Machine Feeders and Offbearers

Machine Feeders and Offbearers score 9 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #762 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 13 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 1 on its own and 0 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 1 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

9/ 100

Low

Rank: #762of 923 jobs
US workers: 42,330BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $41,220a year
In real AI use: 1 of 13tasks, April–May 2026

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 1 (8%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 0 (0%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 12 (92%)

Record production and operational data, such as amount of materials processed.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Inspect materials and products for defects, and to ensure conformance to specifications.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
Push dual control buttons and move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Weigh or measure materials or products to ensure conformance to specifications.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Identify and mark materials, products, and samples, following instructions.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Clean and maintain machinery, equipment, and work areas to ensure proper functioning and safe working conditions.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Load materials and products into machines and equipment, or onto conveyors, using hand tools and moving devices.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Transfer materials and products to and from machinery and equipment, using industrial trucks or hand trucks.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Fasten, package, or stack materials and products, using hand tools and fastening equipment.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Remove materials and products from machines and equipment, and place them in boxes, trucks or conveyors, using hand tools and moving devices.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Shovel or scoop materials into containers, machines, or equipment for processing, storage, or transport.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Open and close gates of belt and pneumatic conveyors on machines that are fed directly from preceding machines.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Add chemicals, solutions, or ingredients to machines or equipment as required by the manufacturing process.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about machine feeders and offbearers and AI

Will AI replace machine feeders and offbearers?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Machine Feeders and Offbearers score 9 out of 100 (low exposure), #762 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 1 of the job's 13 tasks, 1 of them on its own, while 12 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which machine feeders and offbearers tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Record production and operational data, such as amount of materials processed".

Which machine feeders and offbearers tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Inspect materials and products for defects, and to ensure conformance to specifications"; "Push dual control buttons and move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment"; "Weigh or measure materials or products to ensure conformance to specifications".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 1 of the 13 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as machine feeders and offbearers, and what do they earn?

About 42,330 people in the US, with median pay of $41,220 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.

Machine Feeders and Offbearers

Task by task

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Questions about machine feeders and offbearers and AI

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