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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Educational instruction and library occupations

Woman holding up a canvas painting in art studio This occupational group includes postsecondary teachers, preschool teachers, primary school teachers, middle school teachers, self-enrichment education teachers, special education school teachers, librarians, curators, archivists, home management advisors, instructional coordinators, and teacher assistants.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2025, external verbal interactions were required constantly (every few minutes) for 85.2 percent of educational instruction and library workers. External verbal interactions were required more than once per hour (but not constantly) for 12.3 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of educational instruction and library workers with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Work schedule varies	31.3	68.7
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)	34.0	66.0
Working around crowds	4.7	95.3
Telework routinely allowed	6.4	93.6
Supervising others	12.4	87.6
Supervisor present in immediate work area	29.4	70.6
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 23.0 percent of educational instruction and library workers and on-the-job training was required for 49.9 percent.

A bachelor's degree was required for 58.6 percent of educational instruction and library workers.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for 6.9 percent of educational instruction and library workers. Another 92.7 percent were exposed to moderate noise, less than 0.5 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by less than 0.5 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by greater than 99.5 percent.

Physical demands

The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2025, speaking was required for greater than 99.5 percent of educational instruction and library workers and was not required for less than 0.5 percent. For less than 0.5 percent of workers, speaking was seldom required, for 16.8 percent speaking was occasionally required, for 82.1 percent speaking was frequently required, and for 1.0 percent speaking was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 50.7 percent of educational instruction and library workers and was not required for 49.3 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 50.6 percent of educational instruction and library workers. On average, workers spent 45.7 percent of the workday sitting and 54.3 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of educational instruction and library workers with physical demands, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks	50.6	49.4
Driving	2.4	97.6
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	16.6	83.4
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey