# Will winding machine operators be replaced by AI? Updated October 2026 Winding machine operators score 22 out of 100 for AI exposure. 64% of their task time needs a person. AI can do 6% and helps with 30%. - **6%** AI can do it - **30%** AI helps - **64%** Needs a person Low exposure Lower than 76% of the 923 jobs we scored. ## Task by task We graded 23 tasks, most exposed first. AI can do 1 of them, helps with 6 and leaves 16 to people. | Task | AI exposure | | --- | --- | | Record production data such as numbers and types of bobbins wound. Recording counts and bobbin types is routine data entry. | 80% AI can do it | | Study guides, samples, charts, and specification sheets, or confer with supervisors or engineering staff to determine setup requirements. LLMs can digest spec sheets; supervisor discussions stay human. | 55% AI helps | | Notify supervisors or mechanics of equipment malfunctions. Fault reports can be generated from machine sensor alerts. | 45% AI helps | | Inspect products to verify that they meet specifications and to determine whether machine adjustment is needed. Vision systems can flag defects; a person confirms specs. | 40% AI helps | | Observe operations to detect defects, malfunctions, or supply shortages. Camera and sensor monitoring can spot defects and supply shortages. | 40% AI helps | ## How winding machine operators compare All jobs (923) Production (107) The dark line is **winding machine operators, at 22**. Each dot is a score, and darker dots mean more jobs share it. The short marks are the averages, 37 for all jobs and 22 for production. ## Pay and outlook in the US Median pay $38,670 a year, May 2025 People employed 22,020 in the US, May 2025 Projected change in jobs \-10.3% from 2024 to 2034 ## Skills to build - Set up winding machines by aligning guides and cutters - Adjust speed and tension manually to meet specifications - Thread yarn through guides and rollers on winding machines - Repair worn machine parts with hand tools - Verify bobbin output against specification sheets before adjusting - Log production counts and bobbin types in Microsoft Excel ## Safer roles nearby 5 related jobs with lower scores. - [Paper goods machine operators16 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/paper-goods-machine-operators/) - [Fiber extrusion operators18 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/fiber-extrusion-operators/) - [Machine feeders20 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/machine-feeders/) - [Woodworking machine operators16 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/woodworking-machine-operators/) - [Sewing machine operators16 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/sewing-machine-operators/) ## Questions about winding machine operators and AI Will AI replace winding machine operators? Partly. About 2 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly recording production data and reading specification sheets. Setting machines, threading yarn, and cleaning equipment stay with people because they need hands and tools on the machine. Which winding machine operator tasks is AI taking over? Recording production data, such as bobbin counts and bobbin types, scores 80 on exposure, the highest in this job, because it is routine data entry. Notifying mechanics of malfunctions scores 45, since machine sensor alerts can generate fault reports. Observing operations for defects scores 40, since camera monitoring can flag them. Which winding machine operator tasks stay human? Removing spindles, placing bobbins, and threading yarn score 5 to 8 on exposure, the lowest in this job. Each one is physical handling with hands and tools, and together with machine cleaning and repair they make up most of the 64% of task weight that stays human. How can winding machine operators stay valuable? Keep hands-on setup skills, such as aligning guides, cutters, and gears on each machine. Learn to check sensor and vision alerts against the spec sheet before changing speed or tension. Keep Excel production logs accurate so supervisors can spot tension drift early. ## Related jobs - [Knitting machine operators28 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/knitting-machine-operators/) - [Cutting machine operators22 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cutting-machine-operators/) - [Fabric cutters31 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/fabric-cutters/) - [Adhesive bonding machine operators22 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/adhesive-bonding-machine-operators/) ## Next steps for winding machine operators - ### Check your job Your job title is a rough guide. Your tasks decide your score. Paste your job description or CV to see which tasks AI can do. [Check your job](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-exposure-checker/) [Check your CV](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/cv-checker/) - ### Estimate team savings The score is per person. Add headcount and salary to see the hours AI can take on in a team of winding machine operators, and what they cost. [Estimate what AI saves a team of winding machine operators](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/team-ai-audit/?role=winding-machine-operators) [Work out the return on automation](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-savings-calculator/) ### Check which roles in your team AI can take on We map your team's tasks, show what AI can do today and build the automations that pay back first. [Book an AI audit](https://www.aigentcy.com/audit/) ## Related topics - [**Jobs AI can't replace**Roustabouts score lowest, at 6.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-cant-replace/) - [**Jobs most at risk from AI**Proofreaders score highest, at 76.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-most-exposed-to-ai/) - [**High-paying jobs with low AI exposure**Pediatric surgeons earn a median $559,030 and score 29.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/high-paying-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Entry-level jobs with low AI exposure**Roustabouts need little prior training and score 6.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/entry-level-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Jobs AI speeds up the most**AI helps with 98% of the task time for health informatics specialists.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-speeds-up/) - [**AI and jobs in Malta**15 iGaming roles graded task by task.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/malta/) - [**Skills that keep work human**The skills to build in the jobs AI changes least.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/skills/) - [**Jobs A to Z**Every job we score, by first letter.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs/) - [**AI exposure by industry**Average scores for 22 job groups.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/industries/) - [**Write a CV screening software can read**How applicant tracking systems read a CV, and what to change.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cv-screening-guide/) - [**AI for businesses**The tasks to automate first in each team and industry.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-for/) - [**How we score AI exposure**The grading, the weights and every source.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/) Sources and licences Occupation data from the O\*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and modified by Aigentcy. O\*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Wage, employment and projection data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EU occupation names from ESCO, European Commission. AI usage signals from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY) and Microsoft Research (CC BY 4.0). [Methodology and sources](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/). Scores © Aigentcy. Quote them with a link to the page.