SOC 51-3093
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
Risk Score
โ ๏ธ52/100
Elevated
US Employment
๐ฅ27,660
Total workers
Median Wage
๐ฐ$41K
$31K โ $54K
Projected Growth
๐+0.6%
2023-2033 (BLS)
GenAI Exposure
๐ค38/100
Moderate exposure
๐ก Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders face a risk score of 52/100 โ 8 points above the national average of 44. With only 38/100 GenAI exposure, most core tasks remain resistant to current AI capabilities. See our methodology โ
๐ก Workers in this field earn $41K. The 3 recommended career transitions all maintain competitive wages while reducing automation exposure. Explore transition paths โ
๐ AI Impact Analysis
With a risk score of 52/100, Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders faces moderate automation pressure. While tasks like industrial robotics replacing manual assembly tasks are increasingly handled by AI, the role retains significant human elements. The 27,660 workers in this occupation should focus on strengthening skills in coordinating workflow across diverse production teams and setup and calibration of custom production runs to stay ahead. The role will likely evolve rather than disappear.
Will AI Replace Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders?
Read our full analysis with verdict, risk factors, safe tasks, and career transition paths โ
โ ๏ธ Top Risk Factors
Industrial robotics replacing manual assembly tasks
Cobots handling repetitive material handling tasks
Smart factory scheduling and production optimization
AI quality inspection via computer vision systems
๐ก๏ธ Tasks Safe from Automation
Coordinating workflow across diverse production teams
Setup and calibration of custom production runs
Quality judgment requiring tactile and visual inspection
Troubleshooting complex equipment malfunctions
๐ Task Automation Breakdown
Based on O*NET task analysis and GenAI exposure scoring. Shows the estimated proportion of this occupation's core tasks that are automatable by current AI, augmented by AI tools, or require essential human skills.
๐ O*NET Task Profile
Clean, wash, and sterilize equipment and cooking area, using water hoses, cleaning or sterilizing solutions, or rinses.
Read work orders, recipes, or formulas to determine cooking times and temperatures, and ingredient specifications.
Observe gauges, dials, and product characteristics, and adjust controls to maintain appropriate temperature, pressure, and flow of ingredients.
Measure or weigh ingredients, using scales or measuring containers.
Tend or operate and control equipment, such as kettles, cookers, vats and tanks, and boilers, to cook ingredients or prepare products for further processing.
๐ป Technology Skills
Data base user interface and query software
๐ Key Knowledge Areas
Production and Processing
Food Production
Administration and Management
Education and Training
Mechanical
๐ vs National Average
National avg: $46K
National avg: 44/100
National avg: 38/100
National avg: 3.7%
๐ Career Transition Paths
| Occupation | Risk | Wage | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineers | 20 | $106K | 69% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | 25 | $62K | 59% |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | 33 | $68K | 83% |