Etchers and Engravers
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-9194.00
Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.
- 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
0.18–0.28· 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 7316Sign Writers, Decorative Painters, Engravers and Etchers0.18
- ISCO-08 8212Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers0.28
Task-level exposure
Show 31 hidden tasks30 rated tasks · 7 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (23.3%)
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
- 4 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 % |
|---|---|
Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces.51-9194.00 | 0.0069100.0 |
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 |
|---|---|
Examine engraving for quality of cut, burrs, rough spots, and irregular or incomplete engraving.O*NET Task ID 14382 | 0.5 |
Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved.O*NET Task ID 14383 | 0.5 |
Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces.O*NET Task ID 14386 | 0.5 |
Inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defects, using calibrated microscopes, gauges, fingers, or magnifying lenses.O*NET Task ID 14395 | 0.5 |
Print proofs or examine designs to verify accuracy of engraving, and rework engraving as required.O*NET Task ID 14398 | 0.5 |
Sketch, trace, or scribe layout lines and designs on workpieces, plates, dies, or rollers, using compasses, scribers, gravers, or pencils.O*NET Task ID 14400 | 0.5 |
Use computer software to design patterns for engraving.O*NET Task ID 21027 | 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 (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 |
|---|---|
| Clean and polish engraved areas. | Core |
| Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces. | Core |
| Inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defects, using calibrated microscopes, gauges, fingers, or magnifying lenses. | Core |
| Adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges. | Supplemental |
| Engrave and print patterns, designs, etchings, trademarks, or lettering onto flat or curved surfaces of a wide variety of metal, glass, plastic, or paper items, using hand tools or hand-held power tools. | Supplemental |
| Position and clamp workpieces, plates, or rollers in holding fixtures. | Supplemental |
| Determine machine settings, and move bars or levers to reproduce designs on rollers or plates. | Supplemental |
| Examine engraving for quality of cut, burrs, rough spots, and irregular or incomplete engraving. | Supplemental |
| Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved. | Supplemental |
| Start machines and lower cutting tools to beginning points on patterns. | Supplemental |
| Prepare etching chemicals according to formulas, diluting acid with water to obtain solutions of specified concentration. | Supplemental |
| Sandblast exposed areas of glass to cut designs in surfaces, using spray guns. | Supplemental |
| Set reduction scales to attain specified sizes of reproduction on workpieces, and set pantograph controls for required heights, depths, and widths of cuts. | Supplemental |
| Neutralize workpieces to remove acid, wax, or enamel, using water, solvents, brushes, or specialized machines. | Supplemental |
| Prepare workpieces for etching or engraving by cutting, sanding, cleaning, polishing, or treating them with wax, acid resist, lime, etching powder, or light-sensitive enamel. | Supplemental |
| Insert cutting tools or bits into machines and secure them with wrenches. | Supplemental |
| Print proofs or examine designs to verify accuracy of engraving, and rework engraving as required. | Supplemental |
| Transfer image to workpiece, using contact printer, pantograph stylus, silkscreen printing device, or stamp pad. | Supplemental |
| Sketch, trace, or scribe layout lines and designs on workpieces, plates, dies, or rollers, using compasses, scribers, gravers, or pencils. | Supplemental |
| Guide stylus over template, causing cutting tool to duplicate design or letters on workpiece. | Supplemental |
| Remove completed workpieces and place them in trays. | Supplemental |
| Remove wax or tape from etched glassware by using a stylus or knife, or by immersing ware in hot water. | Supplemental |
| Fill etched characters with opaque paste to improve readability. | Supplemental |
| Brush or wipe acid over engraving to darken or highlight inscriptions. | Supplemental |
| Expose workpieces to acid to develop etch patterns such as designs, lettering, or figures. | Supplemental |
| Use computer software to design patterns for engraving. | Supplemental |
0.87/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Clean and polish engraved areas. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defects, using calibrated microscopes, gauges, fingers, or magnifying lenses. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges. | E2 structured facilities |
| Engrave and print patterns, designs, etchings, trademarks, or lettering onto flat or curved surfaces of a wide variety of metal, glass, plastic, or paper items, using hand tools or hand-held power tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Position and clamp workpieces, plates, or rollers in holding fixtures. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Determine machine settings, and move bars or levers to reproduce designs on rollers or plates. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Examine engraving for quality of cut, burrs, rough spots, and irregular or incomplete engraving. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Start machines and lower cutting tools to beginning points on patterns. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Prepare etching chemicals according to formulas, diluting acid with water to obtain solutions of specified concentration. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Sandblast exposed areas of glass to cut designs in surfaces, using spray guns. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Set reduction scales to attain specified sizes of reproduction on workpieces, and set pantograph controls for required heights, depths, and widths of cuts. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Neutralize workpieces to remove acid, wax, or enamel, using water, solvents, brushes, or specialized machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Prepare workpieces for etching or engraving by cutting, sanding, cleaning, polishing, or treating them with wax, acid resist, lime, etching powder, or light-sensitive enamel. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Insert cutting tools or bits into machines and secure them with wrenches. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Print proofs or examine designs to verify accuracy of engraving, and rework engraving as required. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Transfer image to workpiece, using contact printer, pantograph stylus, silkscreen printing device, or stamp pad. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Sketch, trace, or scribe layout lines and designs on workpieces, plates, dies, or rollers, using compasses, scribers, gravers, or pencils. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Guide stylus over template, causing cutting tool to duplicate design or letters on workpiece. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove completed workpieces and place them in trays. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove wax or tape from etched glassware by using a stylus or knife, or by immersing ware in hot water. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Fill etched characters with opaque paste to improve readability. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Brush or wipe acid over engraving to darken or highlight inscriptions. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Expose workpieces to acid to develop etch patterns such as designs, lettering, or figures. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 9K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 9K
- Change (2025–35)
- -0.7%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $43,310
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 79129 | 그 외 귀금속 및 보석 세공원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 85109 | 그 외 금속 공작 기계 조작원 | 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 7316Sign Writers, Decorative Painters, Engravers and Etchers
- ISCO-08 8212Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers
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.
- engraving machine operatorESCO 7223.4.1This occupation is broader
Engraving machine operators set up, programme, and tend engraving machines designed to precisely carve a design in the surface of a metal workpiece by a diamond stylus on the mechanical cutting machine that creates small, separate printing dots existing from cut cells. They read engraving machine blueprints and tooling instructions, perform regular machine maintenance, and make adjustments to the precise engraving controls, such as the depth of the incisions and the engraving speed.
- glass engraverESCO 7316.2This occupation is broader
Glass engravers engrave lettering and ornamental designs onto glass articles, using engravers hand tools. They sketch and lay out the lettering and designs on the article, cut the design in the article and finish it.
- jewellery engraverESCO 7313.1.3This occupation is broader
Jewellery engravers engrave lettering and ornamental designs onto jewellery articles, using engravers handtools. They sketch and lay out the lettering and designs on the article, cut the design in the article and clean it up.
- metal engraverESCO 7316.3This occupation is broader
Metal engravers make incisions of a design onto a metal surface by carving grooves into it, usually for decorative purposes, including metal weaponry. To cut the design into the surface they use tools such as gravers or burins.
- printmakerESCO 2651.9This occupation is broader
Printmakers engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber or other materials to create images which are transported onto surfaces, generally using a printing press. Printmakers often use tools such as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.
- screen making technicianESCO 7321.1.5This occupation is broader
Screen making technicians engrave or etch screens for textile printing.
- stone engraverESCO 7113.1.1This occupation is broader
Stone engravers use hand tools, machines and chemical products to etch and carve patterns and inscriptions on stone surfaces.
- paper embosing press operatorESCO 7322.6Overlapping, not the same
Paper embossing press operators use a press to raise or recess certain areas of the medium, so as to create relief on the print. Two matching engraved dies are placed around the paper and pressure is applied to change the surface of the material.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| B1303 | Graveur / Graveuse d'art | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| E1306 | Opérateur / Opératrice de prépresse | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| E1316 | Conducteur / Conductrice de machines à sérigraphier | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 7616 | Rotulistas, grabadores de vidrio, pintores decorativos de artículos diversos | Overlapping, not the same |
| 7122 | Canteros, tronzadores, labrantes y grabadores de piedras | Related, not a match |
| 7621 | Trabajadores de procesos de preimpresión | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 93532 | Berufe in der Gravur - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broader |
| 93533 | Berufe in der Gravur - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 24302 | Berufe in der Metalloberflächenbehandlung (ohne Spezialisierung) - 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 527 | 金属彫刻・表面処理従事者 | Related, not a match |
| 537 | 印刷・製本従事者 | Related, not a match |
| 539 | その他の製品製造・加工処理従事者（金属製品を除く） | Related, not a match |
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