Postsecondary teachers

What AI will never replace

A professor recognizes when a graduate student's thesis argument is technically correct but intellectually timid and pushes them toward a bolder framing that defines their career. They run lab sections where students handle dangerous chemicals or cadavers, mentor PhD candidates through years-long research crises, and build the professional networks that determine who gets hired. The Socratic back-and-forth in a seminar—adapting to a student's specific confusion in real time—is how deep understanding actually forms.

AI exposure: 7/10

Postsecondary teaching is primarily knowledge work involving research, writing, and curriculum design—all areas where AI is highly capable. While the role requires significant human interaction and mentorship, AI can automate grading, lesson planning, and literature reviews, potentially increasing individual productivity to the point of restructuring faculty needs.

AI advantage: 7/10

Postsecondary teachers can significantly amplify their productivity by using AI to automate lesson planning, syllabus creation, and the grading of routine assignments. Furthermore, AI tools serve as powerful research assistants for data analysis, literature reviews, and drafting scholarly papers, creating a distinct competitive edge for early adopters in the 'publish or perish' academic environment.

Job growth outlook: 6/10

AI will drive significant new demand for postsecondary teachers to lead workforce retraining and to integrate AI literacy across all academic disciplines. While AI can automate grading and basic tutoring, the high-level research, complex mentorship, and institutional accreditation requirements ensure that human professors remain essential for navigating the rapid evolution of knowledge.

Career details

• Typical education: See How to Become One
• Median annual pay: $83,980
• 10-year outlook: Much faster than average