Jobs in elementary and secondary schools have an average Still needs a human score of 74.8 out of 100 (higher is safer), 0.8 points above the average for all jobs of 74.0 and 19th of 37 among the sectors (1st is least exposed). The largest job here is elementary school teachers, except special education (1,392,000 workers, 75/100 ↑ safer), and of the jobs more common here than across the economy, secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive is the most exposed (61/100 ↑ safer).
How the work here could shift
The share of workers in this sector whose job would sit in each band, from today to 2060.
Each job's score moves towards the bottom band (Largely: AI could largely do the job) by the year it could be largely automated, slowly at first and faster later, as adoption usually goes. Each job is run as ten scenarios across its replacement range, so every figure mixes early and late outcomes. The model stops at 2060. How the timeline works
Show the data
| Year | Largely | Mostly | Partly | A little | Nah |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today (2026) | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 79.8% | 19.9% |
| 2030 | 0.0% | 0.4% | 36.8% | 56.8% | 6.0% |
| 2035 | 23.3% | 26.6% | 30.2% | 17.7% | 2.2% |
| 2040 | 50.9% | 27.9% | 16.3% | 2.8% | 2.2% |
| 2045 | 71.5% | 20.7% | 4.5% | 1.1% | 2.2% |
| 2050 | 86.9% | 9.4% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 2.2% |
| 2055 | 94.3% | 2.5% | 0.0% | 1.1% | 2.2% |
| 2060 | 96.3% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 1.1% | 2.2% |
The largest jobs in elementary and secondary schools
Common jobs here that AI can do most of
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Receptionists and Information Clerks | 60↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2047 | 11,700 |
| 2 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 60↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2046 | 41,000 |
| 3 | Human Resources Specialists | 61↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2045 | 16,100 |
| 4 | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 61↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2047 | 218,200 |
| 5 | Computer User Support Specialists | 62↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2034–2045 | 43,000 |
| 6 | Word Processors and Typists | 63↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2049 | 11,100 |
| 7 | Network and Computer Systems Administrators | 64↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2034–2046 | 15,800 |
| 8 | Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | 64↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2046 | 25,700 |
| 9 | Office Clerks, General | 65↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2053 | 127,500 |
| 10 | Training and Development Specialists | 65↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2047 | 9,200 |
Common jobs here that most need a human
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 88↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 14,100 |
| 2 | Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 86↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 323,300 |
| 3 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | 86↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2045–2060+ | 29,000 |
| 4 | Food Preparation Workers | 85↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 28,200 |
| 5 | Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | 85↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2045–2060+ | 9,600 |
| 6 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 84↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2042–2060+ | 10,900 |
| 7 | Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 83↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 76,400 |
| 8 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 82↑ saferAI replace? Nah.workers of 2 related jobs | D | 2044–2060+ | 107,600 |
| 9 | Teaching Assistants, Special Education | 81↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2035–2060+ | 592,950 |
| 10 | Childcare Workers | 81↑ saferAI replace? Nah.workers of 2 related jobs | D | 2043–2060+ | 116,000 |
Related sectors: Education, Government
How this is worked out
- The average weights every job's Still needs a human score by how many people do it in this sector, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' industry employment data. Jobs cover 98.3% of the sector's employment.
- Job scores are national: an accountant in retail scores the same as an accountant anywhere. The sector figure reflects its mix of jobs, not how its employers use AI; the Census figure shows that.