Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Machines can already do 49% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 63%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 49% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 29% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2028, and 63% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 1,065,210 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $72,040 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 81% for contact with people.
- Also called: Art Teacher, English Teacher, Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher), Music 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 through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies | 23% | 70% to 74% | |
| Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities | 6% | 18% to 51% | |
| Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress | 6% | 74% to 74% | |
| Assign and grade class work and homework | 6% | 22% to 42% | |
| Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate | 5% | 71% to 82% | |
| Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests | 4% | 68% to 81% | |
| Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations | 4% | 71% to 82% | |
| Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations | 4% | 63% to 81% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical 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, Postsecondary51% of tasks by 2035 · US median $42,910
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors55% of tasks by 2035 · US median $61,540
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education42% of tasks by 2035 · US median $38,140
- Self-Enrichment Teachers43% of tasks by 2035 · US median $46,800
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2028. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Machines can do 49% of the tasks of secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education today and 63% 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 25-2031.00 (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). Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/secondary-school-teachers-except-special-and-career-technical-education/