Not Very Resilient
Last Update: 5/19/2026
AI Resilience Score for Machinists:
34.6%
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%).
Med
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 forMachinists
$56,150 median salary•29,500 annual openings•SOC Code: 51-4041.00
Machinists are less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 6 sources.
Machining is labeled "Not Very Resilient" because AI is rapidly taking over many of the hands-on tasks that used to define the job — like adjusting equipment, optimizing cuts, and programming machine paths — with systems that can now do these things automatically and even learn from experienced workers before they retire. At the same time, the broader manufacturing industry is losing traditional roles faster than new ones are being created, and humanoid robots are on the horizon for more physical work.
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View analysisChat with CoachLatest newsMore career infoAnalysisChatNewsMoreThis role is not very resilient
Machining is labeled "Not Very Resilient" because AI is rapidly taking over many of the hands-on tasks that used to define the job — like adjusting equipment, optimizing cuts, and programming machine paths — with systems that can now do these things automatically and even learn from experienced workers before they retire. At the same time, the broader manufacturing industry is losing traditional roles faster than new ones are being created, and humanoid robots are on the horizon for more physical work.
Read full analysisAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
Machinists
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Machinists jobs?
Machinists are seeing AI show up across their workflow, but mostly as a helper rather than a replacement. According to the National Association of Manufacturers' 2026 trend report [1], factories are "shifting decisively toward operations that can sense, respond and optimize with minimal human intervention," with systems that once made recommendations now adjusting equipment automatically — and operators focusing "more on managing exceptions and validating system decisions rather than performing manual interventions." On the programming side, SME's Manufacturing Engineering reports that CAM vendors have embedded AI copilots [2] directly into software, letting machinists "converse with the software using natural language" to cut scrap, tighten tolerances, and capture knowledge from retiring experts. Deloitte's 2026 outlook notes that agentic AI can capture institutional knowledge from retiring employees [3] and that 22% of manufacturers plan to deploy physical AI like humanoid robots within two years — more than doubling current use.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Machinists?
Adoption will likely be steady but uneven. The BLS projects machinist employment to decline only about 2% from 2024–2034 [4], with 34,200 openings each year as workers retire, suggesting AI is filling labor gaps more than displacing people. Manufacturing Dive reports that U.S. manufacturers lost 78,000 jobs over the past year [5] and that traditional assembly roles are declining while demand grows for "technicians who can work with robotics, maintain advanced equipment and use data." Cost is the main brake: Modern Machine Shop notes that small and mid-sized shops are entering 2026 with "volatile costs, lingering tariff impacts and tight labor," [6] limiting big capital investments.
The good news for young people: hands-on skills, problem-solving, and the ability to program and supervise smart machines are exactly what shops are hiring for.
Sources
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More Career Info
Career: Machinists
They shape and create metal parts by using machines, ensuring everything fits together perfectly for building things like cars and airplanes.
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$56,150
Jobs (2024)
299,500
Growth (2024-34)
+0.0%
Annual Openings
29,500
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
Set up or operate metalworking, brazing, heat-treating, welding, or cutting equipment.
2
Test experimental models under simulated operating conditions for purposes such as development, standardization, or feasibility of design.
3
Program computers or electronic instruments, such as numerically controlled machine tools.
4
Fit and assemble parts to make or repair machine tools.
5
Dispose of scrap or waste material in accordance with company policies and environmental regulations.
6
Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders.
7
Align and secure holding fixtures, cutting tools, attachments, accessories, or materials onto machines.
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.
