Coil winders, tapers, and finishers
SOC Code: 51-2021
Coil winders, tapers, and finishers carries a 34% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $47,260 and -6.3% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 12,200 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Coil winders, tapers, and finishers (SOC 51-2021) carries an AI exposure score of 34%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 12,200 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -6.3% change through 2034 — a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $47,260, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Coil winders, tapers, and finishers. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Operate or tend wire-coiling machines to wind wire coils used in electrical components such as resistors and transformers, and in electrical equipment and instruments such as bobbins and generators.
- 2. Attach, alter, and trim materials such as wire, insulation, and coils, using hand tools.
- 3. Cut, strip, and bend wire leads at ends of coils, using pliers and wire scrapers.
- 4. Review work orders and specifications to determine materials needed and types of parts to be processed.
- 5. Examine and test wired electrical components such as motors, armatures, and stators, using measuring devices, and record test results.
- 6. Select and load materials such as workpieces, objects, and machine parts onto equipment used in coiling processes.
- 7. Record production and operational data on specified forms.
- 8. Line slots with sheet insulation, and insert coils into slots.
- 9. Apply solutions or paints to wired electrical components, using hand tools, and bake components.
- 10. Stop machines to remove completed components, using hand tools.
Key Skills Required
- Monitoring
- Operations Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Operation and Control
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Coordination
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Social Perceptiveness
Knowledge Areas
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Engineering and Technology
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Coil winders, tapers, and finishers?
Coil winders, tapers, and finishers has an AI exposure score of 34%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Coil winders, tapers, and finishers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Coil winders, tapers, and finishers is projected to decline by 6.3% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 12,200 workers.
What skills are needed for Coil winders, tapers, and finishers?
Key skills for Coil winders, tapers, and finishers include Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Coil winders, tapers, and finishers earn?
The median annual wage for Coil winders, tapers, and finishers is $47,260, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Coil winders, tapers, and finishers?
The typical entry-level education for Coil winders, tapers, and finishers is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Moderate-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Coil winders, tapers, and finishers?
Coil winders, tapers, and finishers roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
Explore More on PlainWorkforce
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).