Somewhat Resilient
Last Update: 6/19/2026
AI Resilience Score for Postsecondary Ed Teacher:
40.0%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Low
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
This result is backed by strong agreement across multiple data sources.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forEducation Teachers, Postsecondary
$72,090 median salary•5,600 annual openings•SOC Code: 25-1081.00
Education Teachers, Postsecondary are somewhat less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 7 sources.
This career lands at "Somewhat Resilient" because AI is genuinely changing the day-to-day work of college professors who train teachers, even while the core of the job stays human. Tools for lesson planning, curriculum design, and even grant writing are getting faster and cheaper, which means professors need to adapt quickly and learn to use these tools well (nearly 60 percent of teachers already have).
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This career lands at "Somewhat Resilient" because AI is genuinely changing the day-to-day work of college professors who train teachers, even while the core of the job stays human. Tools for lesson planning, curriculum design, and even grant writing are getting faster and cheaper, which means professors need to adapt quickly and learn to use these tools well (nearly 60 percent of teachers already have).
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View analysisChat with CoachLatest newsMore career infoAnalysisChatNewsMoreAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
Postsecondary Ed Teacher
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Postsecondary Ed Teacher jobs?
Right now, AI is mostly augmenting the work of postsecondary education teachers — meaning it helps them do their jobs better rather than replacing them. Teacher educators are actually some of the people teaching their students how to use AI well. At The College of Wooster, for example, professors are running a "Build-A-Bot" project where future teachers design AI chatbots that simulate real classroom decisions, and they've found that AI significantly reduces the time investment for lesson planning and curriculum development, while still emphasizing that the teacher is still the driver.
New platforms like BranchED use large language models so that simulation platforms are emerging as a modality for teacher training, using avatars and large language models to replicate student behavior and give teachers practice dealing with classroom situations. AI is also showing up in research tasks: a Nature news report [1] found that scientists who use chatbots to draft grant proposals win more NIH funding, though the proposals tend to look more similar to past work. The professional society AACTE recognized this shift [2] by giving its top Journal of Teacher Education article award to "Uncovering the Hidden Curriculum in Generative AI: A Reflective Technology Audit for Teacher Educators." Some tools push further into automation — Inside Higher Ed reported [3] that Arizona State University soft launched a web app earlier this month that allows anyone, for $5 per month, to create an apparently unlimited number of customized "learning modules" using artificial intelligence built from professor content, raising big questions about who owns teaching.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Postsecondary Ed Teacher?
Adoption is happening fast in some areas and slowly in others. On the "fast" side, the tools are cheap, easy, and save real time — nearly 60 percent of teachers used AI in the past school year, according to a Gallup survey cited by the National Education Association [4]. Education professors feel pressure to model these tools because their students will need them on day one of teaching.
On the "slow" side, there are real ethical concerns: faculty at ASU described the course-builder as "Frankensteinian" because it remixes their work without clear consent, and Nature notes AI-assisted grant proposals can crowd out original ideas. Grading, mentoring student teachers in real classrooms, and building human relationships still need a person — those are exactly the high-touch tasks ONET flags as least automatable. The takeaway for you: if you're drawn to teaching teachers, the human skills (judgment, empathy, ethics, coaching) are getting more* valuable, not less.
Learning to use AI thoughtfully now is the smart move.
Sources
Will AI replace Postsecondary Ed Teacher?
Not entirely. We think AI will take over some tasks, but not the whole job.
Our 40.0% AI Resilience Score reflects real pressure on this role. AI is already handling time-consuming work like lesson planning, curriculum drafting, and even grant writing, and nearly 60 percent of teachers used AI tools in the past school year [4]. Some platforms now let anyone build customized learning modules from professor content for just a few dollars a month [3]. That kind of automation does chip away at certain parts of the job.
But the core of postsecondary teacher education is harder to hand off. Mentoring student teachers through real classroom situations, building trust, modeling ethical judgment, and coaching human relationships are exactly the tasks AI cannot replicate well. Professional organizations are already recognizing this shift, with AACTE honoring research on how teacher educators can think critically about AI rather than just adopt it uncritically [2]. The job is evolving, not disappearing.
The economic picture is mixed but not bleak. Employer demand and earning potential both sit at medium strength through 2034. The professors who will thrive are those who treat AI as a tool they direct, not a system that directs them. Learning to use it thoughtfully now is genuinely good career strategy.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Postsecondary Ed Teacher
These articles highlight the evolving role of AI in postsecondary education, emphasizing the need for educators to adapt. For instance, the Penn State faculty's efforts to integrate generative AI into teaching showcase how future educators can leverage technology to enhance learning experiences. Meanwhile, the bipartisan bill for K-12 educators signals a growing recognition of AI's importance, encouraging professional development. As AI reshapes education, aspiring teachers must embrace these changes to remain resilient and relevant in their careers.
Doane University to Train Teachers in Artificial Intelligence
www.govtech.com • 3/13/2026
A private university in Nebraska will use $2 million from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education within the U.S. Department...
Microsoft researchers have revealed the 40 jobs most exposed to AI—and even teachers make the list
www.yahoo.com • 1/19/2026
Sorry, Gen Z: AI is coming for safe and secure teaching jobs, as well as grad roles.
AI is transforming university teaching, but are we ready for it?
universityaffairs.ca • 3/27/2025
I recently attended a two-day event on AI and higher education in Canada, AI-Cademy: Canada Summit for Post-Secondary Education, with the...
Education faculty explore AI in the classroom
www.psu.edu • 12/3/2024
Penn State College of Education faculty members are working to help students harness the powers of generative artificial intelligence by...
A Bipartisan Bill Aims to Boost AI Education for K-12 Teachers
www.edweek.org • 5/28/2024
The bill seeks to expand scholarship aid and professional development opportunities for K-12 educators interested in artificial intelligence and quantum...
More Career Info
Career: Education Teachers, Postsecondary
They teach college students how to become teachers by explaining educational theories and methods and guiding them through practical teaching experiences.
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Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$72,090
Jobs (2024)
74,900
Growth (2024-34)
+2.1%
Annual Openings
5,600
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
Less than 5 years
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Perform administrative duties such as serving as department head.
2
Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
3
Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
4
Act as advisers to student organizations.
5
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
6
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
7
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
