Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Machines can already do 18% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 42%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 18% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2038, and 42% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 478,780 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $38,140 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 77% for contact with people.
- Also called: Child Development Teacher, Early Childhood Teacher, Group Teacher, Infant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills | 12% | 3% to 25% | |
| Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental, and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, storytelling, and field trips | 10% | 3% to 25% | |
| Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order | 7% | 32% to 55% | |
| Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play | 7% | 18% to 51% | |
| Serve meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines | 6% | 3% to 25% | |
| Attend to children's basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, and changing their diapers | 6% | 3% to 25% | |
| Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities | 6% | 18% to 51% | |
| Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health | 4% | 32% to 61% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills preschool 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.
- Teaching Assistants, Special Education41% of tasks by 2035
- Psychiatric Technicians32% of tasks by 2035 · US median $45,130
- Manicurists and Pedicurists41% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,760
- Midwives41% of tasks by 2035 · US median $65,790
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2038. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of preschool teachers, except special education?
Machines can do 18% of the tasks of preschool teachers, except special education today and 42% 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 25-2011.00 (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). Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/preschool-teachers-except-special-education/