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Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic vs Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators

Side-by-side · O*NET · BLS · AI-exposure research · Anthropic Economic Index

A factual, source-backed comparison of Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators on the dimensions both occupations carry. Every figure is a position within an independent published dataset — not a verdict on which job is better, safer, or more “future-proof.”

Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
Median pay · BLS OEWS
$46,630
$49,970
Employment · BLS OEWS
5,310
176,950
AI exposure (percentile) · task overlap, not automation
29th pct
69th pct

At a glance

Dimension Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
Median pay $46,630 $49,970
Employment 5,310 176,950
Employment outlook (2024–34) · BLS projection Declining (-19.6%) Declining (-10.7%)
Annual openings · BLS projection 400 13,500
Typical education · O*NET Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
AI exposure · published exposure studies Low · 29th pct High · 69th pct
Global GenAI gradient · ILO ISCO-08 · via crosswalk 26th pct · 18% of tasks —
Observed AI use · Anthropic Economic Index — —
Mostly remote-capable · Dingel–Neiman No —

Pay and employment are BLS OEWS estimates; outlook and openings are BLS 2024–2034 projections; AI exposure and observed-use figures come from separate research and reflect exposure and usage, not predictions that either job will disappear. Compare like with like.

Skills

Shared: Mathematics, Production and Processing, Mechanical, English Language, Operations Monitoring, Engineering and Technology, Control Precision, Arm-Hand Steadiness, Near Vision, Education and Training, Design, Problem Sensitivity, Information Ordering, Selective Attention, Manual Dexterity, Finger Dexterity, Reaction Time, Monitoring, Operation and Control, Oral Comprehension, Visualization, Rate Control, Administration and Management, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Deductive Reasoning, Category Flexibility, Perceptual Speed, Quality Control Analysis.

Specific to Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Written Comprehension
  • Time Management
  • Oral Expression
  • Written Expression
  • Inductive Reasoning
  • Far Vision
  • Computers and Electronics

Specific to Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators

  • Hearing Sensitivity
  • Auditory Attention
  • Troubleshooting
  • Flexibility of Closure
  • Multilimb Coordination
  • Trunk Strength
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Repairing

Knowledge, skills & abilities O*NET rates as important for each occupation. “Shared” are common to both; the columns list what is distinctive to each (top by the order O*NET surfaces).

Tools & technology

Shared: Spreadsheet software , Office suite software , Word processing software , Enterprise resource planning ERP software , Industrial control software .

Specific to Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Specific to Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators

Full profiles

This page is a summary. See the complete source-backed profile for Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic or Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators — tasks, the full skill graph, tools, work context, preparation, wages by percentile, industries, AI exposure and the AI work map.

More comparisons

Related occupations you can place side by side on the same sourced scale.

Sources for this page

Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.

Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.

Cite this page
Plain

Singulariki. "Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic vs Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/compare/drilling-and-boring-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic-vs-computer-numerically-controlled-tool-operators

APA

Singulariki. (2026). Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic vs Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/compare/drilling-and-boring-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic-vs-computer-numerically-controlled-tool-operators

BibTeX 
@misc{singulariki-drilling-and-boring-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic-vs-computer-numerically-controlled-tool-operators,
  title  = {Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic vs Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators},
  author = {{Singulariki}},
  year   = {2026},
  note   = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
  url    = {https://singulariki.com/compare/drilling-and-boring-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic-vs-computer-numerically-controlled-tool-operators}
}

Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.