47 Jobs for Former Teachers That Can Give You a Fresh Start
Did you know that suitable jobs for former teachers are abundant? Your teaching degree and the transferable skills you've gained, from inside and outside the classroom, can make you a good candidate for all kinds of second careers. You just need to know what to target, when to get extra training, and how to market your unique talents.
School teachers are extraordinary professionals. After all, few people have what it takes to perform classroom-related jobs in education. The fact that you've been a teacher speaks volumes about your heart, your character, and your wide-ranging abilities. You can use your professional traits to build a career that meets more of your needs.
Teachers leave the profession for all kinds of valid reasons, not just retirement. According to the Learning Policy Institute, almost eight percent of America's teachers leave the field each year. That represents hundreds of thousands of classroom educators. So, you're in good company if you want to stop teaching or have left the teaching field already.
Take plenty of time to reflect on what you like and dislike about teaching. What have you enjoyed the most about being a teacher? What factors are causing you to take your career in a different direction? Your answers will provide clues to your potential future path.
This article lists several alternative jobs for teachers who need a change or have been out of the field and need to establish new careers. Some of these options will require additional training or continuing education. Others may just require your enthusiasm, persistence, professionalism, and creativity. Explore them now so you can start living the life you want.
Second Careers for Teachers Who Want Something Totally Different
Even if being a teacher used to feel like your calling, it's perfectly OK to want a career unrelated to teaching or education. You deserve to be happy. So, ask yourself what you are intensely interested in and what fascinates you.
Many former teachers are drawn to careers in business, journalism, or communications since they often have existing skills that transfer well into those fields. Others find success by exploring opportunities related to healthcare or areas of study that they may have enjoyed in college but never pursued beyond the classroom.
Some teachers may also have specialized skills that can transfer or credit toward a career in their chosen field. For example, a high school teacher specializing in woodworking or automotive technology may enjoy working directly in the skilled trade of their choice.
Have a look at the following examples of good jobs for teachers leaving education:
1. Human Resources (HR) Specialist
Teachers know how to help people succeed by developing their knowledge and talents. Human resources pros also help people succeed by matching them to the right positions, training opportunities, and benefit options. Depending on your educational background, you may need some additional business or human resources education. Still, the rewards of this field tend to make the extra effort worth it. Some great alternate jobs for teachers exist in human resources, which also offers the ability to help others in a meaningful way.
2. Compensation and Benefits Manager
Like other teachers, you may be great at planning, organizing, and paying attention to detail. With this career, you can use those skills while serving a meaningful purpose. You can play a significant role in making employees feel valued and helping them stay healthy and supported by recommending and overseeing a company's pay and benefits structure. You may need some additional business administration or human resources education.
3. Personal Financial Advisor
Is your educational and teaching background in mathematics? If so, this occupation may be another good option. Your ability to calculate numbers, interpret what they mean, and explain complex concepts could serve you well in this role. Plus, you'll be helping people achieve the financial goals that make it possible for them to get what they truly want from life. If you go this route, consider additional coursework in financial planning.
4. Dental Hygienist
The dental field offers some great jobs for ex-teachers. After all, you probably already pay attention to detail, make people feel comfortable, and educate those who need friendly reminders about what's best for them. You just need to acquire a little extra knowledge and some hands-on skills. You could accomplish this in two years or less through an associate degree dental hygienist program.
5. Writer
Former teachers often make exceptional writers. And great writers are always in demand—not just in the publishing and entertainment worlds. Countless businesses and non-profit organizations also have ongoing writing needs, whether for technical documentation, grant applications, proposals, or internal or external marketing. If you're well-versed in a particular subject, you may even be able to find work with textbook publishers. You can work as part of an in-house writing team or freelance on your own schedule, work from wherever you want, and choose your clients. While not necessarily required, a degree or diploma in writing could give you an edge.
6. Registered Nurse (RN)
Are empathy, emotional resilience, attention to detail, and organizational skills among your biggest strengths? If so, you owe it to yourself to at least consider becoming an RN, especially since this is one of America's most in-demand occupations. You can get started with an associate degree in the field, which you may be able to earn in less than two years.
7. Marketing Specialist
Are you highly creative? Has your teaching experience given you deeper insights into human behavior? Many companies, non-profit organizations, and marketing agencies look for professionals who can empathize with other people and understand their motivations. So, with a little extra coursework in marketing, you may be able to find a great job that takes advantage of many of the skills you already have. Internet marketing is an especially good field to get into if you're adaptable and enjoy ever-evolving challenges that utilize your creativity. An education in marketing or specialized training in internet marketing can get you started.
8. Respiratory Therapist
Do you still want to play a meaningful role in the lives of children? Many kids have asthma or other breathing disorders that require careful monitoring and evaluation. With a two-year associate degree in respiratory therapy, you can draw on your natural compassion and continue to make a positive difference.
9. Occupational Therapy Assistant
Are you good at adapting to the needs and personalities of different people? This career will still draw heavily on your ability to teach others (including children). But your focus will be on helping people with temporary or permanent disabilities learn how to perform basic tasks of daily living, often with assistive devices. Many vocational schools offer convenient associate degree programs in occupational therapy assisting.
10. Public Relations (PR) Specialist
Great communication is the name of the game in this field. With your classroom teaching experience, you've probably got that covered. Of course, this occupation is also about reaching out and forming good relationships with the public and other media professionals. Your writing, planning, and public speaking skills could serve you well in a PR job. And you could top up your qualifications with a degree in public relations.
11. Radiologic Technologist
Your interpersonal skills could come in very handy in this field. And you'll still be making a valuable contribution to people's well-being (in every age group). After all, good diagnostic images are essential for medical patients' timely and effective treatment. Plus, you can get the radiologic technology training you need in two years or less.
12. Physical Therapist Assistant
Did you enjoy incorporating a little physical activity into your classroom lessons? This career is great for former teachers who want to stay active and continue helping other people become their best selves. The difference here is that you'll be helping people manage pain or regain their strength and mobility as part of their recovery from injuries or illnesses. A two-year physical therapist assistant program can get you started.
13. Executive Assistant
Great planners and organizers can be hard to find. But many teachers have those qualities in spades. With a little extra training in administrative assisting or business administration or you can become a truly compelling candidate for administrative support jobs with top corporate executives.
14. Paralegal
Have you ever had any interest in the law? You probably have a lot of useful professional qualities that can be transferred to the paralegal field. And you may not need that much additional education to get started. Paralegal training can typically be completed in two years or less. Lawyers are always looking for intelligent, well-organized professionals to assist with research, document creation, and pre-trial preparation.
15. Event Planner
Here's a fun option if you're a born planner and love coordinating lessons, projects, or field trips as a teacher. You can help make people's dreams for amazing, memorable events come true. Weddings, business conferences, and product launches are just a few types of events that you might help plan and coordinate. You can prepare for an event planning career by enrolling in a program that includes hospitality or tourism courses or event planning and management training.
16. Real Estate Agent
Are you enthusiastic and great at listening, communicating, and handling all the details? Like other sales professionals, real estate agents need exceptional interpersonal skills. That's why many former teachers have gone into this field and developed good reputations for their ability to help facilitate win-win agreements related to the buying and selling of property. The length of required real estate training varies by state.
17. Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse (LPN or LVN)
Here's an option in the growing healthcare industry that only takes about a year of additional education to become a practical nurse. It's a more direct and basic form of nursing, but it still makes good use of your patience, compassion, and ability to keep track of details.
18. Child and Family Social Worker
Many teachers are naturally compassionate people. That can make them well-suited to careers in social work—especially the kind that involves keeping vulnerable kids out of harm's way and helping families get the basic assistance they need. You can be like a real-life guardian angel, making an important impact that lasts a lifetime for each person you help. A social work degree is typically required.
19. Medical Laboratory Technician
Do you pride yourself on your attention to detail? Are you ready for a less people-focused career that still lets you make a real difference in the world? With just two years or less of medical lab tech education, you can start doing the kinds of lab tests that are vital to the care of medical patients.
20. Personal Fitness Trainer
Are you passionate about exercise and nutrition? Why not shift your teaching focus in that direction? Fitness clubs and private clients are always on the lookout for trainers who are natural motivators and understand how to plan training sessions and evaluate a person's progress. Plus, it doesn't take long to get certified in this field. Personal trainer certificate and diploma programs can prepare you for certification exams and entry-level positions in the industry.
21. Dental Assistant
Being sensitive to other people's emotions may have served you well as a teacher. It can do the same in this occupation. Plus, you'll likely get to interact with a lot of kids. And it doesn't take much additional training to become a dental assistant—just a year or less.
22. Optician
Would you like to keep helping and interacting with people daily? Your ability to educate others is a valuable skill that can help people choose and maintain the best eyewear products for their needs. And optician training programs take only about one or two years to complete.
23. Veterinary Technician
Why not shift your focus to helping animals? In the process, you can continue to educate people by counseling pet owners on properly caring for their furry companions. To qualify for your state's licensing exam, you only need about two years of additional veterinarian technician training.
24. Medical Assistant
Your well-honed interpersonal and organizational skills can go a long way toward being an effective medical assistant. And since many great opportunities exist in family physicians' offices, you can still interact with young people regularly. Plus, many medical assisting programs take a year or less to complete.
25. Actuary
Like the next few on this list, this high-paying career should be on the radar of former math teachers. With some extra coursework in subjects like finance, applied statistics, and economics, you may be able to pursue certification in this field. You'll assess risk and help insurance companies or other businesses devise strategies to reduce the financial impacts of uncertainty.
26. Statistician
Would you like to use your mathematical background to solve real problems? Many industries need people who are good at gathering data and interpreting what it all means. Your impact in this job could be just as important as the one you've made by teaching. For example, imagine using statistical analysis to make a positive difference in healthcare delivery or safety engineering. Depending on the position, you may need a master's degree.
27. Operations Research Analyst
Here's another math-related occupation that lets you be an important problem solver. It's all about using math and quantitative analytical techniques to help businesses pinpoint and define problems so they can make the best possible decisions. A background in math and computer science will be helpful.
28. Editor
This occupation is often a great match for former teachers, especially those with a background in studying and teaching English. After all, much like a good teacher, a good editor needs to recognize and mentor someone else's good ideas and talent. In this case, it's all about writing talent. Your writing skills and your strong grasp of grammar, punctuation, and spelling could form a terrific foundation for this career.
29. Sales Representative
To be an effective teacher, you need to be able to engage people individually and in groups. Now think about what it takes to sell something. Some former teachers make great sales reps because they know how to communicate an intended message and win people over with their enthusiasm, knowledge, and interpersonal communication skills.
30. Curator
Is your educational and teaching background in art or history? Museums of all sizes depend on curators to oversee their collections. It's a good role for former teachers who enjoy acquiring, evaluating, and categorizing unique items. For positions in large museums, you may need a master's degree.
31. Interpreter or Translator
Do you have experience teaching a foreign language? Are you completely fluent in that language? If so, you may be well-suited to a career that involves translating documents or interpreting live or recorded conversations. This field is packed with exciting opportunities, including jobs that may take you overseas.
32. Chemical Technician
Many laboratories and manufacturing facilities employ people to assist chemists and engineers with research and development. So, this field is worth considering if you've taught or majored in chemistry or a related science.
33. Biological Technician
Have you been a biology teacher? Was it a major area of study for you in college? Like chemical technicians, biological technicians are employed in many laboratories and research facilities. You can help scientists conduct experiments or lab tests that lead to positive outcomes for the health of people and the planet.
34. Museum Technician
Are you good at keeping detailed records and safeguarding important things? Many teachers have those qualities. If you also have a background in art or history, you may be a good candidate for this occupation. You'll help protect and care for the priceless objects stored or displayed in a museum (or transported between different museums).
35. Bus Driver
For some former teachers, driving provides a perfect change of pace. Whether you drive a city bus full of commuters or a school bus full of students, you still get to play an important role in the lives of people in your community. It isn't a role for everyone, but it's worth exploring if you want to stop teaching but would miss being around different people each day.
36. Activities Director
Leadership roles in community service are often a good fit for people who've left the teaching profession. Many youth organizations and retirement communities have positions for people skilled at planning, coordinating, and leading fun recreational or educational activities.
37. Private Nanny
Nanny may not be a top-of-mind option for most people who've been teachers, but some former teachers thrive in this role. After all, the best nanny jobs let you help nurture and assist in the personal development of young people. And it's much more intimate than teaching a large classroom of kids. You can develop deeper bonds and track a child's progress over a longer period. Plus, many good opportunities are available overseas. And live-in positions usually come with free room and board.
Non-Teaching Jobs in Education: What Can I Do with a Teaching Degree if I Don't Want to Teach?
You can establish all kinds of careers in education that don't involve teaching in a classroom. In some cases, former teachers can find opportunities within the school districts they already know—sometimes at the same or higher pay level than they've grown accustomed to. After all, you may not want to leave the field of education altogether, especially if you feel you can still make a difference. Also, keep in mind that good opportunities don't just exist at the elementary and secondary education levels. Many former teachers have also succeeded in landing non-teaching jobs in higher education.
Here are some examples of alternative careers for teachers who want to stay in education but leave the classroom:
38. School Guidance Counselor
Counseling is a natural choice for many former teachers. It's one of the best jobs for teachers who don't want to teach but still enjoy one-on-one interaction with students. You may need a master's degree. However, being qualified to help students work through social and academic challenges—and watching them thrive—can make the additional education worth it.
39. School Administrator
Most elementary, middle, and high school principals began their careers as teachers. So, if you have a strong desire to lead and oversee an entire school, this could be one of the best career options to consider. You'll manage every facet of a school's operation while counseling students and supporting teachers and other staff members. You'll likely need a master's degree in education leadership or administration.
40. Instructional Coordinator
Are you good at designing teaching materials or developing curricula? Many companies, school districts, post-secondary institutions, government agencies, and cultural institutions need professionals who design courses, learning materials, tests, and teaching guidelines.
41. Educational Consultant
This is one of the best jobs for retired teachers who want the flexibility to choose when to work and whom to work with. You can offer important insights and recommendations about educational policy, curriculum development, administrative procedures, or other relevant topics to several kinds of organizations. As an independent contractor, you may find short- or long-term assignments with government agencies, private schools, charter schools, public school districts, or various types of education-related companies.
42. Librarian
Almost every school has a library. This job often appeals to former teachers who enjoy the challenge of choosing, acquiring, organizing, recommending, and distributing books and other research or learning materials. It's also a nice way to contribute to student success without taking on classroom demands.
43. College or University Academic Advisor
Former teachers are often good at knowing what students need to navigate their academic requirements successfully. And every post-secondary institution has staff members who specialize in assisting students with that aspect of college life. So being an academic advisor is often a good match for people who've left the teaching profession but don't want to leave the education sector altogether. Plus, it's a smart thing to do with your teaching degree if you don't want to teach anymore.
Teaching-Related Jobs Outside the Classroom
Schools aren't the only settings where teaching happens. You can make a living from teaching other people without ever stepping inside a traditional classroom again. You don't even need to teach large groups of people if that's one of the factors driving you away from being a schoolteacher. For instance, take a look at these jobs for ex-teachers who still want to help people learn new things:
44. Coach
Do you have a significant background in a certain sport or recreational activity? Many youth and community organizations need quality people to fill coaching positions. As a teacher, you likely have a natural ability to mentor and motivate people. So, you could be a good match for many coaching jobs, especially if you've had any training in physical education or sports and recreation management.
45. Corporate Trainer
Training other professionals in a business setting can be a terrific way to use your presentation, communication, and leadership skills. Many former teachers prefer this career to having a job in a traditional classroom setting since they get to teach without dealing with the bureaucracy of a school. Aside from training groups of business professionals, corporate trainers can also coach individual executives or put their services to work for non-profit organizations.
46. Museum Educator
Here's an option that lets you contribute to the cultural vitality of your community. Many museums organize educational programs, events, and activities. With your teaching background, you can help oversee the development of those programs, mentor volunteers, or even lead educational lectures or field trips for the public.
47. Private Tutor
Would you rather help students on an individual basis than try to manage a large classroom? With more and more parents turning to homeschooling or seeking extra support for their kids, the market for good private tutors seems to be growing. Plus, tutoring is one of the best part-time jobs for teachers who need the flexibility to choose their own clients and schedules.
Why Teachers Leave Their Jobs
Teaching is a noble and necessary profession. And many people have the good fortune of thriving in their roles as teachers, and they wouldn't want to do anything else. But in America today, many teachers are less than fulfilled for all kinds of legitimate reasons. Getting an idea of some jobs for teachers who quit the profession is a great start.
Here's an amazing fact: The Learning Policy Institute says that less than a third of all teachers who leave the profession in the U.S. do so for retirement. Most of them leave well before that time because they are dissatisfied. Are you one of them? See if you identify with any of these common reasons for walking away from a teaching job:
- Not feeling respected or supported by school administrators or parents
- Feeling too much pressure to "teach to the test"
- Feeling more like a data collector or babysitter than a teacher
- Having to measure up to unrealistic standards
- Not having enough time for bureaucratic paperwork or unnecessary meetings, let alone real teaching
- Feeling overworked and underpaid
- Trying to cope with poor building conditions
- Having to buy learning materials out of your own pocket because the school can't afford them
- Having to follow a narrow or poorly developed curriculum
- Trying to deal with class sizes that are too big to manage
- Feeling like the educational system is failing too many students
- Feeling like a scapegoat for the problems caused by a lack of accountability among parents or students
- Wanting to invest more quality time with family
The Learning Policy Institute also reports that teachers who work in inner-city schools or districts with a lot of poverty tend to leave the profession at higher rates than those who work in suburban schools or wealthier districts.
How to Make the Transition From Teaching to a Second Career
Every year, many teachers successfully begin new careers and go on to thrive. You can too. Here's how:
1. Take stock of your professional traits and skills.
Start by imagining what you would say to an interviewer who asked, "What do teachers do?" Visualize your role as a teacher and make a list of everything you've been responsible for. Examples may include tasks like:
- Planning and preparing lessons
- Finding or developing appropriate learning materials
- Consulting with school administrators
- Getting classrooms ready for different kinds of lessons
- Teaching students of varying abilities
- Interacting with parents
- Collaborating with colleagues
- Evaluating the progress of students and grading their work
- Assessing and developing curricula
With those tasks in mind, think about what it takes to pull them off. What skills or traits do you possess that have let you perform as a teacher? List everything you can think of. Don't worry about what order they're in. Just brainstorm. If you get stuck, ask someone else to help you brainstorm. Here are some examples of valuable traits and abilities that experienced teachers often have:
- Adaptability
- Creativity
- Genuine enthusiasm
- The ability to lead or manage others
- A passion for lifelong learning
- Great organizational and time-management skills
- Exceptional presentation and public-speaking skills
- The ability to communicate complex ideas in a simplified way
- An understanding of why people behave the way they do
- The ability to collaborate and work alone
- Excellent writing skills
- Remarkable patience
Those examples represent transferable abilities that can be used in countless jobs after teaching. They make great selling points when promoting yourself to potential employers.
2. Be open to all kinds of opportunities.
Keeping an open mind is essential, especially during the initial phase of your job search. You don't want to get so locked onto one path that you miss other suitable opportunities that may already be knocking on your door. Sometimes the best opportunities are those we don't feel quite ready for. Question your assumptions and don't pass judgment too quickly. (For some teachers, a simple change in school districts or grade level can make all the difference.)
In addition to job possibilities like those listed above, consider some other alternatives. For example, check job openings in government agencies, job search sites, or even education technology websites. Explore your entrepreneurial side by starting a business based on one of your favorite personal interests. Or investigate alternative teaching careers that may provide just enough change to keep you fulfilled. For instance, look into other jobs for teachers such as:
- Educating prisoners
- Teaching for online schools
- Teaching literacy skills to adults
- Helping adults earn their GED
- Teaching at a community college
3. Gain new experiences and start networking.
Are you still teaching as you plan your exit from the profession? Try using some of your time off to get involved in volunteer work or other types of opportunities outside of teaching. The more you can use your professional abilities in a different context, the better you'll understand your true interests and capabilities. You'll also make new contacts who can act as additional references. In addition, be sure to attend networking events where you can get your business card into the hands of people who work in the industries you're considering. Make it clear that you're looking for new opportunities to use your talents.
4. Choose a path and get additional education (if necessary).
At some point, you'll have to get specific about your goals. You'll need to pick a new career to pursue and find out how you measure up. Will you need different credentials or extra training? How much will you earn in an entry-level position starting from scratch? Do the research and make a plan. Adult learners have many good options today, from flexible online programs to career-focused colleges and vocational schools that offer convenient schedules in accessible locations.
5. Gather references and refine your resume.
Ask other teachers you've worked with to write letters of recommendation highlighting some of your best qualities or achievements. Do the same for other close colleagues you've worked with inside or outside the education sector. Then do several drafts of your resume, refining it with each new iteration. Focus on providing examples of specific achievements that speak to the skills that are most relevant to the type of position you'll be applying for. Enlist the help of a professional career counselor if you're having trouble drafting a simple yet powerful and engaging resume.
6. Interview like a true pro.
Many former teachers worry that employers outside the education sector won't be interested in their abilities. While that may be true in some cases, most employers will be eager to learn how your skills translate into a non-classroom position. Every interview is your opportunity to teach them. So do what you're best at. Communicate with enthusiasm, focusing on the many positive ways in which your skills and past experiences will add value to their organizations. Emphasize your accomplishments and tell them about the former colleagues who miss you.
7. Stay persistent.
Don't get discouraged if things don't fall into place immediately. Keep networking, applying for jobs, and promoting yourself. Experiment with slightly different tactics. Practice your interview skills. And always remember that you have a great deal to offer. By staying prepared and enthusiastic, you'll be ready to hit the ground running when the right opportunity finally comes along.
Make the Change
You deserve a career that fulfills you. All kinds of jobs for former teachers are available, even beyond the ones listed above. So don't limit yourself. If you need continuing education, it's easy to find. Plenty of career colleges and vocational schools specialize in helping adults transition to new careers. Find one in your region by entering your zip code into this quick and easy school finder tool!
