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Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

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 139 openings expected each year.

Step 1

Where your job stands

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the 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

Least exposedband 1 of 5
least exposedmost exposed

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 least exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.

Step 2

What AI can and can’t help with in this job

This job is in the 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 6% of the tasks in this job.

Tasks AI can help with or automate

  1. Maintain an inventory of materials.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

Tasks AI can't do much of

  1. Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  2. Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  3. Start machines and set controls to regulate vacuum, air pressure, sizing rings, and temperature, and to synchronize speed of extrusion.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  4. Reel extruded products into rolls of specified lengths and weights.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  5. Install dies, machine screws, and sizing rings on machines that extrude thermoplastic or metal materials.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

Step 3

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.

  • Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

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    Pays slightly less—$45,519 vs your $50,043 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

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    New skills to build

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    Pays slightly less—$45,680 vs your $50,043 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

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    New skills to build

    • Mechanical
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    Pays slightly less—$48,003 vs your $50,043 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

    • Control Precision
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    Your current skills largely cover this move.

  • Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

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    Pays about 2% more—$51,031 vs your $50,043 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

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    New skills to build

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  • Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

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    Pays about 1% more—$50,412 vs your $50,043 here.

    What the move takes

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    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

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    Your current skills largely cover this move.

  • Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

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    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

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    What the move takes

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    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

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    Your current skills largely cover this move.

  • Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

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    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

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  • Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

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    What the move takes

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    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

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