Career Explorer Production
Human edge, steady
Plant and system operators, all other
All plant and system operators not listed separately.
Among the most resilient careers: more resilient than 82% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it low), and US jobs are projected to change by +2.3% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on ethical judgement and physical dexterity.
AI struggles with much of this work. Hiring is expected to grow slower than average, or to shrink.
- Median pay (2025)
- $62,470
- Job growth to 2035
- +2.3%
- Openings a year
- 1,200
- People doing it (2025)
- 14,300
- Usual route in
- High school diploma, then moderate on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment
- Determine resource needs of projects or operations
- Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance
- Maintain operational records
- Operate energy production or distribution equipment
What the work looks like
- Monitor batch, continuous flow, or hybrid biofuels production processes.
- Operate valves, pumps, engines, or generators to control and adjust biofuels production.
- Monitor and record biofuels processing data.
- Collect biofuels samples and perform routine laboratory tests or analyses to assess biofuels quality.
- Operate equipment, such as a centrifuge, to extract biofuels products and secondary by-products or reusable fractions.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Operating engineers and other construction equipment operatorsHuman edge, growing, Index 89, +4.6%
- Medical equipment preparersHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +10.8%
- Derrick operators, oil and gasHuman edge, steady, Index 87, +1.6%
- Motorboat operatorsHuman edge, growing, Index 96, +4.9%
Also known as: Biofuels Processing Technician, Ethanol Operator, Process Operator, Production Operator, Board Operator, Chemical Operator, Mash Preparatory Operator, Process Technician.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.