Biofuels Processing Technicians
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-8099.01
Calculate, measure, load, mix, and process refined feedstock with additives in fermentation or reaction process vessels and monitor production process. Perform, and keep records of, plant maintenance, repairs, and safety inspections.
- 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 here0.745Group-level value
Scale, 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
0.23–0.27· 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 3132Incinerator and Water Treatment Plant Operators0.27
- ISCO-08 8114Cement, Stone and Other Mineral Products Machine Operators0.23
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only19 rated tasks · 4 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (21.1%)
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
- 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
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % | APIRaw / share % |
|---|---|---|
Monitor and record flow meter performance.51-8099.01 | 0.0025100.0 | 0.0017100.0 |
| Not observed on any surface — 18 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states. | ||
Calculate, measure, load, or mix refined feedstock used in biofuels production. | —0 | —0 |
Operate chemical processing equipment for the production of biofuels. | —0 | —0 |
Operate equipment, such as a centrifuge, to extract biofuels products and secondary by-products or reusable fractions. | —0 | —0 |
Operate valves, pumps, engines, or generators to control and adjust biofuels production. | —0 | —0 |
Process refined feedstock with additives in fermentation or reaction process vessels. | —0 | —0 |
Assess the quality of biofuels additives for reprocessing. | —0 | —0 |
Calibrate liquid flow devices and meters including fuel, chemical, and water meters. | —0 | —0 |
Collect biofuels samples and perform routine laboratory tests or analyses to assess biofuels quality. | —0 | —0 |
Inspect biofuels plant or processing equipment regularly, recording or reporting damage and mechanical problems. | —0 | —0 |
Measure and monitor raw biofuels feedstock. | —0 | —0 |
Monitor and record biofuels processing data. | —0 | —0 |
Monitor batch, continuous flow, or hybrid biofuels production processes. | —0 | —0 |
Monitor stored biofuels products or secondary by-products until reused or transferred to users. | —0 | —0 |
Preprocess feedstock in preparation for physical, chemical, or biological fuel production processes. | —0 | —0 |
Clean biofuels processing work area, ensuring compliance with safety regulations. | —0 | —0 |
Coordinate raw product sourcing or collection. | —0 | —0 |
Perform routine maintenance on mechanical, electrical, or electronic equipment or instruments used in the processing of biofuels. | —0 | —0 |
Rebuild, repair, or replace biofuels processing equipment components. | —0 | —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 |
|---|---|
Collect biofuels samples and perform routine laboratory tests or analyses to assess biofuels quality.O*NET Task ID 17825 | 0.5 |
Monitor and record biofuels processing data.O*NET Task ID 17828 | 0.5 |
Monitor batch, continuous flow, or hybrid biofuels production processes.O*NET Task ID 17830 | 0.5 |
Coordinate raw product sourcing or collection.O*NET Task ID 17834 | 0.5 |
Calculate, measure, load, or mix refined feedstock used in biofuels production.O*NET Task ID 17818 | 0.0 |
Operate chemical processing equipment for the production of biofuels.O*NET Task ID 17819 | 0.0 |
Operate equipment, such as a centrifuge, to extract biofuels products and secondary by-products or reusable fractions.O*NET Task ID 17820 | 0.0 |
Operate valves, pumps, engines, or generators to control and adjust biofuels production.O*NET Task ID 17821 | 0.0 |
Process refined feedstock with additives in fermentation or reaction process vessels.O*NET Task ID 17822 | 0.0 |
Assess the quality of biofuels additives for reprocessing.O*NET Task ID 17823 | 0.0 |
Calibrate liquid flow devices and meters, including fuel, chemical, and water meters.O*NET Task ID 17824 | 0.0 |
Inspect biofuels plant or processing equipment regularly, recording or reporting damage and mechanical problems.O*NET Task ID 17826 | 0.0 |
Measure and monitor raw biofuels feedstock.O*NET Task ID 17827 | 0.0 |
Monitor and record flow meter performance.O*NET Task ID 17829 | 0.0 |
Monitor stored biofuels products or secondary by-products until reused or transferred to users.O*NET Task ID 17831 | 0.0 |
Preprocess feedstock in preparation for physical, chemical, or biological fuel production processes.O*NET Task ID 17832 | 0.0 |
Clean biofuels processing work area, ensuring compliance with safety regulations.O*NET Task ID 17833 | 0.0 |
Perform routine maintenance on mechanical, electrical, or electronic equipment or instruments used in the processing of biofuels.O*NET Task ID 17835 | 0.0 |
Rebuild, repair, or replace biofuels processing equipment components.O*NET Task ID 17836 | 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®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (19)
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 |
|---|---|
| Calculate, measure, load, or mix refined feedstock used in biofuels production. | Core |
| Operate chemical processing equipment for the production of biofuels. | Core |
| Operate equipment, such as a centrifuge, to extract biofuels products and secondary by-products or reusable fractions. | Core |
| Operate valves, pumps, engines, or generators to control and adjust biofuels production. | Core |
| Process refined feedstock with additives in fermentation or reaction process vessels. | Core |
| Assess the quality of biofuels additives for reprocessing. | Core |
| Calibrate liquid flow devices and meters, including fuel, chemical, and water meters. | Core |
| Collect biofuels samples and perform routine laboratory tests or analyses to assess biofuels quality. | Core |
| Inspect biofuels plant or processing equipment regularly, recording or reporting damage and mechanical problems. | Core |
| Measure and monitor raw biofuels feedstock. | Core |
| Monitor and record biofuels processing data. | Core |
| Monitor and record flow meter performance. | Core |
| Monitor batch, continuous flow, or hybrid biofuels production processes. | Core |
| Monitor stored biofuels products or secondary by-products until reused or transferred to users. | Core |
| Preprocess feedstock in preparation for physical, chemical, or biological fuel production processes. | Core |
| Clean biofuels processing work area, ensuring compliance with safety regulations. | Core |
| Perform routine maintenance on mechanical, electrical, or electronic equipment or instruments used in the processing of biofuels. | Core |
| Rebuild, repair, or replace biofuels processing equipment components. | Core |
| Coordinate raw product sourcing or collection. | Supplemental |
1.24/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Calculate, measure, load, or mix refined feedstock used in biofuels production. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate chemical processing equipment for the production of biofuels. | E2 structured facilities |
| Operate equipment, such as a centrifuge, to extract biofuels products and secondary by-products or reusable fractions. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate valves, pumps, engines, or generators to control and adjust biofuels production. | E2 structured facilities |
| Process refined feedstock with additives in fermentation or reaction process vessels. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Assess the quality of biofuels additives for reprocessing. | E2 structured facilities |
| Calibrate liquid flow devices and meters, including fuel, chemical, and water meters. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Collect biofuels samples and perform routine laboratory tests or analyses to assess biofuels quality. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect biofuels plant or processing equipment regularly, recording or reporting damage and mechanical problems. | E2 structured facilities |
| Measure and monitor raw biofuels feedstock. | E2 structured facilities |
| Monitor batch, continuous flow, or hybrid biofuels production processes. | E2 structured facilities |
| Monitor stored biofuels products or secondary by-products until reused or transferred to users. | E2 structured facilities |
| Preprocess feedstock in preparation for physical, chemical, or biological fuel production processes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean biofuels processing work area, ensuring compliance with safety regulations. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Perform routine maintenance on mechanical, electrical, or electronic equipment or instruments used in the processing of biofuels. | E0 none |
| Rebuild, repair, or replace biofuels processing equipment components. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
Values for the whole SOC 51-8099 group (Plant and system operators, all other), not for this O*NET occupation alone.
- Employment, 2025
- 14K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 15K
- Change (2025–35)
- +2.3%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $62,470
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 83124 | 화학물 증류기 및 반응기 조작원 | 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 3132Incinerator and Water Treatment Plant Operators
- ISCO-08 8114Cement, Stone and Other Mineral Products Machine Operators
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
ISCO-08 3132
- water treatment systems operatorESCO 3132.7
Water treatment system operators treat water to ensure safety for drinking, irrigation, or other use. They operate and maintain water treatment equipment and ensure the water is safe for bottling and use in food production by thoroughly testing before distribution, and by meeting environmental standards.
- liquid waste treatment plant operatorESCO 3132.2
Liquid waste treatment technicians remove hazardous chemicals and pollutants from liquid waste such as oil so that it can be safely used for new applications. They operate and maintain liquid waste treatment equipment, monitor operations, and test samples to ensure the safety standards are met.
- incinerator operatorESCO 3132.1
Incinerator operators tend incineration machines which burn refuse and waste. They ensure the equipment is maintained, and that the incineration process occurs in accordance with safety regulations for the incineration of waste.
- water plant technicianESCO 3132.6
Water plant technicians maintain and repair water treatment and supply equipment in a water plant. They ensure the provision of clean water by measuring the water quality, ensuring it is filtered and treated correctly, and maintaining distribution systems.
- wastewater treatment operatorESCO 3132.4
Wastewater treatment operators operate equipment used in a water or wastewater plant. They treat and clean drinking water before it is distributed to the consumer and process wastewater to remove harmful substances before returning it to rivers and seas. They take samples and perform tests to analyse the water quality.
- wastewater treatment technicianESCO 3132.5
Wastewater treatment technicians aid wastewater treatment operators in the operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment equipment, and the purification procedure of wastewater, in sewage plants. They perform repair duties.
+1 more
ISCO-08 8114
- slate mixerESCO 8114.6
Slate mixers operate and maintain slate mixing machines that mix multicolored slate granules used for asphalt-coated roofing felt surfacing.
- asphalt plant operatorESCO 8114.1
Asphalt plant operators extract raw materials such as sand and stones and operate mobile equipment for their transport to the plant. They tend automated machines to crush and sort out stones, and to mix the sand and stones with asphalt cement. They take samples to check the quality of the mix and arrange for its transport to the construction site.
- concrete products machine operatorESCO 8114.3
Concrete products machine operators tend machines used to produce moulded concrete products. They perform greasing, assembling and stripping of moulds. They also participate in the cement mixing process.
- precast moulderESCO 8114.5
Precast moulders handcast decorative and structural concrete building products such as fireplace units, blocks or coloured tiles. They use a portable concrete-mixing machine.
- electrolytic cell makerESCO 8114.4
Electrolytic cell makers create, finish and test concrete electrolytic cells using equipments, tools and concrete mixers.
- block machine operatorESCO 8114.2
Block machine operators control, maintain and operate concrete blocks casting machine which fills and vibrate molds to compact wet concrete into finished blocks.
+2 more
ESCO occupations that ESCO classifies under the ISCO-08 unit groups linked above; they are not matched to this occupation one by one.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| H1243 | Technicien / Technicienne en bioproduction | Related, not a match |
| H2304 | Opérateur / Opératrice de fabrication des industries chimiques | Related, not a match |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3133 | Técnicos en control de instalaciones de procesamiento de productos químicos | This occupation is narrower |
| 8131 | Operadores en plantas industriales químicas | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 41312 | Berufe in der Chemie- und Pharmatechnik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 501 | 化学製品生産設備制御・監視員 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 531 | 化学製品製造従事者 | 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