Will AI replace instructional coordinators?

Some tasks are already being done by AI or machines; the rest still needs a person. About 2h 46m of a typical shift is made up of tasks that AI or robots have done on their own in real use somewhere. That doesn't mean those hours are automated in a typical workplace. The breakdown: 13m done by people with AI help, 2h 46m that AI mostly does alone. The other 5h 1m (63%) stays with people. Separately, BLS expects about 1.6% more of these jobs by 2035 (all jobs: +3.5%).

AI shows up regularly in 9 of 30 tasks, about 2h 59m of a typical shift. The biggest ones:

• Develop instructional materials, such as lesson plans, handouts, or examinations. (51m a shift, AI mostly does it alone)
• Research, evaluate, and prepare recommendations on curricula, instructional methods, and materials for school systems. (26m a shift, AI mostly does it alone)
• Analyze performance data to determine effectiveness of instructional systems, courses, or instructional materials. (19m a shift, AI mostly does it alone)
• Design instructional aids for stand-alone or instructor-led classroom or online use. (19m a shift, AI mostly does it alone)
• Edit instructional materials, such as books, simulation exercises, lesson plans, instructor guides, and tests. (19m a shift, AI mostly does it alone)

5h 1m of a typical shift, or 63%, goes to tasks with no AI or robot evidence yet. No AI usage or robot deployment has shown up for these so far. The biggest:

• Plan and conduct teacher training programs and conferences dealing with new classroom procedures, instructional materials and equipment, and teaching aids. (38m a shift)
• Advise teaching and administrative staff in curriculum development, use of materials and equipment, and implementation of state and federal programs and procedures. (38m a shift)
• Observe work of teaching staff to evaluate performance and to recommend changes that could strengthen teaching skills. (26m a shift)
• Conduct or participate in workshops, committees, and conferences designed to promote the intellectual, social, and physical welfare of students. (26m a shift)
• Interview subject-matter experts or conduct other research to develop instructional content. (19m a shift)

Much of it comes down to where and how the work happens. In-person, hands-on and high-stakes work is where AI and robots have made the least headway so far. In the official O*NET survey of people in this job:

• 95% talk face to face with others every day
• 83% are in constant contact with other people
• 55% say dealing with the public is very or extremely important

We track 1 sourced company move that affects this job. Most recent:

• Apr 30, 2025: Duolingo launches 148 new language courses built with generative AI (Widespread)

For the 8 tasks in this job where AI shows up and timing data exists, a typical request takes about 7h 12m for a person alone and about 29m with AI. These are Claude's own estimates from real conversations in April and May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index). They describe single requests, not whole workdays, and time saved on a task doesn't mean jobs are cut. The biggest gaps:

• Design learning products, including Web-based aids or electronic performance support systems (about 10h 53m alone, 16m with AI)
• Develop instructional materials, such as lesson plans, handouts, or examinations (about 9h 14m alone, 30m with AI)
• Design instructional aids for stand-alone or instructor-led classroom or online use (about 9h 7m alone, 24m with AI)

On Indeed, job postings in the Education & Instruction sector are at 107% of their February 2020 level (all U.S. postings: 104%), down 9.5% from a year earlier, as of Oct 9, 2026. BLS separately expects about 23,000 openings a year in this job through 2035. Across all U.S. postings, 7.3% now mention AI skills. Sector postings cover more than this one job and move for many reasons besides AI.

The median pay is about $77,440 a year ($37.23 an hour), 52% above the median for all U.S. jobs ($50,980). Most people in this job earn between $47,980 and $121,670 a year; that range covers the middle 80%. Pay figures are from BLS, May 2025, and vary a lot by state and employer. Pick a state to compare:

BLS projects growth of 1.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% growth for all jobs. That's about 253,000 jobs in 2035. It expects about 23,000 openings a year, mostly from people retiring or changing careers. These projections don't single out AI as a cause.

About 228,000 people in the U.S., roughly 0.15% of all workers (BLS, May 2025). That makes it the 157th largest of the 796 jobs on this site. BLS expects about 253,000 in 2035.

The most common requirement is a master's degree: about 60% of people in the job said so in the official O*NET survey. O*NET rates the job at level 5 of 5 for preparation, which usually means: graduate degree. Requirements vary by state and employer, especially for licensed work.

These come from the job's official skill ratings and from the tasks that AI and robots touch least today. Building them keeps you strong in the parts of the work that still need a person:

• Skills that matter more here than in most jobs: Learning Strategies, Instructing, Coordination, Monitoring
• Get strong at the parts of the job that stay with people (listed above), which take 5h 1m of a typical shift
• Tools employers list: Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Excel, Adobe Acrobat
• Learn to use AI well on the tasks where it already shows up in this job (listed above)

These use similar skills, with less of a typical shift touched by AI or robots. Matches come from 109 official ratings of skills, knowledge and work activities, and each needs the same or less preparation unless the official list relates the jobs directly:

• Secondary School Special Education Teachers (2h 26m touched, $74k median pay)
• Secondary School Career/Technical Education Teachers (1h 32m touched, $66k median pay)
• Elementary School Special Education Teachers (1h touched, $67k median pay)
• Elementary School Teachers (1h 29m touched, $64k median pay)
• Middle School Career/Technical Education Teachers (1h 29m touched, $65k median pay)

Each task carries its own evidence label. For this job: 9 observed in real AI use, 21 with no AI or robot evidence found. The minutes per task are estimates, not measured hours, and "no evidence" doesn't prove a task is safe.