Where AI can help
AI can suggest examples, differentiated activities and communication drafts.
Education typically needed · A PICTURE OF THE OCCUPATION
Elementary School Teachers
Plan learning experiences, teach content and follow children’s development. The work requires constant adaptation to the group.
Observed AI exposureNot measured in this editionAnthropic · March 2026 study
Employment projection-0.4%2025–2035
Education typically neededBachelor’s degreeBLS · 2025
What the work looks like
- 01
Plan lessons and activities around learning goals
- 02
Explain concepts with different examples
- 03
Observe progress and adapt interventions
- 04
Create a safe and collaborative classroom
- 05
Communicate development with families and staff
An example of an output
An applied learning sequence observed and adjusted for the class’s needs.
Editorial example, not a reported worker interview. Tools vary by employer.Work environment
Public and private schools, with planning outside class and direct work with children, families and other professionals.
O*NET® 31.0 ↗Pay & demand
Mean annual pay$72,650
Median annual pay$63,970
Mean is the arithmetic average; median is the midpoint of the wage distribution. National occupational figures are not starting-salary promises.
10th percentile$47,960
90th percentile$104,340
Percentiles describe the workforce distribution, not junior and senior salary bands. Excludes self-employed workers; see the source for coverage.
BLS · May 2025 · USD/year ↗People employed in 20251,419,300
Projected openings per year87,500
Includes replacement needs over 2025–2035. These are projections, not open job advertisements.
BLS · 2025–2035 ↗AI & your work
What still needs judgment
Knowing each student, ensuring inclusion and deciding how to intervene require teacher relationships and responsibility.
The task discussion is editorial interpretation. Only the exposure percentage is reproduced from the study; we do not assign percentages to individual tasks.
Anthropic · March 2026 study ↗You can also develop within this occupation
Use the exercise below to practice a real task, check AI outputs and identify where you need more depth. A career change is one option, not a requirement.
Create two ways to teach the same concept and describe how you would observe whether each child understood.
What entry usually requires
- Education typically needed
- Bachelor’s degree
- Related experience typically needed
- None specified in BLS classification
- Typical on-the-job training
- None specified in BLS classification
Typical requirements in BLS data, not universal hiring rules. Verify the employer’s requirements and any applicable credential or license.
BLS · 2025 ↗Skills to build on
Instructionobservationcommunicationclassroom management
Tools you may encounter
Teaching materials · digital resources · assessments · school records
Editorial example, not a reported worker interview. Tools vary by employer.
Where you could go next
These are researched starting points, not personalized recommendations or promises of lower AI exposure. Check the destination’s requirements and your own circumstances.
EDITORIAL TRANSITION$75,550 Mean annual pay
Training and Development Specialists ↗
Lesson planning and observing learning provide a base for adult workplace training.
- What you can carry over
- Facilitation, objectives and assessment
- What you would need to learn
- Business needs, metrics and work-focused design
What to consider
Audience, autonomy and outcome measures change outside school.
Explore the work before committing
1
Try a practical task
Create two ways to teach the same concept and describe how you would observe whether each child understood.
2
Read real job requirements
Use the official occupation title below to search current listings. Check duties, location, experience and compensation. External search results have not been verified as active by this directory.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationSearch external job listings ↗3
Check your assumptions with someone doing the work
Ask which tasks take the most time, how AI changed the routine and what evidence of skill helped them enter. Compare their experience with the published data.
My Next Move ↗Sources & data notes
O*NET® 31.0 · 25-2021.00 ↗BLS · May 2025 · USD/year ↗BLS · 2025–2035 ↗Anthropic · March 2026 study ↗Source & definition ↗
Occupational descriptions adapt the O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. Is my job toast? translated, shortened and supplemented the material. USDOL/ETA has not approved or endorsed these changes. CC BY 4.0 ↗