Potters, Manufacturing
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-9195.05
Operate production machines such as pug mill, jigger machine, or potter's wheel to process clay in manufacture of ceramic, pottery and stoneware products.
- 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
0.14–0.24· 6 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 7314Potters and Related Workers0.18
- ISCO-08 7315Glass Makers, Cutters, Grinders and Finishers0.19
- ISCO-08 7516Tobacco Preparers and Tobacco Products Makers0.14
- ISCO-08 8131Chemical Products Plant and Machine Operators0.24
- ISCO-08 8141Rubber Products Machine Operators0.18
- ISCO-08 8181Glass and Ceramics Plant Operators0.17
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only24 rated tasks · 4 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (16.7%)
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
- 1 rated task is not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; its score is 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. 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 |
|---|---|
Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work.O*NET Task ID 15119 | 0.5 |
Design clay forms and molds, and decorations for forms.O*NET Task ID 15121 | 0.5 |
Examine finished ware for defects and measure dimensions, using rule and thickness gauge.O*NET Task ID 15124 | 0.5 |
Design spaces to display pottery for sale.O*NET Task ID 21214 | 0.5 |
Press thumbs into centers of revolving clay to form hollows, and press on the inside and outside of emerging clay cylinders with hands and fingers, gradually raising and shaping clay to desired forms and sizes.O*NET Task ID 15114 | 0.0 |
Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner.O*NET Task ID 15115 | 0.0 |
Position balls of clay in centers of potters' wheels, and start motors or pump treadles with feet to revolve wheels.O*NET Task ID 15117 | 0.0 |
Raise and shape clay into wares, such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs.O*NET Task ID 15118 | 0.0 |
Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges.O*NET Task ID 15120 | 0.0 |
Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry.O*NET Task ID 15122 | 0.0 |
Pull wires through bases of articles and wheels to separate finished pieces.O*NET Task ID 15123 | 0.0 |
Perform test-fires of pottery to determine how to achieve specific colors and textures.O*NET Task ID 15125 | 0.0 |
Maintain supplies of tools, equipment, and materials, and order additional supplies as needed.O*NET Task ID 15126 | 0.0 |
Verify accuracy of shapes and sizes of objects, using calipers and templates.O*NET Task ID 15127 | 0.0 |
Operate drying chambers to dry or finish molded ceramic ware.O*NET Task ID 15128 | 0.0 |
Start machine units and conveyors and observe lights and gauges on panel board to verify operational efficiency.O*NET Task ID 15129 | 0.0 |
Adjust pressures, temperatures, and trimming tool settings as required.O*NET Task ID 15130 | 0.0 |
Operate pug mills to blend and extrude clay.O*NET Task ID 15131 | 0.0 |
Operate jigger machines to form ceramic ware, such as bowls, cups, plates, and saucers.O*NET Task ID 15132 | 0.0 |
Teach pottery classes.O*NET Task ID 15133 | 0.0 |
Operate gas or electric kilns to fire pottery pieces.O*NET Task ID 21210 | 0.0 |
Mix and apply glazes to pottery pieces, using tools, such as spray guns.O*NET Task ID 21211 | 0.0 |
Attach handles to pottery pieces.O*NET Task ID 21212 | 0.0 |
Pack and ship pottery to stores or galleries for retail sale.O*NET Task ID 21213 | 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®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (23)
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 |
|---|---|
| Press thumbs into centers of revolving clay to form hollows, and press on the inside and outside of emerging clay cylinders with hands and fingers, gradually raising and shaping clay to desired forms and sizes. | Core |
| Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner. | Core |
| Position balls of clay in centers of potters' wheels, and start motors or pump treadles with feet to revolve wheels. | Core |
| Raise and shape clay into wares, such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs. | Core |
| Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work. | Core |
| Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges. | Core |
| Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry. | Core |
| Pull wires through bases of articles and wheels to separate finished pieces. | Core |
| Examine finished ware for defects and measure dimensions, using rule and thickness gauge. | Core |
| Perform test-fires of pottery to determine how to achieve specific colors and textures. | Core |
| Maintain supplies of tools, equipment, and materials, and order additional supplies as needed. | Core |
| Verify accuracy of shapes and sizes of objects, using calipers and templates. | Core |
| Operate pug mills to blend and extrude clay. | Core |
| Operate gas or electric kilns to fire pottery pieces. | Core |
| Mix and apply glazes to pottery pieces, using tools, such as spray guns. | Core |
| Attach handles to pottery pieces. | Core |
| Pack and ship pottery to stores or galleries for retail sale. | Core |
| Design spaces to display pottery for sale. | Core |
| Design clay forms and molds, and decorations for forms. | Supplemental |
| Operate drying chambers to dry or finish molded ceramic ware. | Supplemental |
| Start machine units and conveyors and observe lights and gauges on panel board to verify operational efficiency. | Supplemental |
| Adjust pressures, temperatures, and trimming tool settings as required. | Supplemental |
| Teach pottery classes. | Supplemental |
0.93/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Press thumbs into centers of revolving clay to form hollows, and press on the inside and outside of emerging clay cylinders with hands and fingers, gradually raising and shaping clay to desired forms and sizes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Position balls of clay in centers of potters' wheels, and start motors or pump treadles with feet to revolve wheels. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Raise and shape clay into wares, such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Pull wires through bases of articles and wheels to separate finished pieces. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Examine finished ware for defects and measure dimensions, using rule and thickness gauge. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Perform test-fires of pottery to determine how to achieve specific colors and textures. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Maintain supplies of tools, equipment, and materials, and order additional supplies as needed. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Verify accuracy of shapes and sizes of objects, using calipers and templates. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate pug mills to blend and extrude clay. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate gas or electric kilns to fire pottery pieces. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Mix and apply glazes to pottery pieces, using tools, such as spray guns. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Attach handles to pottery pieces. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Pack and ship pottery to stores or galleries for retail sale. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Design spaces to display pottery for sale. | E0 none |
| Operate drying chambers to dry or finish molded ceramic ware. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Start machine units and conveyors and observe lights and gauges on panel board to verify operational efficiency. | E2 structured facilities |
| Adjust pressures, temperatures, and trimming tool settings as required. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Teach pottery classes. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
Values for the whole SOC 51-9195 group (Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic), not for this O*NET occupation alone.
- Employment, 2025
- 43K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 46K
- Change (2025–35)
- +5.8%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $46,170
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84329 | 그 외 점토제품 생산기 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 7314Potters and Related Workers
- ISCO-08 7315Glass Makers, Cutters, Grinders and Finishers
- ISCO-08 7516Tobacco Preparers and Tobacco Products Makers
- ISCO-08 8131Chemical Products Plant and Machine Operators
- ISCO-08 8141Rubber 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.
- ceramicistESCO 2651.4This occupation is broader
Ceramicist have an in-depth knowledge of materials and the relevant know-how to develop their own methods of expression and personal projects through ceramic. Their creations can include ceramic sculptures, jewellery, domestic and commercial tablewares and kitchenwares, giftware, garden ceramics, wall and floor tiles.
- clay products dry kiln operatorESCO 8181.3.1This occupation is broader
Clay products dry kiln operators manage drying tunnels that are meant for drying clay products prior to their treatment in kiln.
- dry press operatorESCO 8181.5This occupation is broader
Dry press operators press dry tempered clay or silica into bricks and other shapes. They select and fix the pressing dies, using rule and wenches. Dry press operators remove the bricks from the press machine and stack them in a specified pattern on the kiln car.
- hand brick moulderESCO 7314.1This occupation is broader
Hand brick moulders create unique bricks, pipes, and other heat-resistant products using hand moulding tools. They create moulds according to specifications, clean and oil them, insert and remove the mixture from the mould. Then, they let the bricks dry in kiln before finishing and smoothing the end products.
- kiln firerESCO 8181.10Overlapping, not the same
Kiln firers operate kilns in order to fire decorations or glazes. They determine the level and uniformity of oven temperature, regulate the temperature, and give directions to a helper in preparing firebox and lighting fires.
- pottery and porcelain casterESCO 8181.11Overlapping, not the same
Pottery and porcelain casters fill moulds with clay to cast pottery and porcelain wares. They pour excess slip out of the mould when needed, drain moulds, remove the cast from the mould, smooth the casting surfaces to remove marks and place the castings on boards to dry.
- production potterESCO 7314.2Overlapping, not the same
Production potters process and form clay, by hand or by using the wheel, into end-products pottery, stoneware products, earthenware products and porcelain. They introduce the already shaped clay into kilns, heating them at a high temperature in order to remove all the water from the clay.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| H2803 | Opérateur / Opératrice en Industrie Céramique | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| B1201 | Céramiste | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 7614 | Trabajadores de la cerámica, alfareros y afines | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 8191 | Operadores de hornos e instalaciones de vidriería y cerámica | Related, not a matchprovisional |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 21412 | Berufe in der Industriekeramik (Verfahrens- und Anlagentechnik) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
| 93412 | Berufe in der kunsthandwerklichen Keramikgestaltung - 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 532 | 窯業・土石製品製造従事者 | 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