Roof Bolters, Mining
Machines can already do 18% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 57%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Roof Bolters, Mining in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 18% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2034, and 57% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 2,160 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $78,540 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 67% for contact with people.
- Also called: Bolt Machine Operator, Bolt Man, Bolter, Miner.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drill bolt holes into roofs at specified distances from ribs or adjacent bolts | 23% | 20% to 60% | |
| Force bolts into holes, using hydraulic mechanisms of self-propelled bolting machines | 14% | 20% to 60% | |
| Position bolting machines, and insert drill bits into chucks | 12% | 20% to 60% | |
| Install various types of bolts, including truss, glue, and resin bolts, traversing entire ceiling spans | 12% | 20% to 60% | |
| Pull down loose rock that cannot be supported | 6% | 3% to 30% | |
| Perform ventilation tasks, such as hanging ventilation curtains and tubes | 6% | 3% to 30% | |
| Remove drill bits from chucks after drilling holes, and insert bolts into chucks | 6% | 20% to 60% | |
| Perform safety checks on equipment before operating | 5% | 3% to 30% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills roof bolters, mining use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians50% of tasks by 2035 · US median $79,870
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery56% of tasks by 2035 · US median $60,850
- Signal and Track Switch Repairers52% of tasks by 2035 · US median $92,460
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers54% of tasks by 2035 · US median $95,320
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Roof Bolters, Mining?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2034. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of roof bolters, mining?
Machines can do 18% of the tasks of roof bolters, mining today and 57% 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 47-5043.00 (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). Roof Bolters, Mining: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/roof-bolters-mining/