AI exposure Education and library
Will AI replace middle school teachers?
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. US occupation 25-2022.
The reading
29.7%
of the time middle school teachers spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of middle school teachers' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.
Ranked 69 of 756 US occupations. More exposed than 90% of them.Further along than 90% of them.
Per cent of working time Square-law scale
Average US job 7.7%
One of the most exposed jobs in the country.Front of the queue for an AI assistant.
What AI already does for middle school teachersWhat middle school teachers no longer do alone
O*NET lists 34 tasks for middle school teachers. AI use at work shows up in 10 of them. Each score runs from 0.5, where every observed use helps a person with the task, to 1, where every use does the task outright.
- Assist students who need extra help, such as by tutoring and preparing and implementing remedial programs.Core task mostly automated 1.00
- Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.Core task mostly automated 0.94
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.Core task mostly automated 0.94
- Organize and label materials and display students' work.Core task mostly automated 0.90
- Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.Core task mostly automated 0.88
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.Core task mostly automated 0.87
- Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.Core task mostly automated 0.86
- Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.Core task mostly automated 0.85
Show the other 2
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.Core task automated and assisted 0.82
- Collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of middle school programs.Core task automated and assisted 0.72
What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human
24 of the 34 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.
- Administer standardized ability and achievement tests, and interpret results to determine student strengths and needs.Core task
- Assign lessons and correct homework.Core task
- Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.Core task
- Attend staff meetings and serve on staff committees, as required.Core task
- Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.Core task
- Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.Core task
Show the other 18
- Coordinate and supervise extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.Core task
- Enforce all administration policies and rules governing students.Core task
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.Core task
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate these objectives to students.Core task
- Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems, or special academic interests.Core task
- Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injury and damage.Core task
- Maintain accurate, complete, and correct student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.Core task
- Meet or correspond with parents or guardians to discuss children's progress and to determine priorities and resource needs.Core task
- Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress.Core task
- Organize and supervise games and other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, and social development.Core task
- Perform administrative duties, such as school library assistance, hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading.Core task
- Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers, or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from such activities.Core task
- Prepare for assigned classes and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors.Core task
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.Core task
- Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.Core task
- Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.Core task
- Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.Core task
- Supervise, evaluate, and plan assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers.
How that compares
Among the 57 education and library occupations, middle school teachers rank 10. The group averages 12.9%, and its most exposed job is Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary at 43.1%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.
Just above in the ranking
- 65Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 30.5%
- 67Instructional Coordinators 30.4%
- 68Bill and Account Collectors 29.9%
Just below
What this does and does not mean
Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.
A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.
Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.