Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Machines can already do 26% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 65%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 26% 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 65% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 94,920 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $48,990 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 56% for contact with people.
- Also called: Batchmaker, Blender, Blending Technician (Blending Tech), Ink Blender.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Observe production or monitor equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation | 13% | 30% to 75% | |
| Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products to ensure conformance to requirements | 11% | 20% to 60% | |
| Mix or blend ingredients by starting machines and mixing for specified times | 9% | 20% to 60% | |
| Dump or pour specified amounts of materials into machinery or equipment | 9% | 20% to 60% | |
| Operate or tend machines to mix or blend any of a wide variety of materials, such as spices, dough batter, tobacco, fruit juices, chemicals, livestock feed, food products, color pigments, or explosive ingredients | 7% | 20% to 60% | |
| Record operational or production data on specified forms | 5% | 85% to 97% | |
| Unload mixtures into containers or onto conveyors for further processing | 5% | 20% to 60% | |
| Clean work areas | 5% | 20% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills mixing and blending machine setters, 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.
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers62% of tasks by 2035 · US median $46,350
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic62% of tasks by 2035 · US median $48,750
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $46,330
- Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers61% of tasks by 2035
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, 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 mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Machines can do 26% of the tasks of mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders today and 65% 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 51-9023.00 (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). Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/mixing-and-blending-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders/