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Will AI replace Industrial Machinery Mechanics?

Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. The percentage shown is a task-exposure model, not a prediction of certain job loss.

O*NET 30.3 · 49-9041.00 · modeled exposure, not guaranteed job loss
LOW TASK EXPOSURE
25%
Estimated share of representative tasks exposed to current AI capabilities.
Last updatedAugust 20, 2026
Evidence confidenceMedium
Browse this risk tierLower exposure jobs →
Task automation shareⓘ
25%Automatable
Automatable25%
Augmentable41%
Hard to automate34%
Based on analysis of representative responsibilities and current AI capability maturity.
Category#
Trades & Physical
Field & Physical
Modeled pay midpoint$
$94,100/yr
Directional estimate — verify locally
Time until impact⌁
6–10+ years
Earliest 2032 · widespread 2036+
Task-level replaceability ⓘ
Representative tasks ranked from highest to lowest AI exposure.
◇Repair or maintain the operating condition of industrial production or processing machinery or equipment.35%
✦Physical dexterity in unpredictable settings26%
⚙Repair or replace broken or malfunctioning components of machinery or equipment.23%
✦Safety responsibility and on-site judgment22%
▥Clean, lubricate, or adjust parts, equipment, or machinery.12%
Impact timeline ⓘ
How AI assistance may move from early support to wider adoption.
2032Next2036+
Light supportAI provides limited help with repair or maintain the operating condition of industrial production or processing machinery or equipment..
AugmentationTools improve productivity without owning outcomes.
Human-ledCore work stays anchored in physical dexterity in unpredictable settings.
6–10+ yearsdirectional confidence window
HOW AI CHANGES THIS JOBtyping the logic in plain English
01>Start with the real work done by Industrial Machinery Mechanics.
02>AI can help with: Repair or maintain the operating condition of industrial production or processing machinery or equipment.
03>If a task is repetitive and easy to check, AI pressure goes up.
04>But a person is still needed for: Physical dexterity in unpredictable settings.
05>Likely result: AI mostly acts as a helper while the core job stays human-led.
06>Important: 25% is estimated task exposure—not a 25% chance of losing the job.
What AI can do
Repair or maintain the operating condition of industrial production or processing machinery or equipment.LOW MATCH
Repair or replace broken or malfunctioning components of machinery or equipment.LOW MATCH
Clean, lubricate, or adjust parts, equipment, or machinery.LOW MATCH
How estimates work →
Your human moat
◆

Physical dexterity in unpredictable settings

HIGH MOAT

Combined with safety responsibility and on-site judgment, this keeps a human in the loop.

Strength8.9
Similar-role comparison
RoleRisk
Industrial Machinery Mechanics25%
Automotive Mechanic25%
Avionics Technicians25%
Logging Workers, All Other25%
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Why this score?

✓The model evaluates 3 representative core tasks.
✓The core work depends on presence, dexterity, or accountability.
✓Occupation and task language comes from O*NET 30.3.
✓The strongest human advantage is physical dexterity in unpredictable settings.
Research basis

O*NET 30.3 occupation tasks plus the ILO 2025 exposure framework. Scores are directional estimates.

Read ILO research →
Data: O*NET 30.3 · Model framework: ILO 2025O*NET 49-9041.00Share report
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Sources for this report

Official occupation tasks; timeline remains uncertain Scores are directional estimates and sources do not endorse this site’s exact percentage.

O*NET 49-9041.00 occupation profile ↗ILO Generative AI and Jobs 2025 ↗Scoring methodology →

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