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.
287,050 people do this job in the US. $58,750 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 29%
- 3%
- 68%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 7%. Today's estimate: 11%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 29 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 12% | 2.5 h25 min to 1 work day | Stays with people | |
| Support metalworking projects from planning and fabrication through assembly, inspection, and testing, using knowledge of machine functions, metal properties, and mathematics.Done daily by most who do it. | 12% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | Stays with people | |
| Design fixtures, tooling, or experimental parts to meet special engineering needs.Done daily by most who do it. | 10% | 5 h1.7 h to 1.3 work days | 19%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Program computers or electronic instruments, such as numerically controlled machine tools.Done daily by most who do it. | 7% | 2.5 h25 min to 1 work day | 25%Half by May 2027 | |
| Fit and assemble parts to make or repair machine tools.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 5% | 2.5 h38 min to 6.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Test experimental models under simulated operating conditions, for purposes such as development, standardization, or feasibility of design.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 5% | 4.2 h1.7 h to 1 work day | Stays with people | |
| Establish work procedures for fabricating new structural products, using a variety of metalworking machines.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 3.3 h1.7 h to 6.7 h | 49%Half by now | |
| Diagnose machine tool malfunctions to determine need for adjustments or repairs.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 1.3 h17 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 1.3 h17 min to 2.5 h | 74%Half by now | |
| Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 50 min25 min to 2.5 h | Stays with people | |
| Set up or operate metalworking, brazing, heat-treating, welding, or cutting equipment.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 4% | 1.7 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Maintain machine tools in proper operational condition.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 50 min13 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators25% now, 26% by 2028
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic18% now, 18% by 2028
- Tool and Die Makers13% now, 35% by 2028
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic30% now, 38% by 2028
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers67% now, 84% by 2028
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic13% now, 13% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
- Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing77,100 people
- Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only)28,550 people
- Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing21,200 people
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing19,950 people
- Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only)16,400 people
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).