Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
The short answer
This job is less likely to change much. Most of the work is the kind AI can't help with. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to shrink over the next decade, with about 135 openings expected each year.
Where your job stands
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second least exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. Most of what it involves isn't the kind of work AI can take over.
How much AI could touch this job
Looking at the job itself, AI could help with a small part of this job's tasks.
What this means
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second least exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.
What AI can and can’t help with in this job
This job is in the second least exposed fifth of New York jobs for AI exposure. The tasks below show why: most of what it involves is work AI can't simply take over.
AI can help with or automate about 12% of the tasks in this job.
Tasks AI can help with or automate
Read work orders, recipes, or formulas to determine cooking times and temperatures, and ingredient specifications.
AI could do much of this on its own
Record production and test data, such as processing steps, temperature and steam readings, cooking time, batches processed, and test results.
AI could do much of this on its own
Tasks AI can't do much of
Clean, wash, and sterilize equipment and cooking area, using water hoses, cleaning or sterilizing solutions, or rinses.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Observe gauges, dials, and product characteristics, and adjust controls to maintain appropriate temperature, pressure, and flow of ingredients.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Measure or weigh ingredients, using scales or measuring containers.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Tend or operate and control equipment, such as kettles, cookers, vats and tanks, and boilers, to cook ingredients or prepare products for further processing.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Set temperature, pressure, and time controls, and start conveyers, machines, or pumps.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Jobs you could switch to
If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.
See related jobs in
The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
Very similar workslightly less pay32 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays slightly less—$43,096 vs your $46,721 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Production and Processing
- Operations Monitoring
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
New skills to build
- Repairing
- Equipment Maintenance
- Response Orientation
- Static Strength
- Troubleshooting
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Very similar work+16% pay313 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 16% more—$54,380 vs your $46,721 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Production and Processing
- Operations Monitoring
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
- Information Ordering
New skills to build
- Repairing
- Equipment Maintenance
- Response Orientation
- Troubleshooting
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Very similar work+23% pay272 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 23% more—$57,270 vs your $46,721 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Production and Processing
- Operations Monitoring
- Problem Sensitivity
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
New skills to build
- Repairing
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- Physics
- Perceptual Speed
- Gross Body Equilibrium
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Very similar work+27% pay72 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 27% more—$59,412 vs your $46,721 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Operations Monitoring
- Near Vision
- Administration and Management
- Production and Processing
- Problem Sensitivity
New skills to build
- Repairing
- Response Orientation
- Equipment Maintenance
- Operation and Control
- Public Safety and Security
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
Similar work+8% pay58 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 8% more—$50,408 vs your $46,721 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Operations Monitoring
- Problem Sensitivity
- Near Vision
- Production and Processing
- Oral Comprehension
Your current skills largely cover this move.
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
Similar work+1% pay45 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 1% more—$47,350 vs your $46,721 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Production and Processing
- Near Vision
- Control Precision
- Operations Monitoring
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New skills to build
- Psychology
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
Similar work+45% pay60 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 45% more—$67,952 vs your $46,721 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Production and Processing
- Operations Monitoring
- Problem Sensitivity
- Administration and Management
- Near Vision
New skills to build
- Glare Sensitivity
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- Equipment Maintenance
- Response Orientation
- Engineering and Technology
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Similar workslightly less pay231 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays slightly less—$45,680 vs your $46,721 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Production and Processing
- Operations Monitoring
- Near Vision
- Mechanical
- Information Ordering
New skills to build
- Repairing
- Response Orientation
- Engineering and Technology
- Perceptual Speed
- Visualization
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Somewhat similar work+9% pay191 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 9% more—$50,811 vs your $46,721 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Production and Processing
- Operations Monitoring
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
New skills to build
- Finger Dexterity
- Quality Control Analysis
- Equipment Maintenance
- Repairing
- Response Orientation
Machine Feeders and Offbearers
Somewhat similar workslightly less pay94 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays slightly less—$44,400 vs your $46,721 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Production and Processing
- Operations Monitoring
- Mechanical
- Near Vision
- Reaction Time
Your current skills largely cover this move.
Cooks, Restaurant
Somewhat similar workslightly less pay12,822 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays slightly less—$44,784 vs your $46,721 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires no formal educational credential, with less than 5 years of experience, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Near Vision
- Food Production
- Problem Sensitivity
- Information Ordering
- Oral Comprehension
Your current skills largely cover this move.