Education Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1081.00 · Job Zone: 5
Key Takeaways
- ●AI Impact Score: 55/100 — Partial Automation Likely. Partial automation is likely for key tasks in this occupation.
- ●59K workers currently employed.
- ●Mean annual wage: $72,090.
- ●4 of 15 key tasks can already be performed by AI tools today.
What Education Teachers, Postsecondary Do
Teach courses pertaining to education, such as counseling, curriculum, guidance, instruction, teacher education, and teaching English as a second language. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also known as
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AI Impact Analysis
Education Teachers, Postsecondary represent a stable workforce of 59,090 professionals earning a mean annual wage of $72,090. This Job Zone 5 occupation requires the highest level of education and experience, reflecting the complex nature of university-level instruction and research. While employment projections show no significant change, the field faces mounting pressure from AI automation that is reshaping how educational content is created, delivered, and assessed.
AI tools are already automating several core tasks in postsecondary education. Course material preparation is being revolutionized by ChatGPT and Claude, which generate syllabi, assignments, and handouts in minutes rather than hours. Grading and evaluation tasks are increasingly handled by platforms like Gradescope and Turnitin's AI-powered feedback systems, while research compilation benefits from AI research assistants like Elicit and Semantic Scholar. Administrative record-keeping is streamlined through workflow automation tools like Zapier and UiPath, which integrate with existing LMS platforms to maintain attendance and grade records automatically.
However, the human-essential tasks that define effective postsecondary education remain firmly in human control. The Speaking skill (4.62/5 importance) and Active Listening (4.12/5) that drive classroom discussions and student mentoring cannot be replicated by AI. Supervising fieldwork and internships requires nuanced judgment and relationship-building that AI lacks. The complex problem-solving and social perceptiveness needed to advise students on academic and career paths demands human empathy and contextual understanding that remains beyond current AI capabilities.
The automation timeline shows clear phases: 1-3 years will see widespread adoption of AI grading tools and content generation platforms across universities. 3-5 years will bring sophisticated AI teaching assistants that handle routine student questions and basic tutoring, while professors focus on higher-level instruction and research supervision. The trajectory points toward a hybrid model where AI handles administrative and content creation tasks, while human educators concentrate on mentoring, complex instruction, and research leadership.
Universities are already implementing AI automation strategies. Arizona State University uses AI-powered chatbots for student services, while Georgia State University employs predictive analytics to identify at-risk students. Major textbook publishers like Pearson integrate AI tutoring systems into their platforms, and institutions increasingly require faculty to use AI-enhanced LMS tools for course management and student assessment.
Task-by-Task AI Analysis
| Task | AI Status |
|---|---|
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts. AI can generate comprehensive course materials based on learning objectives and curriculum standards. | AI Can Do This Now |
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media. AI assists with literature review and data analysis but requires human expertise for interpretation and novel insights. | AI Assists Now |
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others. AI-powered grading systems can handle objective assessments and provide detailed feedback on subjective responses. | AI Can Do This Now |
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences. AI can summarize research papers and identify trends, but professional networking requires human interaction. | AI Assists 1-2 years |
Supervise students' fieldwork, internship, and research work. Requires mentorship, relationship building, and complex judgment that AI cannot provide. | Human Essential 5+ years |
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers. AI can assess writing quality, provide feedback, and grade according to rubrics. | AI Can Do This Now |
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as children's literature, learning and development, and reading instruction. AI can create presentation materials and content, but delivery and student interaction remain human-centered. | AI Assists 1-2 years |
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions. Requires real-time social perceptiveness and active listening skills that are uniquely human. | Human Essential 5+ years |
Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues. Professional collaboration requires complex interpersonal skills and contextual understanding. | Human Essential 5+ years |
Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction. AI can suggest curriculum improvements and analyze effectiveness, but strategic planning requires human judgment. | AI Assists 1-2 years |
Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students. Student mentoring and academic advising require empathy and personalized guidance. | Human Essential 5+ years |
Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues. Career counseling requires understanding individual circumstances and providing personalized guidance. | Human Essential 5+ years |
Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities. AI can automate administrative aspects, but relationship building with prospective students remains human. | AI Assists 1-2 years |
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records. Workflow automation can seamlessly integrate attendance and grade data across systems. | AI Can Do This Now |
Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head. Leadership and strategic decision-making require complex judgment and interpersonal skills. | Human Essential 5+ years |
AI Tools Disrupting Education Teachers, Postsecondary
Key Skills
Key Tasks
- •Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- •Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- •Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- •Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- •Supervise students' fieldwork, internship, and research work.
- •Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- •Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as children's literature, learning and development, and reading instruction.
- •Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- •Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
- •Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- •Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- •Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
Technology Skills Used
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Salary Range
Career Transition Guidance
Education Teachers, Postsecondary facing AI disruption have several strategic career transition options that leverage their core skills. The most natural progression is to Instructional Coordinators (25-9031.00), which builds on curriculum planning and educational assessment expertise while adding technology integration responsibilities. The Speaking (4.62/5) and Training and Teaching Others (4.74/5) skills transfer directly, though additional training in educational technology and data analysis is essential.
Alternatively, transitioning to Education Administrators, Postsecondary (11-9033.00) leverages the administrative experience and complex problem-solving skills already developed. This path requires 2-3 years of additional leadership training and budget management experience. For those preferring direct instruction, Adult Basic Education instructors (25-3011.00) offer opportunities in corporate training and professional development, where the human connection remains paramount. The timeline for these transitions ranges from 1-2 years for instructional coordination roles to 3-5 years for administrative positions, depending on current experience levels and additional certification requirements.
Related Occupations
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Education Teachers, Postsecondary?
AI will not replace postsecondary education teachers but will significantly transform their roles. With 59,090 professionals in this field, the core human-essential tasks like student mentoring, classroom facilitation, and research supervision remain beyond AI capabilities. However, administrative and content creation tasks will be largely automated within 3-5 years.
What AI tools are used in Education Teachers, Postsecondary roles?
Current AI tools include ChatGPT and Claude for content creation, Gradescope and Turnitin for automated grading, Elicit for research assistance, and Zapier for workflow automation. Universities also use AI-enhanced LMS platforms like Blackboard and Desire2Learn for course management.
What is the salary outlook for Education Teachers, Postsecondary with AI?
The mean annual wage of $72,090 may see polarization as AI automation creates efficiency gains. Top-tier educators who master AI augmentation tools will likely see salary increases, while those who resist technological integration may face reduced opportunities in an increasingly competitive market.
What skills should Education Teachers, Postsecondary develop for the AI era?
Focus on developing the highest-importance human skills: Speaking (4.62/5), Active Listening (4.12/5), and Social Perceptiveness (3.25/5). Additionally, learn to work with AI tools for content creation and grading while strengthening research supervision and student mentoring capabilities that remain uniquely human.
How many Education Teachers, Postsecondary jobs are there in the US?
There are currently 59,090 Education Teachers, Postsecondary positions in the US with no significant projected change in overall employment. However, the nature of these roles will evolve substantially as AI handles routine tasks, allowing educators to focus on high-value human interactions and research.