Vulnerable
Last Update: 6/19/2026
AI Resilience Score for Drilling Machine Operator:
18.8%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Med
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Low
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Low
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
Most data sources align, with only minor variation. This is a well-supported result.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forDrilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$46,630 median salary•400 annual openings•SOC Code: 51-4032.00
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are much less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 5 sources.
This career is labeled "Vulnerable" because the core tasks of drilling and boring machines are increasingly being handled by AI-assisted CNC equipment, automated scheduling systems, and lights-out machining setups that can run with little or no human involvement. On top of that, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7% decline in employment for metal and plastic machine workers from 2024 to 2034, meaning fewer of these traditional operator roles will exist even as the industry grows.
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This career is labeled "Vulnerable" because the core tasks of drilling and boring machines are increasingly being handled by AI-assisted CNC equipment, automated scheduling systems, and lights-out machining setups that can run with little or no human involvement. On top of that, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7% decline in employment for metal and plastic machine workers from 2024 to 2034, meaning fewer of these traditional operator roles will exist even as the industry grows.
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Drilling Machine Operator
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Drilling Machine Operator jobs?
If you're worried about robots taking over drilling and boring jobs overnight, take a breath — the picture is more complicated and more hopeful than the headlines suggest. The work is being augmented more than fully automated. According to the National Tooling & Machining Association, AI is "rapidly becoming part of day-to-day operations" [1] in machine shops, where most modern CNC machine shops are already using forms of AI in tools like ERP analytics, smart scheduling, machine monitoring, and predictive maintenance.
Modern Machine Shop's editor compares the moment to the early CNC era, explaining that adopting AI in machining is an evolution rather than a sudden replacement of operators [2]. The World Economic Forum lists manufacturing as one of seven job families where AI, robotics, and sensor networks will reshape work for roughly 80% of the global workforce [3], and notes that semi-automated equipment is already reducing physical strain on workers. The lower-automation tasks for drillers — like lifting workpieces with cranes, verifying setups with dial indicators, and laying out reference lines — still rely on human judgment, hands-on dexterity, and shop-floor experience that AI can't easily replicate.
NTMA's leadership openly states that AI cannot replace the knowledge and craftsmanship of experienced machinists, programmers, and operators, and instead removes tedious tasks so workers can focus on problem-solving.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Drilling Machine Operator?
Adoption is accelerating, but unevenly. A major driver is a severe labor shortage: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects overall employment of metal and plastic machine workers to decline 7% from 2024 to 2034, yet about 87,900 openings will appear each year [4] because of retirements. With Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute warning that up to 2.1 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled by 2030 [5], shops have strong economic motivation to invest in AI-assisted CAM, predictive maintenance, and lights-out machining.
AMT's economists report that orders for manufacturing technology jumped 22.5% in 2025, driven largely by automation purchases [6]. But adoption will be gradual: capital costs are high for small and medium shops, cybersecurity rules like CMMC add complexity, and a Manufacturing Dive analysis emphasizes that the transition will be gradual because not all companies can afford automation, and reskilling isn't a one-to-one replacement. The most likely future for young people entering this field is a hybrid role — operating machines while also working alongside AI tools, robots, and data dashboards.
Workers who learn programming, robotics maintenance, and digital literacy will be the most valuable on tomorrow's shop floor.
Sources
Will AI replace Drilling Machine Operator?
Yes. We do think that eventually AI will replace much of this work as it's done today, but the transition will be gradual, and the skills you build here can carry you much further than this single job title.
Our 18.8% AI Resilience Score puts this role in vulnerable territory. CNC shops are already using AI for scheduling, predictive maintenance, and machine monitoring [1], and orders for manufacturing automation technology jumped 22.5% in 2025 [6]. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects overall employment in this field to decline 7% through 2034 [4]. That is a real trend, not a scare story.
Still, some parts of the job are harder to automate than others. Verifying setups, reading a shop floor, and troubleshooting unexpected problems still require human judgment and hands-on experience. NTMA leadership is direct about this: AI removes tedious tasks but cannot replace the craftsmanship of skilled operators [1].
The smarter play is to treat this role as a launchpad. Workers who add CNC programming, robotics maintenance, and digital literacy to their hands-on skills will be the most valuable in tomorrow's shops [5]. The manufacturing world needs people who understand both the machines and the software running them. That combination is genuinely hard to automate away.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Drilling Machine Operator
These articles provide valuable insights for students entering the Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic careers. The Department of Labor highlights a solid starting salary and the potential for growth in this green job sector. Research shows that AI can enhance drilling efficiency by reducing non-productive time by up to 35%, suggesting a future where tech-savvy operators are in demand. Understanding AI's role in manufacturing will help students build resilience in their careers, as advanced robotics increasingly shape the industry landscape.
AI-enhanced predictive model for future-ready drilling ...
www.researchgate.net • 6/20/2026
Jun 3, 2026 — Key findings demonstrate that AI-enhanced drilling operations can reduce non-productive time by up to 35%, improve drilling efficiency by 28%, ... Read more
Will AI Replace Production & Manufacturing Jobs?
www.replacedbai.com • 6/20/2026
Based on our analysis of 114 occupations, the average AI replacement risk in production & manufacturing is 80/100. 97 jobs face high risk, while 1 jobs have low ... Read more
Will AI Replace Metal & Plastics Processing Jobs?
jobzonerisk.com • 6/20/2026
See which metal & plastics processing roles are most at risk from AI. Evidence-based scores and practical recommendations for every assessed role.
Jobs | AI Workforce Report
aiworkforcereport.com • 6/20/2026
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic. 8/10. AI and advanced robotics are rapidly transforming manufacturing ... Read more
Occupation Details | CareerZone | Department of Labor
careerzone.labor.ny.gov • 6/20/2026
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic. Green Job. $40,120.00. Starting NY Salary. Some Training - Certificate or ... Read more
More Career Info
Career: Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
They operate machines that drill or bore holes into metal and plastic parts, making sure everything fits together correctly for manufacturing products.
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Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$46,630
Jobs (2024)
5,300
Growth (2024-34)
-19.6%
Annual Openings
400
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Lay out reference lines and machining locations on work, using layout tools, and applying knowledge of shop math and layout techniques.
2
Lift workpieces onto work tables either manually or with hoists or direct crane operators to lift and position workpieces.
3
Move machine controls to lower tools to workpieces and to engage automatic feeds.
4
Verify that workpiece reference lines are parallel to the axis of table rotation, using dial indicators mounted in spindles.
5
Position and secure workpieces on tables, using bolts, jigs, clamps, shims, or other holding devices.
6
Change worn cutting tools, using wrenches.
7
Sharpen cutting tools, using bench grinders.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
