AI exposure score

Patternmakers, Wood

Patternmakers, Wood score 26 out of 100, which is moderate exposure to AI. That ranks #579 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 20 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 4 on its own and 2 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 1 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

26/ 100

Moderate

Rank: #579of 923 jobs
US workers: 220BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $49,630a year
In real AI use: 1 of 20tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 4 (20%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 2 (10%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 14 (70%)

Estimate costs for patternmaking jobs.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Maintain pattern records for reference.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Compute dimensions, areas, volumes, and weights.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
Inventory equipment and supplies, ordering parts and tools as necessary.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Lay out patterns on wood stock and draw outlines of units, sectional patterns, or full-scale mock-ups of products, based on blueprint specifications and sketches, and using marking and measuring devices.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, and screws.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Divide patterns into sections according to shapes of castings to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Verify dimensions of completed patterns, using templates, straightedges, calipers, or protractors.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Correct patterns to compensate for defects in castings.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Set up, operate, and adjust a variety of woodworking machines such as bandsaws and lathes to cut and shape sections, parts, and patterns, according to specifications.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Finish completed products or models with shellac, lacquer, wax, or paint.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Mark identifying information such as colors or codes on patterns, parts, and templates to indicate assembly methods.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Repair broken or damaged patterns.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Glue fillets along interior angles of patterns.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Construct wooden models, templates, full scale mock-ups, jigs, or molds for shaping parts of products.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Select lumber to be used for patterns.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Collect and store patterns and lumber.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Issue patterns to designated machine operators.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about patternmakers, wood and AI

Will AI replace patternmakers, wood?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Patternmakers, Wood score 26 out of 100 (moderate exposure), #579 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 6 of the job's 20 tasks, 4 of them on its own, while 14 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which patternmakers, wood tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Estimate costs for patternmaking jobs"; "Maintain pattern records for reference"; "Compute dimensions, areas, volumes, and weights".

Which patternmakers, wood tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, and screws"; "Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools"; "Divide patterns into sections according to shapes of castings to facilitate removal of patterns from molds".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 1 of the 20 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as patternmakers, wood, and what do they earn?

About 220 people in the US, with median pay of $49,630 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.