Compare Occupations

	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	Industrial Machinery Mechanics	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers	Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
SUMMARY	82% Imminent Risk	41% Moderate Risk	61% High Risk	63% High Risk	74% High Risk	69% High Risk
JOB SCORE	2.2/10	6.4/10	2.8/10	2.7/10	2.7/10	1.8/10
POLLING	There hasn't been enough votes on this occupation yet	36% (Low Risk, Based on 66 votes)	65% (High Risk, Based on 27 votes)	50% (Moderate Risk, Based on 26 votes)	66% (High Risk, Based on 53 votes)	52% (Moderate Risk, Based on 16 votes)
GROWTH by year 2034	-8.3%	16.1%	-0.5%	-10.7%	0.0%	-13.6%
WAGES	$48,630 or $23.38 per hour	$63,760 or $30.65 per hour	$46,060 or $22.14 per hour	$49,970 or $24.02 per hour	$47,460 or $22.82 per hour	$48,620 or $23.37 per hour
VOLUME as of 2024	22,350	421,940	129,850	176,950	591,180	18,970
SNOWFLAKE [?] The Snowflake is a visual summary of the five badges: Automation Risk (calculated), Risk (polled), Growth, Wages and Volume. It gives you an instant snapshot of an occupations profile. The colour of the Snowflake relates to its size. The better the occupation scores in relation to others, the larger and greener the Snowflake becomes.
DESCRIPTION	Set up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic forming bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate, or to flatten, temper, or reduce gauge of material.	Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. May also install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to plans.	Set up, operate, or tend more than one type of cutting or forming machine tool or robot.	Operate computer-controlled tools, machines, or robots to machine or process parts, tools, or other work pieces made of metal, plastic, wood, stone, or other materials. May also set up and maintain equipment.	Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.	Set up, operate, or tend lathe and turning machines to turn, bore, thread, form, or face metal or plastic materials, such as wire, rod, or bar stock.

Compare Occupations Side by Side

Curious how automation and AI could affect your career? Our comparison tool lets you view two or more jobs side by side, helping you quickly spot differences in risk level, pay, growth, and popularity. All of this is based on a mix of academic research, user polling, and official labour data.

Automation Risk

Each occupation shows a probability of automation. A higher score means machines and algorithms are more likely to take over the role in the future.

Job Score

A quick summary of how a job performs overall — factoring in wages, growth, volume, and automation risk. It’s a handy way to see the bigger picture at a glance.

Polling Data

Thousands of visitors cast their votes on how “automatable” each job feels. These community insights are shown alongside the calculated probabilities.

Growth & Wages

See how fast each occupation is projected to grow and what people earn on average. High wages don’t always mean high security — automation risk still matters.

Volume of Workers

Explore how many people currently work in each occupation and in which year the data was recorded. Popularity can affect how disruptive automation will be for the wider economy.

The Snowflake Diagram

Each snowflake visualises the balance between automation risk, wages, growth, and job volume. Bigger and greener areas mean stronger performance in that dimension.

Use this comparison page to research careers, guide students, or simply explore the future of work. All data is regularly updated to keep the results relevant.