Operate auxiliary machines and equipment, such as grinders, canners, and molding presses, to prepare or further process products. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 31K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 31K
- Change (2025–35)
- -0.3%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $41,590
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81122 | 두부 및 유사 제품 기계 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 81131 | 육류가공 기계 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 81132 | 어패류가공 기계 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 81140 | 과실 및 채소가공 관련 기계 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 81909 | 그 외 식품가공 관련 기계 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 71091 | 건강원 및 탕제원 종사원 | Related, not a match | 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 7514Fruit, Vegetable and Related Preservers
- ISCO-08 8160Food and Related Products Machine Operators
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.
- baking operatorESCO 8160.2Overlapping, not the same
Baking operators tend automatic reels or conveyor-type ovens to bake bread, pastries and other bakery products. They interpret work orders to determine the products and the quantities to be baked. They set the operational speed of conveyors, baking times, and temperatures. They supervise the baking process and maintain oven operations in control.
- cacao bean roasterESCO 8160.9Overlapping, not the same
Cacao bean roasters set up and operate cacao processing equipments such as a continuous roasters, crackers fanners, drying and grinding equipment.
- fish canning operatorESCO 8160.31Overlapping, not the same
Fish canning operators brine, cook and package fish. They sterilise fish canning lines and introduce fishes in tanks once heads and visceras have been removed from the body. They tend cooking stoves to preheat the fish, and fill the cans either manually or mechanically with fish, olive oil or other products.
- food production operatorESCO 8160.34Overlapping, not the same
Food production operators supply and perform one or more tasks in different stages of the food production process. They perform manufacturing operations and processes to foods and beverages, perform packaging, operate machines manually or automatically, follow predetermined procedures, and take food safety regulations on board.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| H2109 | Pilote d'installation automatisée en industrie alimentaire | Related, not a match |
| H2102 | Conducteur / Conductrice de machines en industrie alimentaire | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| H2105 | Agent / Agente de production en industrie alimentaire | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 8160 | Operadores de máquinas para elaborar productos alimenticios, bebidas y tabaco | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 7705 | Trabajadores conserveros de frutas y hortalizas y trabajadores de la elaboración de bebidas no alcohólicas | Related, not a matchprovisional |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 29201 | Berufe in der Lebensmittelherstellung (ohne Spezialisierung) - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 29202 | Berufe in der Lebensmittelherstellung (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 29282 | Berufe in der Lebensmittelherstellung (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 533 | 食料品製造従事者 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 503 | 食料品生産設備制御・監視員 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
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