Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
Machines can already do 25% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 64%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 25% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2033, and 64% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 11,500 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $46,460 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 70% for contact with people.
- Also called: Coater Operator, Glue Line Operator, Glue Reel Operator, Gluer Machine Operator.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitor machine operations to detect malfunctions and report or resolve problems | 14% | 20% to 60% | |
| Remove and stack completed materials or products, and restock materials to be joined | 13% | 20% to 60% | |
| Align and position materials being joined to ensure accurate application of adhesive or heat sealing | 12% | 20% to 60% | |
| Mount or load material such as paper, plastic, wood, or rubber in feeding mechanisms of cementing or gluing machines | 9% | 20% to 60% | |
| Adjust machine components according to specifications such as widths, lengths, and thickness of materials and amounts of glue, cement, or adhesive required | 6% | 30% to 75% | |
| Examine and measure completed materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices such as tape measures, gauges, or calipers | 6% | 20% to 60% | |
| Read work orders and communicate with coworkers to determine machine and equipment settings and adjustments and supply and product specifications | 5% | 47% to 77% | |
| Clean and maintain gluing and cementing machines, using solutions, lubricants, brushes, and scrapers | 5% | 20% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $50,140
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic60% of tasks by 2035 · US median $46,550
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic57% of tasks by 2035 · US median $47,720
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders60% of tasks by 2035 · US median $43,220
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2033. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders?
Machines can do 25% of the tasks of adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders today and 64% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 51-9191.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/adhesive-bonding-machine-operators-and-tenders/