Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
Every task in this role, whether it passes the census's structural hand-over screen, which models pass it, and why. It is a screen, not a claim about what AI can do: a task can pass and still be beyond the systems of the day. The stricter and looser rules re-vote every task, and small differences between roles are noise.
Passes the screen · 1 of 24 tasks
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
quick to check, an existing check settles it, and a mistake is cheap · 6.2% of the role's time · $89.1M · passed by Claude Sonnet, Gemini 3.1 Pro · the models disagreed
Does not pass
Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 8.4% of the role's time · $121M · waiting on a check
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.
reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 8.2% of the role's time · $118M
Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 7.6% of the role's time · $109M
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 7.5% of the role's time · $107M
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 7.1% of the role's time · $101M · waiting on a check
Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 6.6% of the role's time · $94.7M
Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 5.1% of the role's time · $72.7M
Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 5.0% of the role's time · $70.9M
Supervise students' laboratory work.
physical work, outside the screen · 4.8% of the role's time · $68.8M
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 4.8% of the role's time · $68.4M
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 4.6% of the role's time · $66.2M
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it, and a failure is too expensive · 4.2% of the role's time · $59.3M
Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it, and a failure is too expensive · 3.7% of the role's time · $52.6M
Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 3.3% of the role's time · $47.7M
Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.
reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 2.5% of the role's time · $35.5M
Maintain and repair laboratory equipment.
physical work, outside the screen · 2.3% of the role's time · $33.5M
Participate in campus and community events.
physical work, outside the screen · 2.0% of the role's time · $27.8M
Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 1.5% of the role's time · $21.6M
Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 1.2% of the role's time · $17.8M · waiting on a check
Act as advisers to student organizations.
reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 1.1% of the role's time · $15.9M
Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 1.0% of the role's time · $14.4M
Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 0.9% of the role's time · $12.5M
Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 0.2% of the role's time · $3.2M
Where this role works
| Industry | Workers | Wage bill | Passes the screen | All three pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 11,660 | $1.3B | $78.3M | $0 |
| Junior Colleges | 1910 | $174M | $10.9M | $0 |