Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Also called: Classroom Teacher, Elementary School Teacher, Elementary Teacher, TeacherTeach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 18 of its 38 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 0.4% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 1.7% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Elementary and middle school teachers”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.8 hires for every 10 job openings in private educational services, which employs about 100% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.8 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,380 | $49,290 to $64,160 | 22,030 |
| Alaska | $79,260 | $62,800 to $97,090 | 3,500 |
| Arizona | $56,590 | $47,900 to $63,440 | 24,240 |
| Arkansas | $52,700 | $50,940 to $60,750 | 12,590 |
| California | $99,650 | $77,140 to $119,970 | 155,160 |
| Colorado | $63,410 | $59,020 to $80,160 | 24,860 |
| Connecticut | $80,600 | $62,630 to $100,840 | 16,330 |
| Delaware | $75,920 | $60,960 to $86,260 | 2,900 |
| District of Columbia | $96,580 | $77,950 to $102,650 | 3,750 |
| Florida | $58,930 | $50,800 to $62,510 | 79,090 |
| Georgia | $72,290 | $61,110 to $77,870 | 43,820 |
| Guam | $62,240 | $46,170 to $77,460 | 1,000 |
| Hawaii | $71,410 | $59,530 to $76,740 | 6,040 |
| Idaho | $61,600 | $48,900 to $65,960 | 6,850 |
| Illinois | $75,320 | $58,430 to $97,830 | 61,520 |
| Indiana | $59,700 | $49,620 to $69,830 | 27,720 |
| Iowa | $60,580 | $48,620 to $64,210 | 17,300 |
| Kansas | $56,450 | $49,090 to $61,330 | 14,350 |
| Kentucky | $60,610 | $48,400 to $64,570 | 19,080 |
| Louisiana | $58,770 | $49,110 to $61,850 | 22,060 |
| Maine | $62,390 | $48,820 to $78,290 | 7,490 |
| Maryland | $77,680 | $62,290 to $100,560 | 29,610 |
| Massachusetts | $94,000 | $76,990 to $102,180 | 29,930 |
| Michigan | $65,110 | $52,040 to $79,150 | 40,910 |
| Minnesota | $76,350 | $59,250 to $91,290 | 26,640 |
| Mississippi | $49,790 | $47,660 to $59,490 | 11,060 |
| Missouri | $50,910 | $47,200 to $61,620 | 33,180 |
| Montana | $57,530 | $46,830 to $65,190 | 4,960 |
| Nebraska | $62,380 | $51,260 to $75,750 | 8,710 |
| Nevada | $65,040 | $54,980 to $78,130 | 9,550 |
| New Hampshire | $72,410 | $60,410 to $80,880 | 5,190 |
| New Jersey | $78,200 | $64,060 to $98,670 | 40,300 |
| New Mexico | $74,550 | $62,680 to $78,060 | 6,210 |
| New York | $85,760 | $66,100 to $126,930 | 101,410 |
| North Carolina | $54,930 | $47,470 to $59,730 | 42,410 |
| North Dakota | $60,030 | $49,360 to $61,970 | 4,430 |
| Ohio | $77,370 | $59,960 to $82,720 | 47,870 |
| Oklahoma | $48,200 | $46,720 to $58,260 | 18,500 |
| Oregon | $77,130 | $60,020 to $92,190 | 12,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,060 | $61,380 to $88,660 | 48,370 |
| Puerto Rico | $51,540 | $48,510 to $61,880 | 4,370 |
| Rhode Island | $90,930 | $61,860 to $96,020 | 3,830 |
| South Carolina | $60,820 | $50,280 to $74,120 | 25,030 |
| South Dakota | $50,130 | $48,000 to $58,030 | 4,290 |
| Tennessee | $59,980 | $50,360 to $64,590 | 28,240 |
| Texas | $62,760 | $59,460 to $65,410 | 116,260 |
| Utah | $74,810 | $60,210 to $82,600 | 14,820 |
| Vermont | $63,070 | $59,300 to $78,800 | 3,610 |
| Virgin Islands | $60,560 | $51,500 to $60,770 | 630 |
| Virginia | $65,550 | $60,120 to $82,350 | 37,880 |
| Washington | $102,350 | $80,320 to $115,880 | 28,980 |
| West Virginia | $55,630 | $50,170 to $58,340 | 5,420 |
| Wisconsin | $61,210 | $51,460 to $76,820 | 24,920 |
| Wyoming | $61,150 | $59,310 to $73,860 | 2,600 |
Nationally: $63,970. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 18 of its 38 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations. | 0.01% |
| Not much | Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students. | Not published |
| AI + software | Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests. | Not published |
| AI + software | Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate. | Not published |
| Not much | Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities. | Not published |
| AI + software | Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health. | Not published |
See all 38 tasks
| Not much | Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems. | Not published |
| AI + software | Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests. | 0.02% |
| AI + software | Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs. | Not published |
| Not much | Read books to entire classes or small groups. | Not published |
| AI alone | Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations. | Not published |
| Not much | Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress. | Not published |
| AI + software | Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress. | 0.01% |
| Not much | Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks. | Not published |
| AI + software | Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations. | Not published |
| Not much | Assign and grade class work and homework. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental, and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, and storytelling. | Not published |
| Not much | Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play. | Not published |
| Not much | Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage. | Not published |
| AI alone | Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula. | Not published |
| AI alone | Prepare for assigned classes and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors. | Not published |
| Not much | Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help. | Not published |
| Not much | Enforce administration policies and rules governing students. | Not published |
| Not much | Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence. | Not published |
| AI alone | Collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of elementary school programs. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools. | Not published |
| Not much | Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities. | Not published |
| AI + software | Administer standardized ability and achievement tests, and interpret results to determine student strengths and needs. | Not published |
| AI alone | Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration. | Not published |
| Not much | Organize and label materials and display students' work. | Not published |
| Not much | Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required. | Not published |
| Not much | Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies. | Not published |
| Not much | Perform administrative duties, such as school library assistance, hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading. | Not published |
| AI + software | Supervise, evaluate, and plan assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers. | Not published |
| Not much | Involve parent volunteers and older students in children's activities to facilitate involvement in focused, complex play. | Not published |
| Not much | Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms. | Not published |
| Not much | Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 4 of the 38 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 38 tasks fall under 24 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #4 Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
- #23 Prepare informational or instructional materials
- #36 Purchase goods or services
- and 1 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Develop educational programs, plans, or procedures | |||
| Monitor individual behavior or performance | |||
| Assess student capabilities, needs, or performance | |||
| Prepare informational or instructional materials | |||
| Advise others on educational or vocational matters | |||
| Set up classrooms, facilities, educational materials, or equipment | |||
| Teach academic or vocational subjects | |||
| Communicate with others about operational plans or activities |
Show all 24 activities
| Coordinate group, community, or public activities | |||
| Collaborate in the development of educational programs | |||
| Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise | |||
| Purchase goods or services | |||
| Provide support or encouragement to others | |||
| Prepare reports of operational or procedural activities | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Evaluate personnel capabilities or performance | |||
| Assign work to others | |||
| Assist individuals with special needs | |||
| Train others to use equipment or products | |||
| Distribute materials, supplies, or resources | |||
| Develop safety standards, policies, or procedures | |||
| Supervise personnel activities | |||
| Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products | |||
| Serve on organizational committees |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- Teaching material32%
- A document or report12%
- A plan or strategy12%
- An explanation or answer10%
- Advice or a recommendation6%
How they worked with Claude
22% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for elementary school teachers, except special education specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 101,913 moves out
- 1 Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education High -0.4% 10%
- 2 Teachers and Instructors, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 4 Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Very high +2.0% 3%
- 5 Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary High -0.3% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 100,079 moves in
- 1 Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education High -0.4% 8%
- 2 Teachers and Instructors, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 3 Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Moderate +4.5% 4%
- 4 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Very high -6.0% 3%
- 5 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 78% bachelor's
- 22% master's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 21 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 4% some college
- 2% associate's
- 44% bachelor's
- 45% master's
- 3% professional degree
- 2% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Elementary and middle school teachers” · 33,916 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Elementary and middle school teachers”
15 programs, such as Bilingual and Multilingual Education, Elementary Education and Teaching and Teacher Education, Multiple Levels.
See all
- Bilingual and Multilingual Education
- Elementary Education and Teaching
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
- Montessori Teacher Education
- Waldorf/Steiner Teacher Education
- Early Childhood Education and Teaching
- Online Educator/Online Teaching
- International Teaching and Learning
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educational Methods
- Environmental Education
- Communication Arts and Literature Teacher Education
- Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
- Teaching French as a Second or Foreign Language
- Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Other
- Social Sciences, Other
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
98.4% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | 96.2% | 19.1% |
| a certification | 2.6% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | 0.8% | 2.8% |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 1 registered apprenticeship in this occupation (Elementary School Teacher (NOF)). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/25-2021.00