Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Machines can already do 32% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 52%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 32% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 10% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2034, and 52% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 1,388,390 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $63,970 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 95% for contact with people.
- Also called: Art Teacher, Classroom Teacher, Elementary Classroom Teacher, Elementary School Teacher.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations | 26% | 22% to 42% | |
| Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students | 5% | 32% to 55% | |
| Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities | 5% | 18% to 51% | |
| Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate | 4% | 71% to 82% | |
| Assign and grade class work and homework | 4% | 22% to 42% | |
| Read books to entire classes or small groups | 3% | 22% to 42% | |
| Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health | 3% | 74% to 82% | |
| Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress | 3% | 74% to 74% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills elementary school teachers, except special education use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?
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 elementary school teachers, except special education?
Machines can do 32% of the tasks of elementary school teachers, except special education today and 52% 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 25-2021.00 (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). Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/elementary-school-teachers-except-special-education/