Job Check
Machinists
Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.
10 main tasks · most important first
Your main tasks and AI
Importance- 01Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments, such as micrometers or vernier calipers.Mostly human for now
- 02Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders.Mostly human for now
- 03Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.Mostly human for now
- 04Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.Mostly human for now
- 05Program computers or electronic instruments, such as numerically controlled machine tools.AI could speed this up a lot
- 06Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products.AI could speed this up, with extra tools
- 07Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.Mostly human for now
- 08Maintain machine tools in proper operational condition.Mostly human for now
- 09Fit and assemble parts to make or repair machine tools.Mostly human for now
- 10Align and secure holding fixtures, cutting tools, attachments, accessories, or materials onto machines.Mostly human for now
Tasks from O*NET® 31.0 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0, changed by us), most important first. “Already use” comes from Anthropic’s data on real work chats with Claude; “could speed up” from task ratings made with GPT-4 in 2023.
Four studies, side by side
None is a forecast of job lossToo little dataNot enough work use was seen to measure. This does not mean the job is safe from AI.Anthropic, 2026
24%of this job’s tasks an AI model could do in half the time, counting tasks that need extra tools as half (rated in 2023).Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, 2023
Above 53% of jobsin how often and how well AI helped with this job’s work in Microsoft Copilot chats (2024 data).Microsoft Research (Tomlinson et al.), 2025
Above 77% of jobsin how much of this job’s physical work robots have been shown to do, from factories to homes (2026).Anthropic, 2026
Your human edge
The main tasks with no real AI use seen and no big speed-up expected. This is where your skill counts most today.
- Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments, such as micrometers or vernier calipers.
- Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders.
- Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.