Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-9041.00
Set up, operate, or tend machines, such as glass-forming machines, plodder machines, and tuber machines, to shape and form products such as glassware, food, rubber, soap, brick, tile, clay, wax, tobacco, or cosmetics.
- 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
0.14–0.18· 4 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 7516Tobacco Preparers and Tobacco Products Makers0.14
- ISCO-08 8141Rubber Products Machine Operators0.18
- ISCO-08 8160Food and Related Products Machine Operators0.15
- ISCO-08 8181Glass and Ceramics Plant Operators0.17
Task-level exposure
Show 26 hidden tasks28 rated tasks · 2 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (7.1%)
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
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 and maintain production data, such as meter readings, and quantities, types, and dimensions of materials produced.O*NET Task ID 12451 | 1.0 |
Complete work tickets, and place them with products.O*NET Task ID 12458 | 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 (26)
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 |
|---|---|
| Adjust machine components to regulate speeds, pressures, and temperatures, and amounts, dimensions, and flow of materials or ingredients. | Core |
| Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to standards, using measuring devices such as templates, micrometers, or scales. | Core |
| Monitor machine operations and observe lights and gauges to detect malfunctions. | Core |
| Press control buttons to activate machinery and equipment. | Core |
| Turn controls to adjust machine functions, such as regulating air pressure, creating vacuums, and adjusting coolant flow. | Core |
| Review work orders, specifications, or instructions to determine materials, ingredients, procedures, components, settings, and adjustments for extruding, forming, pressing, or compacting machines. | Core |
| Record and maintain production data, such as meter readings, and quantities, types, and dimensions of materials produced. | Core |
| Notify supervisors when extruded filaments fail to meet standards. | Core |
| Synchronize speeds of sections of machines when producing products involving several steps or processes. | Core |
| Clear jams, and remove defective or substandard materials or products. | Core |
| Move materials, supplies, components, and finished products between storage and work areas, using work aids such as racks, hoists, and handtrucks. | Core |
| Clean dies, arbors, compression chambers, and molds, using swabs, sponges, or air hoses. | Core |
| Select and install machine components, such as dies, molds, and cutters, according to specifications, using hand tools and measuring devices. | Supplemental |
| Feed products into machines by hand or conveyor. | Supplemental |
| Swab molds with solutions to prevent products from sticking. | Supplemental |
| Complete work tickets, and place them with products. | Supplemental |
| Activate machines to shape or form products, such as candy bars, light bulbs, balloons, or insulation panels. | Supplemental |
| Remove molds, mold components, and feeder tubes from machinery after production is complete. | Supplemental |
| Remove materials or products from molds or from extruding, forming, pressing, or compacting machines, and stack or store them for additional processing. | Supplemental |
| Measure, mix, cut, shape, soften, and join materials and ingredients, such as powder, cornmeal, or rubber to prepare them for machine processing. | Supplemental |
| Send product samples to laboratories for analysis. | Supplemental |
| Disassemble equipment to repair it or to replace parts, such as nozzles, punches, and filters. | Supplemental |
| Pour, scoop, or dump specified ingredients, metal assemblies, or mixtures into sections of machine prior to starting machines. | Supplemental |
| Install, align, and adjust neck rings, press plungers, and feeder tubes. | Supplemental |
| Couple air and gas lines to machines to maintain plasticity of material and to regulate solidification of final products. | Supplemental |
| Measure arbors and dies to verify sizes specified on work tickets. | Supplemental |
1.35/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Adjust machine components to regulate speeds, pressures, and temperatures, and amounts, dimensions, and flow of materials or ingredients. | E2 structured facilities |
| Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to standards, using measuring devices such as templates, micrometers, or scales. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Monitor machine operations and observe lights and gauges to detect malfunctions. | E2 structured facilities |
| Press control buttons to activate machinery and equipment. | E2 structured facilities |
| Turn controls to adjust machine functions, such as regulating air pressure, creating vacuums, and adjusting coolant flow. | E2 structured facilities |
| Synchronize speeds of sections of machines when producing products involving several steps or processes. | E2 structured facilities |
| Clear jams, and remove defective or substandard materials or products. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Move materials, supplies, components, and finished products between storage and work areas, using work aids such as racks, hoists, and handtrucks. | E2 structured facilities |
| Clean dies, arbors, compression chambers, and molds, using swabs, sponges, or air hoses. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Select and install machine components, such as dies, molds, and cutters, according to specifications, using hand tools and measuring devices. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Feed products into machines by hand or conveyor. | E2 structured facilities |
| Swab molds with solutions to prevent products from sticking. | E2 structured facilities |
| Complete work tickets, and place them with products. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Activate machines to shape or form products, such as candy bars, light bulbs, balloons, or insulation panels. | E2 structured facilities |
| Remove molds, mold components, and feeder tubes from machinery after production is complete. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove materials or products from molds or from extruding, forming, pressing, or compacting machines, and stack or store them for additional processing. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure, mix, cut, shape, soften, and join materials and ingredients, such as powder, cornmeal, or rubber to prepare them for machine processing. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Send product samples to laboratories for analysis. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Disassemble equipment to repair it or to replace parts, such as nozzles, punches, and filters. | E0 none |
| Pour, scoop, or dump specified ingredients, metal assemblies, or mixtures into sections of machine prior to starting machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Install, align, and adjust neck rings, press plungers, and feeder tubes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Couple air and gas lines to machines to maintain plasticity of material and to regulate solidification of final products. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure arbors and dies to verify sizes specified on work tickets. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 58K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 59K
- Change (2025–35)
- +1.5%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $45,760
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81123 | 국수 및 면류 제품 기계 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 83222 | 고무제품 생산기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 84311 | 유리 제조 및 제품 가공기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 84322 | 벽돌 및 타일 생산기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 83211 | 약제품 생산기 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 83212 | 화장품 생산기 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 83229 | 그 외 타이어 및 고무제품 생산기 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 7516Tobacco Preparers and Tobacco Products Makers
- ISCO-08 8141Rubber Products Machine Operators
- ISCO-08 8160Food and Related Products Machine Operators
- ISCO-08 8181Glass and Ceramics Plant 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.
- auger press operatorESCO 8181.1This occupation is broader
Auger press operators control and adjust an auger-press in order to perform clay forming, extrusion and cutting operations on products according to specifications.
- cake press operatorESCO 8142.2This occupation is broader
Cake press operators set up and tend the hydraulic presses that compress and bake plastic chips into cake moulds to produce plastic sheets. They regulate and adjust the pressure and temperature.
- candy machine operatorESCO 8160.11This occupation is broader
Candy machine operators tend machines that mix candy ingredients. They tend machines that weigh, measure, and mix ingredients. They form soft candies by spreading candy onto cooling and warming slabs cutting them manually or mechanically. They cast candies in moulds or by machine that extrudes candy.
- chocolate moulding operatorESCO 8160.16This occupation is broader
Chocolate moulding operators tend machines and equipment that pour tempered chocolate into moulds to form bars, blocks, and other shapes of chococlate. They monitor machines to ensure that moulds do not jam.
- extrusion machine operatorESCO 8121.2This occupation is broader
Extrusion machine operators set up, monitor and maintain machines which heat or melt raw materials, and pull or push the heated material through a shaped die to form it into a continuous profile with a preset cross section such as tubes, pipes and sheeting. They may also clean and maintain the equipment.
- fibre machine tenderESCO 8181.6This occupation is broader
Fibre machine tenders operate and maintain extrusion machines that form sliver from filaments. They work with synthetic materials such as fiberglass or liquid polymer or non-synthetic materials such as rayon.
- glass forming machine operatorESCO 8181.8This occupation is broader
Glass forming machine operators operate and maintain machines that press or blow molten glass in moulds to form or shape products, such as neons, bottles, jars and drinking glasses. They set up and adjust machines, and weigh, measure and check production samples to check conformity to the set specifications.
- oilseed presserESCO 7514.3This occupation is broader
Oilseed pressers operate hydraulic presses that extracts oil from oilseed.
- plodder operatorESCO 8131.18This occupation is broader
Plodder operators control the milled soap compression machine that produces specific shapes and sizes of soap bars, ensuring the products conform to specifications and quality requirements.
- record press operatorESCO 8142.13This occupation is broader
Record press operators tend a machine that presses vinyl with a negative impression of a master disc. As pressure is applied, the vinyl is forced into the grooves of the master disc and a playable record is obtained.
- V-belt builderESCO 8141.1.9This occupation is broader
V-belt builders form V-belts out of calendered rubber rolls. They measure the amount of rubber needed and cut it with scissors. V-belt builders brush rubber cement on sides of the belt. They put belts on the drum to compress materials together and cut the belt to specified width with a knife.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| H2801 | Agent / Agente de fabrication du verre | This occupation is broader |
| H2802 | Opérateur / Opératrice de fabrication en matériaux de construction | Related, not a match |
| H2808 | Conducteur / Conductrice de presses en production transformation du verre | Related, not a match |
| H3201 | Plasturgiste | Related, not a match |
| H3204 | Opérateur / Opératrice de production des matières plastiques et du caoutchouc | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 8142 | Operadores de máquinas para fabricar productos de material plástico | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| 8132 | Operadores de máquinas para fabricar productos farmacéuticos, cosméticos y afines | Related, not a match |
| 8141 | Operadores de máquinas para fabricar productos de caucho y derivados de resinas naturales | Related, not a match |
| 8191 | Operadores de hornos e instalaciones de vidriería y cerámica | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 22102 | Berufe in der Kunststoff- und Kautschukherstellung (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the same |
| 21312 | Berufe in der Glasherstellung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 21412 | Berufe in der Industriekeramik (Verfahrens- und Anlagentechnik) - 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 531 | 化学製品製造従事者 | Related, not a match |
| 532 | 窯業・土石製品製造従事者 | Related, not a match |
| 533 | 食料品製造従事者 | Related, not a match |
| 538 | ゴム・プラスチック製品製造従事者 | Related, not a match |
| 502 | 窯業・土石製品生産設備制御・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