Education occupation
Will AI replace Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, And Secondary School, Except Special Education?
See how this occupation’s day-to-day work compares with other jobs in exposure to AI and automation, why it received this result, and where human skills remain essential.
Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, And Secondary School, Except Special Education
Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education · Education
Higher AI & automation exposure than 19% of jobs we compare.
Exposure index: 19 / 100
This compares the type of work in this job with the work in hundreds of other jobs.
This is a comparison between jobs — not a 19% chance of job loss.
Why did this job get this result?
- Setting up educational equipment, reviewing teacher lesson plans, and taking attendance involve basic computer use.
- Distributing classroom materials, supervising recess lines, and monitoring quiet study periods follow daily school routines.
- Work involves active physical presence across classrooms, playgrounds, cafeterias, and hallways.
- Assistants must recognize when individual students are struggling and adjust one-on-one tutoring explanations accordingly.
- Providing patient encouragement to struggling readers, de-escalating playground conflicts, and comforting upset children require interpersonal warmth.
How technology may change this work
Technology and human strengths
What AI & automation may affect
- Digital learning apps on student tablets can provide individualized remedial practice exercises in reading and math.
- Classroom communication software can help log student behavioral observations and progress notes for supervising teachers.
Human strengths in this job
- Providing patient, dedicated one-on-one tutoring to students who fall behind during group teacher instruction
- Diffusing playground tensions, preventing bullying, and teaching children cooperative conflict-resolution skills
- Offering a caring, attentive physical presence that helps easily distracted or anxious students stay focused and calm
- Assisting students with physical disabilities or unique physical needs to navigate the school environment with dignity
How this result breaks down
These are model components, not percentages of the job or of how necessary people are.
How much the job involves information, data, writing, analysis or other digital work that AI and software may help with.
How much of the work follows regular, predictable or repeated steps.
How much of the physical work may be suitable for machines or robotics.
How much the job depends on judgment, creativity, communication and adapting to real situations.
How is the index calculated?
The Exposure Index is a percentile comparing this job's digital, routine, and physical tasks against all 897 occupations in the Model 2.1 dataset. A score of 19 means higher modeled exposure than approximately 19% of comparable jobs.
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What people in this job commonly do
- Supervise students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips.
- Tutor and assist children individually or in small groups to help them master assignments and to reinforce learning concepts presented by teachers.
- Enforce administration policies and rules governing students.
- Teach social skills to students.
- Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
- Discuss assigned duties with classroom teachers to coordinate instructional efforts.
How we compare jobs
We look at what people do in hundreds of occupations — including digital work, repeatable activities, physical automation and human skills — then compare the job with other occupations.
What this tool cannot predict
It cannot predict individual job loss, exact technology adoption timing or decisions by an individual employer.
Occupation and data details
O*NET-SOC: 25-9042.00
Career category: Education
Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent
Data source: O*NET, U.S. Department of Labor.
This product includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Toolsyte has modified and scored some information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.