Somewhat Resilient
Last Update: 10/7/2026
AI Resilience Score for Food Cooking Machine Operator:
38.4%
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.
There are a reasonable number of sources for this result, but there is some disagreement between them.
AI Resilience Report forFood Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
$41,590 median salary•3,700 annual openings•SOC Code: 51-3093.00
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders are somewhat less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 6 sources.
This career is labeled "Somewhat Resilient" because AI is genuinely changing the day-to-day work on the factory floor, automating tasks like recipe execution, ingredient control, and data logging that operators used to handle manually. The good news is that demand for workers is actually growing (the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5 to 35 percent job growth from 2025 to 2035, with around 36,600 openings each year), partly because plants are struggling to find enough people and are using AI to fill gaps rather than eliminate jobs.
Learn more about how you can thrive in this position
This role is somewhat resilient
This career is labeled "Somewhat Resilient" because AI is genuinely changing the day-to-day work on the factory floor, automating tasks like recipe execution, ingredient control, and data logging that operators used to handle manually. The good news is that demand for workers is actually growing (the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5 to 35 percent job growth from 2025 to 2035, with around 36,600 openings each year), partly because plants are struggling to find enough people and are using AI to fill gaps rather than eliminate jobs.
Read full analysisAnalysis of current AI resilience
Food Cooking Machine Operator
Updated quarterly
How can Food Cooking Machine Operator prepare for AI?
Latest AI news for Food Cooking Machine Operator
These articles highlight the evolving role of Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in an AI-driven landscape. With a score of 56/100 for AI exposure, the profession is experiencing transformation but remains resilient. For example, while AI can automate certain tasks, it cannot replicate the human touch and craftsmanship essential in cooking, as noted in the Escoffier Global article. Understanding these dynamics can empower students to adapt and thrive in their careers, ensuring they embrace technology while honing their unique culinary skills.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders AI Exposure: 56/100
aisafe.careers • 9/20/2026
As of August 2026, Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders has an AI-exposure score of 56/100 (Elevated exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index. This is an ...
Will AI Replace Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders?
www.tagieff.ca • 9/20/2026
Feb 28, 2026 — No, AI will not fully replace food cooking machine operators and tenders, but the role is undergoing significant transformation. While ... Read more
List of jobs that cannot be replaced by AI. What does short ...
www.reddit.com • 9/20/2026
Overall, the ability of AI to replace human cooks depends on the nature of the job and the specific tasks involved. While some aspects of ... Read more
Will AI potentially replace chefs in the future of the cooking ...
www.quora.com • 9/20/2026
Will AI potentially replace chefs in the future of the cooking and restaurant industry? If so, what are the reasons and how would it practically function?
Future-Proofing Your Workforce in the Age of AI
escoffierglobal.com • 9/20/2026
Nov 19, 2025 — As AI disrupts white-collar fields, the culinary profession stands out as resilient and future-proof, where human craftsmanship cannot be ... Read more
More Career Info
Career: Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
They operate and monitor machines that cook food items, ensuring everything is cooked properly and safely before packaging or serving.
Parent Careers
Similar Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$41,590
Jobs (2025)
31,200
Growth (2025-35)
-0.3%
Annual Openings
3,700
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-2035
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Clean, wash, and sterilize equipment and cooking area, using water hoses, cleaning or sterilizing solutions, or rinses.
2
Pour, dump, or load prescribed quantities of ingredients or products into cooking equipment, manually or using a hoist.
3
Remove cooked material or products from equipment.
4
Operate auxiliary machines and equipment, such as grinders, canners, and molding presses, to prepare or further process products.
5
Tend or operate and control equipment, such as kettles, cookers, vats and tanks, and boilers, to cook ingredients or prepare products for further processing.
6
Collect and examine product samples during production to test them for quality, color, content, consistency, viscosity, acidity, or specific gravity.
7
Place products on conveyors or carts, and monitor product flow.
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.
