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SOC 51-9161
Computer numerically controlled tool operators (O*NET 51-9161.00) operate NC machine tools to machine metal and plastic workpieces and are responsible for setup and maintenance; programs, tools, and safety parameters are verified against standards.
Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((75+0+25)/3+0.5)=33; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.
Suits people who can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Safe work sample (completely fictional drawings and materials): for a fictional part drawing, write out the process and tolerance check points, the program check points, the setup and safety confirmation steps, the first-article and in-process inspection arrangements, and the situations that must be confirmed by an authorized person within 60 minutes; do not use real machine tools or hazardous energy.
Suitable conditions: willing to do equipment operation and precision control over the long term, and able to maintain checking and safety habits through repetitive machining. Caution conditions: if it is hard to bear equipment operation safety responsibility and precision pressure, first compare adjacent directions such as equipment repair or assembly.
Computer numerically controlled tool operators correspond to O*NET 51-9161.00, whose duties are to operate computer-controlled machine tools, equipment, or robots to machine or process parts and workpieces of materials such as metal, plastic, wood, and stone, and who may be responsible for equipment setup and maintenance.
Computer numerically controlled tool operators correspond to O*NET 51-9161.00, whose duties are to operate computer-controlled machine tools, equipment, or robots to machine or process parts and workpieces of materials such as metal, plastic, wood, and stone, and who may be responsible for equipment setup and maintenance. This page does not equate operation with independent process approval or equipment modification authorization.
Career direction comparison
Difference from robotics technicians: the latter focus on the assembly and commissioning of automation and robotic systems; this occupation focuses on NC machining operation.
| Career direction | Core work and output | Key differences | Best-fit choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epidemiologists | Investigates the distribution and causes of diseases and injuries in populations, producing surveillance and epidemiological research reports. | Difference from industrial machinery maintenance workers: the latter are responsible for equipment repair and upkeep; this occupation is responsible for machining to program and self-inspection. | Difference from assemblers: the latter take component assembly as the core output, not cutting tolerance. |
| Clinical research coordinators | Coordinates clinical research subjects, follow-up, and compliance, producing research process and coordination records. |
AI impact on this career
Editorial trial suggestion: organize drawing requirements, a program check list, and dimensional records; tool output must go through actual program verification, setup checking, and inspection and cannot directly generate real machine tool work instructions. No generative AI adoption rate or measured effect for this occupation was obtained. AI Impact Score 33% is an editorial estimate. Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((75+0+25)/3+0.5)=33; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.The three tasks, ratings and sources are listed in the FermatMind method source record on this page.
FermatMind AI Impact Score estimation method v1
FermatMind / 费马测试 · 2026-10-18
Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
Chinese mainland salary reference
2025 manufacturing urban unit industry annual averages: non-private 113,594 and private 76,055 yuan, for reference matching manufacturing employers only, not the occupational median.
A Chinese-language page does not prove a Chinese occupation code mapping; U.S. wages are not extrapolated to Chinese personal income.
113,594 yuan/year; an industry annual average, not a monthly wage
76,055 yuan/year; an industry annual average, not a monthly wage
Not obtained; an industry annual average, not a monthly wage
U.S. salary reference
The 2025 national five wage percentiles are public, with a median of 50,690 USD/year, which is not starting pay.；U.S. 51-9161: 2025 wages and the 2025—2035 employment projection, not starting pay, a Chinese wage, or a personal guarantee.
| Wage level | Annual wage reference | Hourly reference | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 38,140 USD/year | 18.34 USD/hour | A 2025 national distribution position, not a seniority ladder or a personal guarantee.；Wage framing (BLS 2025 wage data): median annual wage 50,690 USD (about 24.37 USD/hour); 10th percentile 38,140 USD (about 18.34 USD/hour), 25th percentile 44,930 USD (about 21.60 USD/hour), 75th percentile 61,760 USD (about 29.69 USD/hour), 90th percentile 73,890 USD (about 35.53 USD/hour). These are this occupation's framing; percentiles are statistical positions and exclude personal take-home income. |
| Median | 50,690 USD/year | 24.37 USD/hour |
Career fit guide
Fit is judged by observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Positive signals： Willing to check drawings, programs, and dimensions repeatedly, comply with protection and interlock requirements, and stop and escalate on anomalies.
Conditions requiring caution： If it is hard to bear equipment safety, precision, or repetitive operation pressure, check the specific position first; repair and assembly also carry mechanical risk and quality responsibility.
Next trial actions： Complete one program check, setup, and first-article inspection exercise with completely fictional drawings and materials, then decide whether to continue.
Work pressure, risks, and occupational boundaries
Mechanical, program, setup, and inspection risks must be checked separately; the controls below are editorial suggestions, not incident rates.
O*NET supports the machining, maintenance, and protection context; specific isolation, safety, and authority rules must be checked against the real site.
Typical scenario：Operating outside safety standards causes mechanical injury.
Roles most affected：Machine tool operation, setup, and on-site maintenance staff
Possible consequence：May cause personal injury, equipment damage, or workpiece loss
How to reduce risk：Operate according to protection and interlock requirements and receive safety training.
Entry, qualification, and career development
O*NET currently Job Zone 1–2: little to some preparation, and the group is usually high school or GED, which may not be required for some occupations; the on-the-job training range is group background, not a uniform education or training period for this occupation. Actual machine tool, program change, quality release, and safety authority are checked against the employer and location.
Career prospects and moving to related occupations
U.S. 51-9161, 2025—2035 employment 170,000 → 154,100, a decline of 9%, net decrease 15,900, average annual openings 12,500 including growth and replacement needs; not AI attribution.
Employment count, growth rate, net change, and annual openings must be explained separately and cannot be combined into a personal employment guarantee; automation and outsourcing change some tasks, and replacement needs still exist. · Presentation framing: Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators (O*NET 51-9161.00)
50,690 USD/year
Median annual wage (2025)
AI or technology research describes the scope in which tasks can be assisted and is not equal to organizational adoption, let alone net job change; program approval, machining, and safety responsibility remain with people.
Mainly equipment operation and machining, requiring long periods of standing and compliance with protection and interlock requirements, with common day and rotating shifts; batch size and delivery dates create schedule pressure. Specific work context values follow the O*NET Work Context survey.
This occupation centers on NC machining operation; robotics technicians focus on assembling and commissioning automated devices; industrial machinery maintenance workers are responsible for equipment repair; assemblers are responsible for component and complete machine assembly. Similar names do not mean duties, qualifications, and authorization are interchangeable.
Choose a real task from this page for a small practice project or a conversation with someone in the field. Use the planning guides to set a date, an output and feedback questions before deciding whether to continue.
Direct judgment: if you are willing to read drawings and tolerances, operate numerically controlled equipment according to programs and safety checks, and complete inspection and records steadily, this direction is worth testing further. Safe trials use only completely fictional drawings and simulation, without touching real machine tools, cutting tools, or hazardous energy.
Observable signals: whether you can check drawings, materials, and tolerances, whether you can set up and machine according to programs and safety requirements, and whether you can steadily complete dimensional inspection and records; personality labels cannot determine fit or qualification.
Work context (O*NET Work Context survey, 1—5 scale): characterized by equipment operation, precision requirements, and safety risk, with work performed according to programs and safety standards; specific work context values follow the O*NET Work Context survey.
Insufficient evidence: this round did not obtain a preparation level that can be safely extracted for O*NET 51-9161.00 on this page; the research inputs also include the official description, tasks, work context, and interest code (RC). These are not used to infer qualifications, wages, or employment framing in mainland China.
Boundaries: this page covers the NC operation and setup and maintenance of O*NET 51-9161.00 and does not include final process and program approval, equipment modification, or special work authorization.
| Dimension | Primary track | Comparison track |
|---|---|---|
| Step one | Check the drawing, material, and tolerances | Drawing and tolerance |
| Step two, programming | Check or write the NC program | Program and simulation |
| Step three | Setup, tool setting, and safety confirmation | Setup and safety |
| Step four | Machining and first-article inspection | Machining and first article |
| Step five | In-process monitoring and dimensional inspection | Monitoring and inspection |
| Step six | Records, maintenance, and handover | Records and maintenance |
| Qualification and training | According to position and employer requirements | Training scope |
Preparation and operation: check the drawing and tolerances, check or write the NC program, and machine after completing setup, tool setting, and safety confirmation.
Inspection and maintenance: complete first-article and in-process dimensional inspection, stop and escalate on anomalies, and keep records and maintain equipment.
Qualification and compliance boundaries: a safely extractable preparation level was not obtained from this O*NET page, and this round notes on-the-job training and vocational training as common paths; in mainland China the education, work, and special work boundaries are verified under employer and competent-authority rules.
Evidence to be checked
Evidence to be checked
Evidence to be checked
Evidence to be checked
Evidence to be checked
Evidence to be checked
| Focuses on the execution and coordination of clinical research, without leading hypothesis and study design. |
| Compare by the division between clinical execution and design. |
| Health informatics specialists | Designs health information systems and data standards, producing system plans and data governance rules. | Focuses on systems and data architecture, with experimental research not the core output. | Compare by systems and data duties. |
|---|
| Microbiologists | Studies microorganisms and their interactions with hosts, producing experimental data and papers. | Takes microbiology experiments as its object, with a research scope and disease focus that differ. | Compare by experimental object. |
|---|
| Geneticists | Studies the relationship between genetic variation and disease, producing genetic analyses and research reports. | Focuses on genetic mechanisms and requires genetics and molecular experiment expertise. | Compare by genetics and molecular direction. |
|---|
| Related and associated occupations | Related O*NET occupations also include biochemists, laboratory technicians, and public health positions. | Similar names do not mean duties, qualifications, and authorization are interchangeable. | Check item by item along the qualification and authorization chain. |
|---|
Adjacent relationships are used only for direction comparison: this occupation centers on NC machining operation, robotics technicians focus on assembling and commissioning automated devices, industrial machinery maintenance workers are responsible for equipment repair, and assemblers are responsible for component and complete machine assembly, and the qualifications and responsibilities of each position are not interchangeable.
Adjacent relationships are used only for direction comparison and do not represent automatic transfer or mutual recognition of qualifications.
Proposes drawing, program check point, and inspection record assistance based on NC tasks; conventional NC or simulation is not called generative AI adoption.
First check the drawing's purpose, software applicability, equipment version, verification method, and review authority; a demonstration does not mean employer deployment.
Task exposure is not equal to an adoption rate, unemployment probability, or substitution date.
| Work area | Task | Current change | Human control point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drawings and processes | Check specifications, tolerances, and machining sequence | Editorial option: organize the drawing requirements | A person checks the original drawing and version |
| Program checking | Input and modification control instructions | Editorial option: draft the check list | Verify the program according to employer process |
| Setup and tool setting | Install and secure the tool and workpiece | Editorial option: organize the installation check points | A person checks the setup, tool setting, and protection |
| Machining monitoring | Monitor the equipment and readings | Editorial option: organize anomaly trends | A person checks the real equipment status and stops according to process |
| Dimensional inspection | Measure the part and check the specification | Editorial option: organize the dimensional records | A person checks the instruments, tolerances, and release authority |
| Tools and maintenance | Change tools and maintain the equipment | Editorial option: organize the maintenance records | Work according to equipment and energy isolation requirements |
| Anomaly handover | Resolve production errors with the supervisor and programmer | Editorial option: organize the facts and open items | Authorized personnel confirm whether to continue production |
Insufficient evidence: the generative AI organizational adoption rate, reliable effects, and net employment causality for this occupation were not obtained. O*NET tasks, automation context, or an overall employment decline cannot prove AI job cuts.
Conventional NC automation, simulation software, and generative AI are explained separately; the applications below are editorial trial options.
AI primarily changesEditorial option: organizing requirements and check points
Human responsibility remainsProcess applicability and program verification
AI primarily changesEditorial option: dimensional records and anomaly summary
Human responsibility remainsInstruments, tolerances, and release
AI primarily changesEditorial option: organizing lists and handover
Human responsibility remainsActual state, isolation, and safety
The human responsibility chain: from checking inputs and defining the task, to human review and record escalation.
Check the drawing, equipment, materials, software, and versions
Generate only drafts and check points; do not go onto the machine automatically
Check setup, program, dimensions, and inspection
Execute according to the equipment protection and energy isolation process
Record anomalies and let an authorized person decide whether to continue production
May scrap workpieces
Control: Check the drawing and tolerances
May damage equipment
Control: Check the controller and actual verification
May cause batch nonconformity
Control: Check the instruments and real measurement
May exceed the permitted use
Control: Check the approved tool and material permissions
Possible personal injury
Control: Check protection and isolation according to site rules
Practice drawing reading and simulation with completely fictional drawings.
Keep program, inspection, and maintenance records.
Define safety, first-article, and inspection boundaries first.
Model safety standards and inspection criteria.
An overall decline projection cannot prove AI causality or a substitution date.
Source: Official task background; the trial is an editorial suggestionOriginal source ↗
An unverified draft must not be treated directly as real work instructions; it requires confirmation with the actual equipment and employer process.
Source: Official task background; the trial is an editorial suggestionOriginal source ↗
Instruments, tolerances, records, and quality release authority must be checked.
Source: Official task background; the trial is an editorial suggestionOriginal source ↗
Separate task usability, real adoption, reliable effect, and job causality.
Source: Official task background; the trial is an editorial suggestionOriginal source ↗
First check the drawing's permitted use, the approved tool, and the data handling conditions.
Source: Official task background; the trial is an editorial suggestionOriginal source ↗
Real protection, equipment checks, and energy isolation are implemented by people according to employer and location requirements.
Source: Official task background; the trial is an editorial suggestionOriginal source ↗
Compare errors on fictional drawings and offline simulation, without connecting to real machine tools or hazardous energy.
Source: Official task background; the trial is an editorial suggestionOriginal source ↗
Equipment repair, program development, or quality inspection each require adding diagnosis, process program verification, or metrology quality evidence; operating experience does not automatically grant new duties.
Public duties and skills information can be used for career exploration but cannot be used to infer Chinese market wages.
| Position directions | Industry annual wage reference | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Basic training | Drawing reading and operation preparation | Editorial scenario: check drawings, tolerances, and protection; not an education-wage correspondence |
| Related field of study | NC machining and self-inspection | Editorial scenario: check the machine tool, program, and instruments; not an education-wage correspondence |
| Experience stage | Setup and fault handover | Editorial scenario: check tools, setup, and handling authority; not an education-wage correspondence |
| Advanced stage | Quality and process improvement | Editorial scenario: check inspection, versions, and responsibility handover; not an education-wage correspondence |
For a salary judgment, return to the specific city, employer, position level, and public recruitment conditions to verify.
Check the machine tool, batch size, and tolerances
Check the equipment, shifts, and quality requirements
Check the materials, equipment, and specific responsibility
The precise wage and starting pay gap is retained; an industry pretax annual average cannot replace a personal wage.
| A 2025 national distribution position, not a seniority ladder or a personal guarantee.；U.S. 51-9161, 2025—2035 employment 170,000 → 154,100, a decline of 9%, net decrease 15,900, average annual openings 12,500 including growth and replacement needs; not AI attribution. |
| 90th percentile | 73,890 USD/year | 35.53 USD/hour | A 2025 national distribution position, not a seniority ladder or a personal guarantee.；Current O*NET industry distribution: manufacturing 91%, other 9%; an employer scenario, not an industry wage or demand projection. |
|---|
Wage 10th percentile：38,140 USD/year；2025 U.S. 51-9161 national percentiles； the United States row on the state page
Wage 25th percentile：44,930 USD/year；2025 U.S. 51-9161 national percentiles； the United States row on the state page
Median wage：50,690 USD/year；2025 U.S. 51-9161 national percentiles； the United States row on the state page
Wage 75th percentile：61,760 USD/year；2025 U.S. 51-9161 national percentiles； the United States row on the state page
Wage 90th percentile：73,890 USD/year；2025 U.S. 51-9161 national percentiles； the United States row on the state page
The percentiles are 2025 national wage distribution positions, not starting pay, a seniority ladder, or a personal quote.；How to understand these figures: this occupation's employment size is projected to decline but still has a considerable number of replacement needs; size, growth rate, net change, and openings must be explained separately.
The percentiles are 2025 national wage distribution positions, not starting pay, a seniority ladder, or a personal quote.；When comparing positions, also check shifts, industry, and degree of automation; institutions and regions differ greatly, and results must not be extrapolated across regions.
It is the occupational employment stock, not the current number of job openings.
The growth projection and annual openings are market signals, not a personal hiring probability.
| Industry distribution | Industry share or difference (not wages) | How to understand these figures |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 91% | Employer industry share; not an industry median wage | https://www.onetonline.org/link/industry/51-9161.00 |
| Other industries | 9% | Employer industry share; not an industry median wage | https://www.onetonline.org/link/industry/51-9161.00 |
| Equipment and batch size differences | Industry occupational wages not obtained | Check the controller, machine tool, batch size, and tolerances; not an industry median wage | https://www.onetonline.org/link/industry/51-9161.00 |
| Region and shift differences | Tiered wages for this occupation not obtained | Check the region, night shift, and actual quote; not an industry median wage | https://www.onetonline.org/link/industry/51-9161.00 |
Check the machine tool, materials, tolerances, setup, program changes, and inspection responsibility
Check duty shifts, travel, on-site service, and regional differences.
Check employer training, certification preferences, and reviewable work samples.
O*NET occupational interest baseline
First observe the interest, pressure, and collaboration experience in real tasks.
Activity preferences can only help design exercises and cannot judge qualifications or performance.
What abilities and work style are needed to be an NC machine tool operator?
Fit signals: willing to check drawings, programs, and dimensions repeatedly, comply with protection and interlock requirements, and stop and escalate on anomalies. Caution conditions: if it is hard to bear safety responsibility and precision pressure, first compare adjacent directions.
Do not use it this way: Exploration tools do not prove competence in drawing reading, programming, machining inspection, or safe operation.
Use RIASEC to explore machining interestsWhat abilities and work style are needed to be an NC machine tool operator?
Fit is judged by observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Do not use it this way: Exploration tools do not prove competence in drawing reading, programming, machining inspection, or safe operation.
Use RIASEC to explore machining interestsWhat abilities and work style are needed to be an NC machine tool operator?
Fit is judged by observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Do not use it this way: Exploration tools do not prove competence in drawing reading, programming, machining inspection, or safe operation.
Use RIASEC to explore machining interestsWhat abilities and work style are needed to be an NC machine tool operator?
Fit is judged by observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Do not use it this way: Exploration tools do not prove competence in drawing reading, programming, machining inspection, or safe operation.
Use RIASEC to explore machining interestsWhat abilities and work style are needed to be an NC machine tool operator?
Fit is judged by observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Do not use it this way: Exploration tools do not prove competence in drawing reading, programming, machining inspection, or safe operation.
Use RIASEC to explore machining interestsWhat abilities and work style are needed to be an NC machine tool operator?
Fit is judged by observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Do not use it this way: Exploration tools do not prove competence in drawing reading, programming, machining inspection, or safe operation.
Use RIASEC to explore machining interestsFits better when: Editorial comparison: drawings and control instructions can serve as clues, not proof of target competence
Watch for: Add tool paths, process sequence, simulation, and program verification
Explore related career: Numerical tool and process control programmersFits better when: Editorial comparison: drawing reading, machining, and inspection can serve as clues, not proof of target competence
Watch for: Add multiple types of machining equipment, machining processes, and precision manufacturing
Explore related career: MachinistsFits better when: Editorial comparison: precision and tooling can serve as clues, not proof of target competence
Watch for: Add die structure, tool making, assembly, and fitting
Explore related career: Tool and die makersFits better when: Editorial comparison: equipment observation and maintenance can serve as clues, not proof of target competence
Watch for: Add mechanical diagnosis, disassembly and assembly, repair, and energy isolation
Explore related career: Industrial machinery mechanicsFits better when: Editorial comparison: automated equipment operation can serve as clues, not proof of target competence
Watch for: Add robot testing, maintenance, and system troubleshooting
Explore related career: Robotics techniciansFits better when: Editorial comparison: dimensional measurement and records can serve as clues, not proof of target competence
Watch for: Add sampling, test methods, and quality judgment
Explore related career: Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighersFit is judged by observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Fit is judged by observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Fit is judged by observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Fit is judged by observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Fit is judged by observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Fit is judged by observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Fit is judged by observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Fit is judged by observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Fit is judged by observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Fit is judged by observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records.
Evidence：Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 51-9161.00 · Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 51-9161.00
Typical scenario：Program or setup errors cause workpiece scrap and equipment damage.
Roles most affected：Programming and operation positions
Possible consequence：Causes scrap, downtime, and cost loss.
How to reduce risk：Follow the first-article inspection and program checking process.
Evidence：Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 51-9161.00 · Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 51-9161.00
Typical scenario：Insufficient dimensional inspection causes batch nonconformity.
Roles most affected：Machining and inspection positions
Possible consequence：Affects product quality and delivery.
How to reduce risk：Sample and record according to tolerance requirements and escalate anomalies.
Evidence：Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 51-9161.00 · Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 51-9161.00
Typical scenario：Improper tool or chip clearing causes injury.
Roles most affected：Equipment operation positions
Possible consequence：May cause cuts or burns.
How to reduce risk：Handle according to the cleaning and shutdown lockout process.
Evidence：Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 51-9161.00 · Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 51-9161.00
Typical scenario：Skipping first-article and safety checks under deadline pressure.
Roles most affected：Delivery and duty positions
Possible consequence：May amplify errors and cause an incident.
How to reduce risk：Keep check records and escalate according to process.
Evidence：Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 51-9161.00 · Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 51-9161.00
Typical scenario：Confusing this occupation with adjacent positions such as industrial machinery mechanics or robotics technicians.
Roles most affected：Operation and maintenance positions
Possible consequence：May cause a mismatch between authorization and responsibility.
How to reduce risk：Distinguish adjacent positions by the scope of O*NET 51-9161.00.
Evidence：Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 51-9161.00 · Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 51-9161.00
| career.column.stage | career.column.task | career.column.boundary | career.column.evidence | career.column.next |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operation under guidance | Operate simple part machining under guidance | Must not independently program or change program parameters | Drawing reading and operation practice records | Extending to independent operation |
| Routine parts | Independently operate common NC machine tools and self-inspect | Program changes require approval | Machining and inspection records | Extending to complex parts |
| Complex parts | Responsible for complex parts and first-article confirmation | Process and program are confirmed by the technical department | Complex part and first-article records | Extending to setup and debugging |
| Setup and improvement | Responsible for equipment setup and program optimization | Authorization and compliance are confirmed by the institution | Setup and optimization records | Extending to mentoring |
| Mentoring and improvement | Mentor and improve processes within the authorized scope | Must not replace the process and safety functions | Mentoring and process improvement records | Extending authorization according to the institution and rules |
| career.column.scenario | career.column.action | career.column.review | career.column.evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interview preparation | Organize a process and program check case for a fictional drawing | Ask others to challenge the tolerance and safety judgments | Process and program samples |
| Interview itself | Explain how to do first-article and in-process inspection | The interviewer confirms the logic of the conclusion | Inspection and escalation explanation |
| Work under supervision | Complete part machining and self-inspection under guidance | The supervisor reviews the machining and safety | Machining and inspection records |
| Position evaluation stage | Determine the machining tasks that can be taken on based on actual evaluation | The responsible person confirms quality and safety | Quality and safety records |
| career.column.state | career.column.proof | career.column.authority | career.column.condition | career.column.gap | career.column.owner | career.column.next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | The O*NET Job Zone 1–2 group is usually high school/GED, may not be required for some occupations; the actual employer is checked separately | Employer and institution | Verified by position | Education is not the same as operation authorization | Employer | Checked against position requirements |
| Vocational training | Machining and NC courses | Training provider | Verified by course scope | A course is not the same as independent operation | Training provider and employer | Check the course scope |
| Work certificate | Special work or safety certificate | Competent authority | Verified by work type | A certificate is not the same as position authorization | Competent authority | Check the applicable scope |
| Institutional authorization | Position authorization and authority statement | Employer | Verified according to institutional process | Authorization is not the same as process approval authority | Employer | Check the authorization chain |
| Program change authority | Program change and verification records | Technical department | Verified according to process | A change is not the same as a quality judgment | Technical department | Confirmed according to process |
| Quality release authority | First-article and release records | Quality department | Verified according to inspection requirements | Release is not the same as a process decision | Quality department | Confirmed according to process |
Typical scope：Editorial stage: drawing reading, setup, and program checking, by actual ability and authorization
Readiness evidence：Drawing, setup, and program verification records
Credential boundary：Check the employer, machine tools, and local rules, not guaranteed years
Next moves：Expand duties based on task quality and evaluation
Typical scope：Editorial stage: drawing reading, setup, and program checking, by actual ability and authorization
Readiness evidence：Drawing, setup, and program verification records
Credential boundary：Check the employer, machine tools, and local rules, not guaranteed years
Next moves：Expand duties based on task quality and evaluation
Typical scope：Editorial stage: drawing reading, setup, and program checking, by actual ability and authorization
Readiness evidence：Drawing, setup, and program verification records
Credential boundary：Check the employer, machine tools, and local rules, not guaranteed years
Next moves：Expand duties based on task quality and evaluation
Typical scope：Editorial stage: drawing reading, setup, and program checking, by actual ability and authorization
Readiness evidence：Drawing, setup, and program verification records
Credential boundary：Check the employer, machine tools, and local rules, not guaranteed years
Next moves：Expand duties based on task quality and evaluation
Typical scope：Editorial stage: dimensional and in-process inspection, by actual ability and authorization
Readiness evidence：Instruments, tolerances, and inspection records
Credential boundary：Check the employer, machine tools, and local rules, not guaranteed years
Next moves：Expand duties based on task quality and evaluation
Typical scope：Editorial stage: dimensional and in-process inspection, by actual ability and authorization
Readiness evidence：Instruments, tolerances, and inspection records
Credential boundary：Check the employer, machine tools, and local rules, not guaranteed years
Next moves：Expand duties based on task quality and evaluation
Typical scope：Editorial stage: dimensional and in-process inspection, by actual ability and authorization
Readiness evidence：Instruments, tolerances, and inspection records
Credential boundary：Check the employer, machine tools, and local rules, not guaranteed years
Expand duties based on task quality and evaluation
Typical scope：Editorial stage: equipment maintenance and anomaly handover, by actual ability and authorization
Readiness evidence：Maintenance, shutdown, and handover records
Credential boundary：Check the employer, machine tools, and local rules, not guaranteed years
Next moves：Expand duties based on task quality and evaluation
Typical scope：Editorial stage: equipment maintenance and anomaly handover, by actual ability and authorization
Readiness evidence：Maintenance, shutdown, and handover records
Credential boundary：Check the employer, machine tools, and local rules, not guaranteed years
Next moves：Expand duties based on task quality and evaluation
Typical scope：Editorial stage: equipment maintenance and anomaly handover, by actual ability and authorization
Readiness evidence：Maintenance, shutdown, and handover records
Credential boundary：Check the employer, machine tools, and local rules, not guaranteed years
Expand duties based on task quality and evaluation
Check the specific manufacturing employer, machine tools, batch size, tolerances, and shifts; listing scenarios is not a recruitment sample.
Ability evidence: machining experience is often evidenced by drawing reading, programs, inspection, and maintenance records, and must state the machine type, tolerances, and batch size.
Entry work sample: complete one process and program check exercise for a completely fictional part drawing, without touching real machine tools or hazardous energy.
Ability ladder: before entering this occupation, check the official occupation scope, real employer requirements, education and training, local machining and special work rules, and supervised tasks; advancement is based on reviewable program, inspection, and maintenance records, not guaranteed years.
Does not establish：Adjacent transitions: moving to equipment repair, process programming, or robotics application requires checking the tool, qualification, and responsibility differences item by item; each path must fill in the evidence corresponding to its new outputs.
U.S. national · 51-9161.00 this occupation
12,500 per year
Average annual job openings
Includes growth and replacement needs; not net increase or current hiring
Does not establish：Cannot serve as a personal hiring probability.
U.S. national · Presentation framing: 21-1023.00
170,000 → 154,100; -9%; net decrease 15,900
Employment size and change
An overall projection, not AI attribution
Does not establish：A statistical projection and does not constitute an employment guarantee for this separately listed occupation.
These are capability relationships, not automatic promotions or credential waivers.
Transfers：Editorial comparison: drawings and control instructions are clues, not proof of target competence
Build next：Add tool paths, process sequence, simulation, and program verification
View career profileTransfers：Editorial comparison: drawing reading, machining, and inspection are clues, not proof of target competence
Build next：Add multiple types of machining equipment, machining processes, and precision manufacturing
View career profileTransfers：Editorial comparison: precision and tooling are clues, not proof of target competence
Build next：Add die structure, tool making, assembly, and fitting
View career profileTransfers：Editorial comparison: equipment observation and maintenance are clues, not proof of target competence
Build next：Add mechanical diagnosis, disassembly and assembly, repair, and energy isolation
View career profileTransfers：Editorial comparison: automated equipment operation is a clue, not proof of target competence
Build next：Add robot testing, maintenance, and system troubleshooting
View career profileTransfers：Editorial comparison: dimensional measurement and records are clues, not proof of target competence
Build next：Add sampling, test methods, and quality judgment
View career profileTransfers：Editorial comparison: production records and processes are clues, not proof of target competence
Build next：Add work measurement, process analysis, and production improvement methods
View career profileTransfers：Editorial comparison: production collaboration and anomaly handover are clues, not proof of target competence
Build next：Add production scheduling, staff mentoring, and quality and safety supervision
View career profileLook at observable behavior: whether you can read drawings and tolerances, operate according to programs and safety checks, and steadily complete dimensional inspection and records; the RC interest code describes activity preferences only and cannot determine competence or qualification.
Program verification, tool path simulation, and dimensional trend analysis are more easily assisted by software; program confirmation, setup, machining, and safety judgment remain mainly human, and the available material supports only task-level assistive judgment.
Process and program approval, setup and tool setting, first-article and quality judgment, and equipment maintenance and safety handling must be the responsibility of people with authority or qualifications according to their duties; tool output must not serve as a quality or safety conclusion.
This round used a bounded search of National Bureau of Statistics methods and public wage framings and obtained no mainland China national occupational wage distribution precisely corresponding to O*NET 51-9161.00; public material is aggregated by industry or broad personnel category and cannot replace this occupation's median, so this page marks it as missing and does not fill in a figure.
BLS 2025 wage data: median annual wage 50,690 USD (about 24.37 USD/hour), 10th percentile 38,140, 25th percentile 44,930, 75th percentile 61,760, 90th percentile 73,890 USD; this is the O*NET 51-9161.00 framing for this occupation, and percentiles exclude personal take-home income.
This round did not obtain a preparation level that can be safely extracted from the O*NET page for this occupation; the common paths are on-the-job training and vocational training, and machining and NC courses can be used to discover training paths. Mainland China is determined by employer and special work rules, and a certificate is not the same as position authorization.
China and U.S. data are in separate columns; the precise occupation, combined occupation, parent occupation, and framings must not be rewritten for one another. AI content distinguishes the general boundaries supported by sources from clearly marked editorial summaries; no real deployment rate, automatic authorization, or net employment effect is claimed. The exercises on this page are for career exploration only and do not constitute real operation, special work, or safety authorization.
Nine-module check 2026-10-11
O*NET51-9161 tasks, 2025 wages, 2025—2035 projection; National Bureau of Statistics manufacturing reference
Limitations：Not an adoption rate, performance, or substitution probability.
Limitations：Not hiring scale or a hiring guarantee.
Limitations：Does not replace employer procedures, local law, or case-by-case judgment.
Limitations：An industry average cannot replace this occupation's precise wage.
Limitations：Not equal to employer hiring or statutory licensing.
Limitations：U.S. occupational scope; does not set Chinese qualifications.
Limitations：The summary must be interpreted together with the detailed occupation scope.
Limitations：Classification adjacency does not mean authority is interchangeable.
Limitations：When there are no figures, it supports only unavailability or a narrow framing boundary.
Limitations：When there are no figures, it supports only the unavailability boundary.
Limitations：Use only for the stated O*NET occupation, US market and page subject. It does not establish a China mapping, China pay, or legal authorization.
Limitations：Use only for the stated O*NET occupation, US market and page subject. It does not establish a China mapping, China pay, or legal authorization.
Limitations：Use only for the stated O*NET occupation, US market and page subject. It does not establish a China mapping, China pay, or legal authorization.
Limitations：Use only for the stated O*NET occupation, US market and page subject. It does not establish a China mapping, China pay, or legal authorization.
Limitations：Use only for the stated O*NET occupation, US market and page subject. It does not establish a China mapping, China pay, or legal authorization.
Limitations：Use only for the stated O*NET occupation, US market and page subject. It does not establish a China mapping, China pay, or legal authorization.
Limitations：O*NET OnLine presents BLS OEWS wage data; preserve the displayed period, worker population, geography and unit. A direct BLS access failure does not invalidate this opened O*NET page.
Limitations：Use only for the stated O*NET occupation, US market and page subject. It does not establish a China mapping, China pay, or legal authorization.
Limitations：Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
The evidence supports only scope-level judgments for NC machine tool operators within the labeled market and period, and does not constitute a guarantee of personal income, hiring, or fit.
English MBTI exploration · English Big Five exploration · Chinese MBTI exploration · Chinese Big Five exploration
Typical scope：Editorial stage: dimensional and in-process inspection, by actual ability and authorization
Readiness evidence：Instruments, tolerances, and inspection records
Credential boundary：Check the employer, machine tools, and local rules, not guaranteed years
Next moves：Expand duties based on task quality and evaluation
Typical scope：Editorial stage: equipment maintenance and anomaly handover, by actual ability and authorization
Readiness evidence：Maintenance, shutdown, and handover records
Credential boundary：Check the employer, machine tools, and local rules, not guaranteed years
Next moves：Expand duties based on task quality and evaluation
