Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-4031.00
Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
- 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
0.17–0.18· 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 7223Metal Working Machine Tool Setters and Operators0.18
- ISCO-08 8142Plastic Products Machine Operators0.17
Task-level exposure
Show 31 hidden tasks32 rated tasks · 1 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (3.1%)
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
- 2 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % | APIRaw / share % |
|---|---|---|
Measure completed workpieces to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers, gauges, calipers, templates, or rulers.51-4031.00 | 0.0043100.0 | 0.0077100.0 |
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 |
|---|---|
Scribe reference lines on workpieces as guides for cutting operations, according to blueprints, templates, sample parts, or specifications.O*NET Task ID 10120 | 0.5 |
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®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (31)
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 |
|---|---|
| Measure completed workpieces to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers, gauges, calipers, templates, or rulers. | Core |
| Examine completed workpieces for defects, such as chipped edges or marred surfaces and sort defective pieces according to types of flaws. | Core |
| Read work orders or production schedules to determine specifications, such as materials to be used, locations of cutting lines, or dimensions and tolerances. | Core |
| Load workpieces, plastic material, or chemical solutions into machines. | Core |
| Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material. | Core |
| Start machines, monitor their operations, and record operational data. | Core |
| Test and adjust machine speeds or actions, according to product specifications, using gauges and hand tools. | Core |
| Turn controls to set cutting speeds, feed rates, or table angles for specified operations. | Core |
| Clean work area. | Core |
| Install, align, and lock specified punches, dies, cutting blades, or other fixtures in rams or beds of machines, using gauges, templates, feelers, shims, and hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Clean and lubricate machines. | Supplemental |
| Position, align, and secure workpieces against fixtures or stops on machine beds or on dies. | Supplemental |
| Scribe reference lines on workpieces as guides for cutting operations, according to blueprints, templates, sample parts, or specifications. | Supplemental |
| Set blade tensions, heights, and angles to perform prescribed cuts, using wrenches. | Supplemental |
| Adjust ram strokes of presses to specified lengths, using hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Place workpieces on cutting tables, manually or using hoists, cranes, or sledges. | Supplemental |
| Position guides, stops, holding blocks, or other fixtures to secure and direct workpieces, using hand tools and measuring devices. | Supplemental |
| Turn valves to start flow of coolant against cutting areas or to start airflow that blows cuttings away from kerfs. | Supplemental |
| Set stops on machine beds, change dies, and adjust components, such as rams or power presses, when making multiple or successive passes. | Supplemental |
| Lubricate workpieces with oil. | Supplemental |
| Replace defective blades or wheels, using hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Mark identifying data on workpieces. | Supplemental |
| Plan sequences of operations, applying knowledge of physical properties of workpiece materials. | Supplemental |
| Grind out burrs or sharp edges, using portable grinders, speed lathes, or polishing jacks. | Supplemental |
| Sharpen dulled blades, using bench grinders, abrasive wheels, or lathes. | Supplemental |
| Remove housings, feed tubes, tool holders, or other accessories to replace worn or broken parts, such as springs or bushings. | Supplemental |
| Hone cutters with oilstones to remove nicks. | Supplemental |
| Select, clean, and install spacers, rubber sleeves, or cutters on arbors. | Supplemental |
| Preheat workpieces, using heating furnaces or hand torches. | Supplemental |
| Operate forklifts to deliver materials. | Supplemental |
| Use equipment designed to join sheet metal, such as spot welders. | Supplemental |
1.10/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Measure completed workpieces to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers, gauges, calipers, templates, or rulers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Examine completed workpieces for defects, such as chipped edges or marred surfaces and sort defective pieces according to types of flaws. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Load workpieces, plastic material, or chemical solutions into machines. | E2 structured facilities |
| Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Start machines, monitor their operations, and record operational data. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Test and adjust machine speeds or actions, according to product specifications, using gauges and hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Install, align, and lock specified punches, dies, cutting blades, or other fixtures in rams or beds of machines, using gauges, templates, feelers, shims, and hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean and lubricate machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Position, align, and secure workpieces against fixtures or stops on machine beds or on dies. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Adjust ram strokes of presses to specified lengths, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Position guides, stops, holding blocks, or other fixtures to secure and direct workpieces, using hand tools and measuring devices. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Set stops on machine beds, change dies, and adjust components, such as rams or power presses, when making multiple or successive passes. | E2 structured facilities |
| Lubricate workpieces with oil. | E2 structured facilities |
| Mark identifying data on workpieces. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean work area. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate forklifts to deliver materials. | E2 structured facilities |
| Scribe reference lines on workpieces as guides for cutting operations, according to blueprints, templates, sample parts, or specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Set blade tensions, heights, and angles to perform prescribed cuts, using wrenches. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Place workpieces on cutting tables, manually or using hoists, cranes, or sledges. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Thread ends of metal coils from reels through slitters and secure ends on recoilers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Turn valves to start flow of coolant against cutting areas or to start airflow that blows cuttings away from kerfs. | E2 structured facilities |
| Replace defective blades or wheels, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Turn controls to set cutting speeds, feed rates, or table angles for specified operations. | E2 structured facilities |
| Hand-form, cut, or finish workpieces, using tools such as table saws, hand sledges, or anvils. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Grind out burrs or sharp edges, using portable grinders, speed lathes, or polishing jacks. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Sharpen dulled blades, using bench grinders, abrasive wheels, or lathes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove housings, feed tubes, tool holders, or other accessories to replace worn or broken parts, such as springs or bushings. | E0 none |
| Hone cutters with oilstones to remove nicks. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Select, clean, and install spacers, rubber sleeves, or cutters on arbors. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Preheat workpieces, using heating furnaces or hand torches. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 171K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 153K
- Change (2025–35)
- -10.5%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $46,330
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85105 | 프레스기 및 절단기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 85106 | 금속 절곡기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 84159 | 그 외 금속가공 기계 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 84170 | 판금기 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | 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 7223Metal Working Machine Tool Setters and Operators
- ISCO-08 8142Plastic 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.
- laser cutting machine operatorESCO 7223.4.3This occupation is broader
Laser cutting machine operators set up, program and tend laser cutting machines, designed to cut, or rather burn off and melt, excess material from a metal workpiece by directing a computer-motion-controlled powerful laser beam through laser optics. They read laser cutting machine blueprints and tooling instructions, perform regular machine maintenance, and make adjustments to the milling controls, such as the intensity of the laser beam and its positioning.
- metal nibbling operatorESCO 7223.11This occupation is broader
Metal nibbling operators cut detailed patterns from metal surfaces by using manual or powered metal nibblers, such as a handheld nibbling drill or a nibbling machine.
- metal sawing machine operatorESCO 7223.4.5This occupation is broader
Metal sawing machine operators set up and operate metal sawing machines designed to cut excess metal from a metal workpiece by the use of a (or several) large toothed-edges blade(s). They also trim clean finished shapes out of metal using tin snips, metal shears or wire cutters. They also smoothen and trim sharp or rough edges using various tools.
- punch press operatorESCO 7223.4.7This occupation is broader
Punch press operators set up and tend punch presses designed to cut workpieces into their desired shape by propelling a hydraulic ram to punch holes into them with a single die set that pushes through the top dead centre, through the surface, and to the bottom dead centre of the workpiece.
- slitter operatorESCO 8189.2This occupation is broader
Slitter operators set up, operate, or tend machines, in order to cut, slit, bend, or straighten sheets of metal, paper, or other materials to specific widths. Slitter operators must also ensure quality, by examining various end-products and observing pre-defined tolerances.
- straightening machine operatorESCO 7223.22This occupation is broader
Straightening machine operators set up and tend straightening machines designed to form metal workpieces into their desired shape using pressing practices. They adjust the angle and the height of the straightening rolls and select the settings for the pressing force required to straighten the workpiece, taking into account the end product's yield strenght and size, without excess work hardening.
- drill press operatorESCO 7223.6Overlapping, not the same
Drill press operators set up and operate drill presses designed to cut excess material from or enlarge a hole in a fabricated workpiece using a hardened, rotary, multipointed cutting tool that inserts the drill into the workpiece axially.
- laser marking machine operatorESCO 7223.10Overlapping, not the same
Laser marking machine operators set up and tend laser marking or engraving machines designed to precisely carve a design in the surface of a metal workpiece by use of a moving controller and an engraving laser beam point attached to it that traces patterns on the metal workpiece's surface. They make adjustments to the machine in terms of laser beam intensity, direction and speed of movement. They also ensure the laser table, used to perform laser machine engravings on and guides the laser beam, is properly set up.
- stamping press operatorESCO 7223.21Overlapping, not the same
Stamping press operators set up and tend stamping presses designed to form metal workpieces in their desired shape by applying pressure through the up and down movement of a bolster plate and a die attached to a stamping ram on the metal, resulting in the die producing smaller metal parts of the workpiece fed to the press.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| H2905 | Cisailleur / Cisailleuse en métallurgie | Same scopeprovisional |
| H2904 | Forgeron industriel / Forgeronne industrielle | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| H2912 | Régleur / Régleuse d'équipements industriels | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 7323 | Ajustadores y operadores de máquinas-herramienta | This occupation is narrower |
| 8142 | Operadores de máquinas para fabricar productos de material plástico | Related, not a match |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 24201 | Berufe in der Metallbearbeitung (ohne Spezialisierung) - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the same |
| 24212 | Berufe in der spanlosen Metallbearbeitung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the same |
| 24232 | Berufe in der spanenden Metallbearbeitung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 524 | 金属プレス従事者 | This occupation is broader |
| 494 | 金属プレス設備制御・監視員 | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 496 | 板金設備制御・監視員 | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 529 | その他の製品製造・加工処理従事者(金属製品) | Related, not a match |
| 538 | ゴム・プラスチック製品製造従事者 | Related, not a match |
| 495 | 鉄工・製缶設備制御・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