Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-9151.00
Perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media. May perform precision tasks such as editing photographic negatives and prints.
- 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
0.011
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
0.27
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
Show 35 hidden tasks32 rated tasks · 23 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (71.9%)
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
- 5 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 % |
|---|---|---|
Examine drawings, negatives, or photographic prints to determine coloring, shading, accenting, or other changes required for retouching or restoration.51-9151.00 | 0.0145100.0 | 0.0031100.0 |
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 |
|---|---|
Maintain records, such as quantities or types of processing completed, materials used, or customer charges.O*NET Task ID 19472 | 1.0 |
Read work orders to determine required processes, techniques, materials, or equipment.O*NET Task ID 19480 | 1.0 |
Create prints according to customer specifications and laboratory protocols.O*NET Task ID 19465 | 0.5 |
Examine developed prints for defects, such as broken lines, spots, or blurs.O*NET Task ID 19466 | 0.5 |
Load digital images onto computers directly from cameras or from storage devices, such as flash memory cards or universal serial bus (USB) devices.O*NET Task ID 19471 | 0.5 |
Operate machines to prepare circuit boards and to expose, develop, etch, fix, wash, dry, or print film or plates.O*NET Task ID 19475 | 0.5 |
Operate scanners or related computer equipment to digitize negatives, photographic prints, or other images.O*NET Task ID 19476 | 0.5 |
Operate special equipment to perform tasks such as transferring film to videotape or producing photographic enlargements.O*NET Task ID 19477 | 0.5 |
Place sensitized paper in frames of projection printers, photostats, or other reproduction machines.O*NET Task ID 19478 | 0.5 |
Produce color or black-and-white photographs, negatives, or slides, applying standard photographic reproduction techniques and procedures.O*NET Task ID 19479 | 0.5 |
Reprint originals for enlargement or in sections to be pieced together.O*NET Task ID 19481 | 0.5 |
Retouch photographic negatives or original prints to correct defects.O*NET Task ID 19482 | 0.5 |
Review computer-processed digital images for quality.O*NET Task ID 19483 | 0.5 |
Select digital images for printing, specify number of images to be printed, and direct to printer, using computer software.O*NET Task ID 19484 | 0.5 |
Set automatic timers, lens openings, and printer carriages to specified focus and exposure times and start exposure to duplicate originals, photographs, or negatives.O*NET Task ID 19485 | 0.5 |
Apply paint, using airbrushes, pens, artists' brushes, cotton swabs, or gloved fingers to retouch or enhance negatives or photographs.O*NET Task ID 19487 | 0.5 |
Examine drawings, negatives, or photographic prints to determine coloring, shading, accenting, or other changes required for retouching or restoration.O*NET Task ID 19491 | 0.5 |
Examine quality of film fades or dissolves for potential color corrections, using color analyzers.O*NET Task ID 19492 | 0.5 |
Produce timed prints with separate densities or color settings for each scene of a production.O*NET Task ID 19496 | 0.5 |
Shade negatives or photographs with pencils to smooth facial contours, soften highlights, or conceal blemishes, stray hairs, or wrinkles.O*NET Task ID 19497 | 0.5 |
Splice broken or separated film and mount film on reels.O*NET Task ID 19498 | 0.5 |
Thread filmstrips through densitometers or sensitometers and expose film to light to determine density of film, necessary color corrections, or light sensitivity.O*NET Task ID 19499 | 0.5 |
Upload digital images onto Web sites for customers.O*NET Task ID 19500 | 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 (27)
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 |
|---|---|
| Create prints according to customer specifications and laboratory protocols. | Core |
| Examine developed prints for defects, such as broken lines, spots, or blurs. | Core |
| Fill tanks of processing machines with solutions such as developer, dyes, stop-baths, fixers, bleaches, or washes. | Core |
| Insert processed negatives and prints into envelopes for delivery to customers. | Core |
| Load circuit boards, racks or rolls of film, negatives, or printing paper into processing or printing machines. | Core |
| Load digital images onto computers directly from cameras or from storage devices, such as flash memory cards or universal serial bus (USB) devices. | Core |
| Maintain records, such as quantities or types of processing completed, materials used, or customer charges. | Core |
| Measure and mix chemicals to prepare solutions for processing, according to formulas. | Core |
| Monitor equipment operation to detect malfunctions. | Core |
| Operate scanners or related computer equipment to digitize negatives, photographic prints, or other images. | Core |
| Operate special equipment to perform tasks such as transferring film to videotape or producing photographic enlargements. | Core |
| Produce color or black-and-white photographs, negatives, or slides, applying standard photographic reproduction techniques and procedures. | Core |
| Read work orders to determine required processes, techniques, materials, or equipment. | Core |
| Reprint originals for enlargement or in sections to be pieced together. | Core |
| Review computer-processed digital images for quality. | Core |
| Select digital images for printing, specify number of images to be printed, and direct to printer, using computer software. | Core |
| Set or adjust machine controls, according to specifications, type of operation, or material requirements. | Core |
| Clean or maintain photoprocessing or darkroom equipment, using ultrasonic equipment or cleaning and rinsing solutions. | Core |
| Immerse film, negatives, paper, or prints in developing solutions, fixing solutions, and water to complete photographic development processes. | Supplemental |
| Place sensitized paper in frames of projection printers, photostats, or other reproduction machines. | Supplemental |
| Retouch photographic negatives or original prints to correct defects. | Supplemental |
| Examine drawings, negatives, or photographic prints to determine coloring, shading, accenting, or other changes required for retouching or restoration. | Supplemental |
| Examine quality of film fades or dissolves for potential color corrections, using color analyzers. | Supplemental |
| Produce timed prints with separate densities or color settings for each scene of a production. | Supplemental |
| Splice broken or separated film and mount film on reels. | Supplemental |
| Thread filmstrips through densitometers or sensitometers and expose film to light to determine density of film, necessary color corrections, or light sensitivity. | Supplemental |
| Upload digital images onto Web sites for customers. | Supplemental |
0.94/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Create prints according to customer specifications and laboratory protocols. | E2 structured facilities |
| Examine developed prints for defects, such as broken lines, spots, or blurs. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Fill tanks of processing machines with solutions such as developer, dyes, stop-baths, fixers, bleaches, or washes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Insert processed negatives and prints into envelopes for delivery to customers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Load circuit boards, racks or rolls of film, negatives, or printing paper into processing or printing machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Load digital images onto computers directly from cameras or from storage devices, such as flash memory cards or universal serial bus (USB) devices. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure and mix chemicals to prepare solutions for processing, according to formulas. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Monitor equipment operation to detect malfunctions. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate scanners or related computer equipment to digitize negatives, photographic prints, or other images. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate special equipment to perform tasks such as transferring film to videotape or producing photographic enlargements. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Produce color or black-and-white photographs, negatives, or slides, applying standard photographic reproduction techniques and procedures. | E2 structured facilities |
| Reprint originals for enlargement or in sections to be pieced together. | E2 structured facilities |
| Set or adjust machine controls, according to specifications, type of operation, or material requirements. | E2 structured facilities |
| Clean or maintain photoprocessing or darkroom equipment, using ultrasonic equipment or cleaning and rinsing solutions. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Immerse film, negatives, paper, or prints in developing solutions, fixing solutions, and water to complete photographic development processes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Place sensitized paper in frames of projection printers, photostats, or other reproduction machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Retouch photographic negatives or original prints to correct defects. | E0 none |
| Examine quality of film fades or dissolves for potential color corrections, using color analyzers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Produce timed prints with separate densities or color settings for each scene of a production. | E2 structured facilities |
| Splice broken or separated film and mount film on reels. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Thread filmstrips through densitometers or sensitometers and expose film to light to determine density of film, necessary color corrections, or light sensitivity. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 5K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 5K
- Change (2025–35)
- -5.6%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $40,610
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89221 | 사진 인화 및 현상기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 89229 | 그 외 사진 인화 및 현상기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | 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 8132Photographic 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.
- motion picture film developerESCO 8132.1This occupation is broader
Motion picture film developers develop film material into visible videos and material. They develop the footage into different formats, such as 65-70mm and 8mm, and presentations, such as black and white and colour. They work small cine-films per request of clients.
- photographic developerESCO 8132.2This occupation is broader
Photographic developers use chemicals, instruments, and darkroom photographic techniques in specialised rooms in order to develop photographic films into visible images.
- photographerESCO 3431.1Overlapping, not the same
Photographers take pictures using digital or film cameras and equipment. Photographers may develop negatives or use computer software in order to produce finished images and prints.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| E1203 | Technicien / Technicienne de laboratoire photographique | Same scopeprovisional |
| E1202 | Opérateur / Opératrice de laboratoire cinématographique | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| E1209 | Responsable de laboratoire photographique | Related, not a match |
| E1212 | Restaurateur / Restauratrice numérique image | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 8133 | Operadores de laboratorios fotográficos y afines | Same scope |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 23312 | Berufe in der Fototechnik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Same scope |
| 23313 | Berufe in der Fototechnik - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 591 | 生産関連作業従事者 | This occupation is narrower |
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