Manufacturing Engineers
Machines can already do 40% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 69%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Manufacturing Engineers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 40% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 4% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2030, and 69% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 365,740 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $102,440 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 67% for contact with people.
- Also called: Facility Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Plant Engineer, Process Engineer.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Troubleshoot new or existing product problems involving designs, materials, or processes | 9% | 25% to 55% | |
| Investigate or resolve operational problems, such as material use variances or bottlenecks | 8% | 35% to 60% | |
| Identify opportunities or implement changes to improve manufacturing processes or products or to reduce costs, using knowledge of fabrication processes, tooling and production equipment, assembly methods, quality control standards, or product design, materials and parts | 8% | 38% to 70% | |
| Apply continuous improvement methods, such as lean manufacturing, to enhance manufacturing quality, reliability, or cost-effectiveness | 7% | 25% to 55% | |
| Provide technical expertise or support related to manufacturing | 7% | 71% to 91% | |
| Incorporate new manufacturing methods or processes to improve existing operations | 6% | 50% to 85% | |
| Review product designs for manufacturability or completeness | 5% | 60% to 90% | |
| Determine root causes of failures or recommend changes in designs, tolerances, or processing methods, using statistical procedures | 5% | 30% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills manufacturing engineers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians66% of tasks by 2035 · US median $74,510
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians66% of tasks by 2035 · US median $67,820
- Robotics Technicians47% of tasks by 2035 · US median $73,900
- Commercial and Industrial Designers65% of tasks by 2035 · US median $83,910
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Manufacturing Engineers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2030. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of manufacturing engineers?
Machines can do 40% of the tasks of manufacturing engineers today and 69% 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 17-2112.03 (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). Manufacturing Engineers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/manufacturing-engineers/