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Elementary School Teachers

Education & Training
Projected change 2024–34: -2%
Median annual wage (2024): $62,340
Employment (2024): 1.4M

United States · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34 (figures for SOC 25-2021 occupational group)

AI exposure in published research

Figures below are reproduced from external datasets without modification. Where a dataset does not cover this occupation, the value is shown as — rather than as zero.

Data provider: OpenAI · "GPTs are GPTs"

Time basis: 2023 baselineex-ante estimate

Scored against GPT-4-generation capability.

Human rater basis
31.1%
GPT-4 rater basis
31.1%

β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.

38 rated tasks · 21 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (55.3%)

Version:
gh-main-0471612
License:
MIT License · Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI

Data provider: Anthropic Economic Index

Time basis: Published 2026-03-05composite index

Observed exposure
10.3%

Theoretical exposure index weighted by measured Claude usage, per the original report's definition.

34 tasks · usage observed in 8 · mean 20.4%

Data: Anthropic Economic Index — labor_market_impacts, CC-BY, https://huggingface.co/datasets/Anthropic/EconomicIndex

AI Changing Work uses Anthropic Economic Index data under CC-BY; Anthropic does not endorse or sponsor this site or its analyses.

Version:
hf-lmi-2026-03
License:
CC BY 4.0
Observation period:
(not applicable to this release)
Model:
(not stated by the source)

2023 prediction vs observation-based index published 2026-03-05

One card (GPTs are GPTs) is a 2023 estimate of what AI could theoretically do; the other (Anthropic Economic Index) is built from observed usage and was published on 2026-03-05 — that is its publication date, not the period it observed. They measure different things, so the two figures cannot be added, averaged, or ranked against each other. The older figure is kept here as a baseline for comparison rather than removed.

Caution: the Anthropic figures — observed exposure and task penetration — take the Eloundou β as one of their inputs. The two sides resembling each other is therefore not evidence that the earlier prediction came true; reading it that way is circular reasoning.

The Anthropic figures are measured on Claude users, who are not the whole economy and not the whole workforce.

The mapping of O*NET tasks and occupation codes was performed by AI Changing Work. The source figures themselves were not modified.

These indices are not forecasts. Which point in time each one belongs to is stated on the badge on its card.

Task Breakdown

  • Prepare lesson plans
  • Grade assignments and tests
  • Manage classroom behavior

About This Occupation

If you work as a Elementary School Teachers, AI is reshaping your profession. With an automation risk of 18/100 and overall exposure at 42%, this role faces moderate transformation. The highest-impact area is grade assignments and tests at 72% automation. This is classified as an 'augment' role. BLS projects -2% decline through 2034. Professionals who embrace AI tools will see their capabilities significantly amplified.

ISCO-08 classification

Unit group 2341ILO official

Primary School Teachers

Definition

ILO original text (English)

Primary school teachers teach a range of subjects at the primary education level.

Definition & vocabulary source

Source: International Labour Organization (ILO) — ISCO-08 Structure

License: ILO CC BY 4.0

View original

Official occupational information

  • ONET25-2021.00

    Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

    Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.

    View original
  • ONET25-2022.00

    Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

    Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.

    View original

Source: O*NET 30.2, U.S. DOL/ETA

License: CC BY 4.0

View original

Frequently Asked Questions

The Anthropic Economic Index puts observed exposure at 10.3%. The OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" rubric puts occupation-level β at 31.1% under human raters. Both figures are reproduced from published research without modification.

They come from two published datasets: the Anthropic Economic Index (labor_market_impacts, CC BY 4.0) and the OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric (MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI). AI Changing Work maps them onto O*NET occupation and task codes and does not calculate exposure scores of its own. AI Changing Work uses Anthropic Economic Index data under CC-BY; Anthropic does not endorse or sponsor this site or its analyses.

No. They are a diagnosis of exposure as measured at the time each source dataset was published. AI Changing Work publishes no prediction of future automation or job displacement for this occupation.

Recent Changes Affecting This Occupation

Apr 2026: Elementary school teachers classified as insulated — relational dimension (parents, students, school boards expecting a human) blocks substitution despite AI capability in admin tasks.

[Source: OpenAI Jobs Transition Framework, April 2026]

Mar 2026: New evergreen blog post analyzing AI impact on teachers published, covering AI grading, lesson planning tools, and why classrooms still need humans.

[Source: AI Changing Work Blog]

Mar 2026: New evergreen blog post published analyzing AI impact on elementary school teaching with 42% exposure and 18% automation risk

[Source: AI Changing Work Blog]