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

Educational instruction and library occupations

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.

Cognitive and mental requirements

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

In 2024, more than basic people skills were required for 99.3 percent of educational instruction and library workers, and basic people skills were required for 0.7 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of educational instruction and library workers with cognitive and mental requirements, 2024
Requirement	Yes	No
Adaptability: Work schedule variability	32.9	67.1
Pace: Pause control	35.0	65.0
Working around crowds	3.8	96.2
Telework	6.1	93.9
Work review: Supervising others	13.5	86.5
Work review: Presence of supervisor	30.3	69.7
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.

In 2024, credentials were required for 69.0 percent of educational instruction and library workers. Prior work experience was required for 22.8 percent and on-the-job training was required for 48.5 percent.

A bachelor's degree was required for 56.4 percent of educational instruction and library workers.

Environmental conditions

The various tangible or concrete hazards or difficulties that are in the vicinity of where jobs’ critical tasks are performed.

In 2024, a quiet noise exposure was present for 7.8 percent of educational instruction and library workers. Another 91.8 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

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

In 2024, reaching at or below the shoulder was required for 64.9 percent of educational instruction and library workers and was not required for 35.1 percent. For 11.9 percent of workers, reaching at or below the shoulder was seldom performed, for 49.6 percent reaching at or below the shoulder occurred occasionally, 3.5 percent frequently, and for less than 0.5 percent reaching at or below the shoulder occurred constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 50.5 percent of educational instruction and library workers and was not required for 49.5 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 51.8 percent of educational instruction and library workers. On average, workers spent 45.4 percent of the workday sitting and 54.6 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of educational instruction and library workers with physical demands, 2024
Requirement	Yes	No
Choice of sitting or standing	51.8	48.2
Driving	2.4	97.6
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	14.2	85.8
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey