Human edge, growing

Preschool teachers, except special education

Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.

AI Resistance Index 83 of 99

Among the most resilient careers: more resilient than 83% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by +4.5% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on creative vision and emotional intelligence.

AI struggles with much of this work, and US employers are expected to hire more people into it than average.

Median pay (2025): $38,140
Job growth to 2035: +4.5%
Openings a year: 66,700
People doing it (2025): 583,000
Usual route in: Associate's degree

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Where people already use AI for this work

Advise others on educational or vocational matters
Monitor individual behavior or performance
Teach academic or vocational subjects

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Develop educational programs, plans, or procedures
Set up classrooms, facilities, educational materials, or equipment
Assist individuals with special needs

What the work looks like

Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order.
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
Serve meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects

More of these jobs, as academic-based early childhood education curricula grow in popularity.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

Coaches and scoutsHuman edge, growing, Index 94, +6.1%
Recreational therapistsHuman edge, growing, Index 90, +4.8%
Therapists, all otherGrows with AI, Index 86, +12.6%
Makeup artists, theatrical and performanceHuman edge, growing, Index 94, +6.1%

Also known as: Montessori Preschool Teacher, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher (Pre-K Teacher), Teacher, Toddler Teacher, Child Development Teacher, Early Childhood Teacher, Group Teacher, Infant Teacher.

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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.