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Will AI replace other production workers?

33 jobs scored. On average 88% of the task time in these jobs still needs a person, and the family averages 83 out of 100 on Still needs a human, where higher is safer.

83
Average Still needs a human score, 0 to 100 ↑ safer. Will AI replace them? Nah.
33
Jobs scored in this family
88%
Average share of that still needs a person
2.4M
US workers in these jobs

How the work could shift in Other Production Workers

The share of US workers in these jobs whose job would sit in each band, from today to 2060.

Today
59%
of US workers in this family are in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
0% are in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
By 2045
7%
of US workers in this family would still be in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
21% would be in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
By 2060
7%
of US workers in this family would still be in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
82% would be in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)

Each job's score moves towards the bottom band (Largely: AI could largely do the job) by the year it could be largely automated, slowly at first and faster later, as adoption usually goes. Each job is run as ten scenarios across its replacement range, so every figure mixes early and late outcomes. The model stops at 2060. How the timeline works

Share of US workers in this family in each verdict band, today to 20600%25%50%75%100%2026: 58.7% of US workers in this family in jobs that mostly need a person (Nah.)59%2026: 41.3% of US workers in this family in jobs where AI could do a little of the work (A little.)41%Today2030: 44.9% of US workers in this family in jobs that mostly need a person (Nah.)45%2030: 54.0% of US workers in this family in jobs where AI could do a little of the work (A little.)54%2030: 1.1% of US workers in this family in jobs AI could partly do (Partly.)20302035: 8.3% of US workers in this family in jobs that mostly need a person (Nah.)8%2035: 67.6% of US workers in this family in jobs where AI could do a little of the work (A little.)68%2035: 23.9% of US workers in this family in jobs AI could partly do (Partly.)24%2035: 0.3% of US workers in this family in jobs AI could mostly do (Mostly.)20352040: 6.6% of US workers in this family in jobs that mostly need a person (Nah.)7%2040: 22.4% of US workers in this family in jobs where AI could do a little of the work (A little.)22%2040: 45.2% of US workers in this family in jobs AI could partly do (Partly.)45%2040: 25.8% of US workers in this family in jobs AI could mostly do (Mostly.)26%20402045: 6.6% of US workers in this family in jobs that mostly need a person (Nah.)7%2045: 5.7% of US workers in this family in jobs where AI could do a little of the work (A little.)6%2045: 29.5% of US workers in this family in jobs AI could partly do (Partly.)30%2045: 37.1% of US workers in this family in jobs AI could mostly do (Mostly.)37%2045: 21.2% of US workers in this family in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)21%20452050: 6.6% of US workers in this family in jobs that mostly need a person (Nah.)7%2050: 4.0% of US workers in this family in jobs where AI could do a little of the work (A little.)2050: 7.4% of US workers in this family in jobs AI could partly do (Partly.)7%2050: 38.3% of US workers in this family in jobs AI could mostly do (Mostly.)38%2050: 43.7% of US workers in this family in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)44%20502055: 6.6% of US workers in this family in jobs that mostly need a person (Nah.)7%2055: 4.0% of US workers in this family in jobs where AI could do a little of the work (A little.)2055: 22.8% of US workers in this family in jobs AI could mostly do (Mostly.)23%2055: 66.6% of US workers in this family in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)67%20552060: 6.6% of US workers in this family in jobs that mostly need a person (Nah.)7%2060: 4.0% of US workers in this family in jobs where AI could do a little of the work (A little.)2060: 7.4% of US workers in this family in jobs AI could mostly do (Mostly.)7%2060: 82.0% of US workers in this family in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)82%2060
Will AI replace the job?Largely.Mostly.Partly.A little.Nah.
Share of US workers in this family whose job would sit in each band, year by year. Updated with every release.
Show the data
YearLargelyMostlyPartlyA littleNah
Today (2026)0.0%0.0%0.0%41.3%58.7%
20300.0%0.0%1.1%54.0%44.9%
20350.0%0.3%23.9%67.6%8.3%
20400.0%25.8%45.2%22.4%6.6%
204521.2%37.1%29.5%5.7%6.6%
205043.7%38.3%7.4%4.0%6.6%
205566.6%22.8%0.0%4.0%6.6%
206082.0%7.4%0.0%4.0%6.6%

Every job in Other Production Workers, ranked

How to read a row: the number is the Still needs a human score, out of 100, higher is safer; “AI replace?” is our answer to “Will AI replace this job?”; the bar is the task split: white AI does it, grey AI helps, amber needs a human.

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersProduction · 51-9162
62↑ saferAI replace? A little.
AI does 13%AI helps 71%Needs a human 16%
20472044–2055
29k
$68,120
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsProduction · 51-9161
77↑ saferAI replace? A little.
AI does 0%AI helps 29%Needs a human 71%
20532045–2060+
169k
$50,690
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine OperatorsProduction · 51-9151
77↑ saferAI replace? A little.
AI does 0%AI helps 24%Needs a human 76%
20542046–2060+
5k
$40,610
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersProduction · 51-9061
78↑ saferAI replace? A little.
AI does 4%AI helps 20%Needs a human 76%
20542046–2060+
597k
$48,570
Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersProduction · 51-9011
79↑ saferAI replace? A little.
AI does 0%AI helps 29%Needs a human 71%
20552046–2060+
140k
$58,040
Semiconductor Processing TechniciansProduction · 51-9141
80↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 23%Needs a human 77%
20552046–2060+
31k
$51,430
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersProduction · 51-9051
80↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 19%Needs a human 81%
20552046–2060+
14k
$48,040
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal WorkersProduction · 51-9071
81↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 4%AI helps 13%Needs a human 83%
20552046–2060+
22k
$52,540
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersProduction · 51-9023
82↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 11%Needs a human 89%
20562046–2060+
95k
$48,990
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersProduction · 51-9021
83↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 13%Needs a human 87%
20572046–2060+
26k
$48,540
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersProduction · 51-9191
83↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 13%Needs a human 87%
20562046–2060+
12k
$46,460
Gem and Diamond WorkersProduction · 51-9071.06
84↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 6%Needs a human 94%
20562046–2060+
22k
$52,540
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and TendersProduction · 51-9193
84↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 7%Needs a human 93%
20572046–2060+
7k
$41,330
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersProduction · 51-9032
84↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 4%AI helps 4%Needs a human 92%
20572046–2060+
45k
$46,570
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersProduction · 51-9124
84↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 4%Needs a human 96%
20582046–2060+
159k
$48,250
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersProduction · 51-9012
84↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 6%Needs a human 94%
20572046–2060+
60k
$51,610
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersProduction · 51-9041
84↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 9%Needs a human 91%
20582046–2060+
59k
$45,760
Medical Appliance TechniciansProduction · 51-9082
85↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 13%Needs a human 87%
20572046–2060+
11k
$48,030
Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and FinishersProduction · 51-9195.04
85↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 12%Needs a human 88%
20572046–2060+
33k
$46,170
Etchers and EngraversProduction · 51-9194
85↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 9%Needs a human 91%
20582046–2060+
8k
$43,310
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticProduction · 51-9195
85↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 5%Needs a human 95%
20582046–2060+
33k
$46,170
Cutters and Trimmers, HandProduction · 51-9031
85↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 6%Needs a human 94%
20582046–2060+
6k
$38,020
Grinding and Polishing Workers, HandProduction · 51-9022
86↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 0%Needs a human 100%
20582046–2060+
11k
$42,660
Ophthalmic Laboratory TechniciansProduction · 51-9083
86↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 6%Needs a human 94%
20582046–2060+
19k
$39,460
Potters, ManufacturingProduction · 51-9195.05
86↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 0%Needs a human 100%
20582046–2060+
33k
$46,170
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersProduction · 51-9196
86↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 0%Needs a human 100%
20592046–2060+
96k
$50,270
Dental Laboratory TechniciansProduction · 51-9081
86↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 8%Needs a human 92%
20592046–2060+
34k
$49,610
Painting, Coating, and Decorating WorkersProduction · 51-9123
86↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 0%Needs a human 100%
20592046–2060+
8k
$41,600
Stone Cutters and Carvers, ManufacturingProduction · 51-9195.03
86↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 0%Needs a human 100%
20592046–2060+
33k
$46,170
Helpers–Production WorkersProduction · 51-9198
87↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 7%Needs a human 93%
20582046–2060+
166k
$39,070
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersProduction · 51-9111
87↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 0%Needs a human 100%
20602046–2060+
379k
$43,220
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and TendersProduction · 51-9192
87↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 0%Needs a human 100%
20592046–2060+
15k
$43,530
Tire BuildersProduction · 51-9197
88↑ saferAI replace? Nah.
AI does 0%AI helps 0%Needs a human 100%
2046–2060+
21k
$57,390