Teaching can be a wonderful job, especially if you want to make a positive impact on the children you teach. While most educators go into the field intending to make it a lifetime career, this isn’t how it plays out for everyone. Now more than ever, teachers are fleeing their positions and beloved students for greener pastures.
Luckily, the skills and knowledge of a typical teacher are transferable skills to many other types of jobs. Here are the best jobs for teachers who don’t want to teach:
Working as a teacher for a stretch of time gives you the experience and know-how to get hired for a litany of other positions. Some of these roles are still in the educational world, but many of them can remove you from this type of environment altogether. It all depends on your preferences.
To give you a better idea of what’s out there, here you’ll find the top eight of the best jobs for teachers who don’t want to teach.
Standardized Test Developer
Average Annual Salary: $82,000
Becoming a standardized test developer is a terrific option for teachers who want to step away from teaching directly. Former teachers are already familiar with the process and structure of standardized testing, plus they know what information is essential to cover during these types of exams.
Most schools across the United States are required to give out annual standardized examinations to students from Kindergarten to their senior year of high school. That entails a lot of available work for standardized test developers.
Standardized test developers need to have superb communication skills to convey information to various students effectively. This is a skill that teachers are intimately familiar with as well.
Job responsibilities of a standardized test developer include:
Partaking in meetings to determine the knowledge and skills that should be tested in students of particular ages
Research materials that can be used in the development of a new standardized test
Writing, discussing, and editing each test’s questions
Determining how a test will be scored and what a passing grade will be
Adhering to security protocols around the test
Ensuring that the test is completed by a specific deadline
Creating reports about the testing results from students
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Educational Policy Analyst
Average Annual Salary: $63,000
The educational system can be a world in itself, complete with its own rules and regulations. The way students are educated is an issue that’s constantly being reconsidered. That’s where an educational policy analyst comes in.
An educational policy analyst works within the academic realm, but they don’t work directly with the students. Instead, they assess issues within the American public school system and determine the best policy on these particular circ*mstances.
It can be endlessly frustrating to work daily in schools and see recurring issues in the system but not be able to do anything about it. Becoming an educational policy analyst is such a great career change for teachers because it gives them the power to enact real change in the schooling system.
Job responsibilities of an educational policy analyst include:
Conducting research about various topics in the United States education system
Assessing how educational policies will impact students, parents and teachers alike
Gathering data to inform policy decisions, like test schools and economic restraints
Developing and testing educational theories proposed
Reporting their findings and publishing research
Monitoring the effectiveness of policy changes
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Career Counselor
Average Annual Salary: $41,000
The role of a career counselor is another profession that helps people on their way to educating themselves and becoming adults but doesn’t bear the hassle of teaching in the classroom every day.
A career counselor supports people and provides insightful advice while figuring out precisely what they want to do with their professional life.
It’s rewarding to pass on the gift of knowing what job you want to do. Many people rely on the guidance of a thoughtful career counselor to point them in the right professional direction.
It’s a good option for people who used to teach because it still provides the opportunity to help people at a pivotal moment of their life without the stress of being a public school teacher.
Job responsibilities of a career counselor include:
Using tools like personality and interests quizzes to evaluate an individual’s skills and preferences
Examining their history to get a sense of their personal achievements and strong suites
Discussing with them to find the ideal career fit
Provide guidance on courses or programs that individuals should take for particular careers
Assisting students in selecting schools or educational programs that fit their needs and wants
Helping students with their financial aid process to pay for schooling
Giving insight on interviewing skills, how to write a resume, and networking tactics
Connecting individuals with job search resources in their chosen field
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Human Resources Manager
Average Annual Salary: $80,000
If you’ve been successfully managing a classroom of ten or more students for the past few years, you’ve likely unwittingly acquired a bunch of other skills that can help you manage different types of situations, such as human resources.
This is why a career as a human resources manager is a smooth switch for teachers who are used to rowdy students.
The interpersonal skills and problem-solving that human resource managers need for their job are very similar to the requirements of a teaching job with classroom management.
If you still want to work with people but are entirely done with spending every day around people under the age of 18, becoming a human resources manager might be a smart move.
Job Responsibilities of a human resources manager include:
Creating and implementing HR strategies that match their company’s business strategy
Acting as the mediator between a company’s management and employees, including addressing demands and issues
Overseeing the company’s recruitment process
Monitoring HR strategies and systems for effectiveness over time
Fostering a positive work environment
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School Guidance Counselor
Average Annual Salary: $47,000
Many other roles within the school system besides teaching that involve helping students through their education. One of the critical roles that impact student development is the guidance counselor.
Guidance counselors work at educational institutions to support students in their academics, personal lives, and making future career decisions.
The transition from being a teacher to a guidance counselor can be made pretty easily. You may even find a position within your current district if you don’t want to go too far. Many teachers find themselves attracted to the guidance counselor role because they can still be involved in students’ lives but in a different way with a little less pressure.
Job responsibilities of a guidance counselor include:
Carrying out counseling sessions with students to advise about educational and career development
Speaking with students to understand their strengths and weaknesses
Suggesting objectives and helping them reach them
Using a variety of counseling strategies to mentor each individual helpfully
Recognizing any behavioral issues in students and fixing the situation
Creating an accepting environment for students from all societal and cultural backgrounds
Monitoring student development overtime and celebrating their accomplishments
Discussing with parents and teachers about students progress when needed
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Academic Administrator
Average Annual Salary: N/A
Being an academic administrator is perfect for teachers itching to get outside the classroom. These professionals usually work at colleges or universities to develop educational and student programs. This typically involves working on things like fundraising, long-term planning, and coordinating student services.
This is another role that can give former teachers the opportunity to create a positive change in the educational system. Many teachers are keen to take on this endeavor after working under undesirable conditions for so long.
Job responsibilities of an academic administrator include:
Deciding on the curriculum
Coordinating with other academic professionals
Recruiting faculty, issuing scholarships, and overseeing student affairs (if required by their university)
Supervising college faculty and monitoring different department’s research
Ensuring that university policies are followed
Substance Abuse Counselor
Average Annual Salary: $42,000
Everyone’s lives get a little off-track in one way or another, and for people experiencing substance abuse, it’s crucial to have a bullet-proof support system to get them back on the right path. This is why the innate patience and caring nature of a teacher make them ideal candidates for a career as a substance abuse counselor.
Giving a person the support that they need to get clean finally is an incredible gift. Many teachers find success in this industry because the job demands many of the skills they would have built up in the classroom.
If you’re a teacher whose been craving a profession that allows you to make an extraordinarily positive impact on people’s lives when they really need it most, look into a career as a substance abuse counselor.
Job responsibilities of a substance abuse counselor include:
Managing each patient’s case from the time they enter their care until they’re discharged
Assessing both the patient’s physical and psychological behaviors
Building a trusting relationship with each patient over time
Creating a fitting treatment and recovery plan personalized to the patient
Conducting individual therapy sessions and group meetings
Collaborating with other professionals involved in the patient’s life such as doctors, nurses, psychologists, lawyers, and correction departments
Noticing when certain behaviors are impeding treatment and finding solutions
Speaking with patient’s families to educate and inform them
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Prison Educator
Average Annual Salary: N/A
If you’re tired of the education system and want to teach in a new type of environment and you’re truly talented in the art of teaching, then becoming a prison educator can be an excellent career switch option that provides a tremendous service to the community.
While most prisoners are serving their stay as a result of heinous acts, the goal of being locked away from society is supposed to be rehabilitation. One of the keys to bettering a person is educating them.
Being a prison educator is very similar to traditional teaching in many ways. However, it’s also a very different set of circ*mstances and can be quite intimidating. However, if you can handle it, there are thousands of prisoners who can be helped by the compassion and support of a great teacher.
Job responsibilities of a prison educator include:
Using pre-made curriculums or designing their own lesson plans to deliver
Giving out assignments and ensuring that students complete them
Assisting students when they’re struggling with a particular subject
Managing the classroom to keep everyone focused on learning
Coordinating with other prison staff when needed
Meeting/Event Planner
Average Annual Salary: $44,000
Teachers usually have to plan their daily agendas for students and generally have a significant amount of creativity, energy, and organizational skills, making them excellent event planners.
Event planners work as staff for event centers, corporate events or conference planners for companies, or independent wedding coordinators for various clients. Some will even plan and run birthday parties, bridal and baby showers, or family reunions for their customers.
As a teacher-turned event planner, you’ll get to implement many of your skills in this new setting to help others.
Job responsibilities of a meeting/event planner include:
Manage the event planning process such as securing a venue and developing a food menu
Oversee the transportation and lodging of guests
Make all arrangements necessary to execute the clients vision and goals
Analyze Event success and review what worked and what can be improved on
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School Administrator
Average Annual Salary: $57,000
Working as a school administrator is the perfect position for you if you’re tired of teaching but want to be in the school setting and support other teachers.
From principals to vice-principals to after-school program directors, schools need a wide variety of people with teaching experience to help them run smoothly. You can even use your perspective as a former teacher to help you make decisions that will support your staff and the teachers you work with.
Administration jobs exist in schools and school districts, widening your employment options. You will typically need a master’s or a doctorate to become a school administrator, and many positions also require a principal certification.
Job responsibilities of a school administrator include:
Developing class schedules and making sure students and teachers receive them
Ensuring that the curriculum standards and met and monitoring student success with test results and other data
Recruit, hire, train staff and dismiss staff if necessary
Coordinating school safety and security
Communicating with parents when needed
Meeting with administrative communities, superintendents, and school board members
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Childcare Worker
Average Annual Salary: $24,000
Becoming a childcare worker is an excellent job if you enjoy spending time with children but don’t enjoy teaching. Childcare workers are needed at daycares, after-school care programs, churches, and recreation and community centers.
There are so many different organizations that need childcare workers that you can often pick what age group you want to work with, what hours you want to work, and what responsibilities you want to have.
Once you have some experience, you could even start your own child care center, as many parents are attracted to programs run by professional teachers.
Job responsibilities of a childcare worker include:
Supervise and monitor the safety of children
Entertaining and engaging the kids
Focusing more on education or specific extracurricular activities
Helping children keep good hygiene
Organize activities that allow children learn about the work and their interests
Provide snacks and ensure students with allergies are accommodated
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Social Worker
Average Annual Salary: $51,000
Working as a social worker is similar in many ways to what a teacher does, so if you want to work in a field where you can help, educate, and support people but don’t want to teach, social work may be an attractive and fulfilling option for you.
Social workers can work in various settings, including schools, medical facilities, and specialized social work centers. They have a variety of responsibilities that involve helping people solve problems and overcome challenges of all kinds.
Some positions require a bachelor’s degree in social work, but others will accept similar degrees as well and simply require you to complete additional on-the-job training.
If you want to become a clinical social worker and diagnose and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral health challenges, you’ll need a master’s degree in clinical social work.
Job responsibilities of a social worker include:
Identify those in need
Develop plans to help improve the child’s well-being
Evaluate and monitor improvement
Work with individuals, families, or groups
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Educational Consultant
Average Annual Salary: $78,000
Becoming an educational consultant is excellent for a teacher who wants to support and further schools and students but doesn’t necessarily want to be in the classroom. You’ll get to put your teaching experience to use and help improve the educational system, but you won’t have to be in charge of a classroom or deal directly with students or parents (usually).
Educational consultants travel from school to school or district to district, helping administrators and teachers improve their processes and techniques. Because they need to have a high level of expertise, they usually are required to have master’s degrees or doctorates.
You can work for school districts or private consulting companies when you have this position. Their jobs change and evolve as the districts and schools they work with evolve, making this an interesting and exciting career.
Job responsibilities of a educational consultant include:
Perform training and educational needs assessments for individual classrooms
Assess local and state educational resources within area of professional expertise, and designs and develops special programs for resources development as appropriate
Observe teachers on the job and then making suggestions for ways to improve their teaching styles
Provide guidance on ways to improve a school’s performance by offering solutions and methods utilized in top performing institutions
Recommend new or updated educational materials
Assess classroom policies and educational standards
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Life Coach
Average Annual Salary: $38,000
Being a life coach is perfect for you if you love helping people thrive and achieve their goals. In this role, you’ll create relationships with your clients and guide and motivate them in reaching their goals.
To do this, you’ll provide support and encouragement, but you’ll also provide practical tools and constructive criticism. Balancing positivity with honesty can be difficult to learn, but many teachers have plenty of practice, making them excellent candidates for this role.
You can work as a life coach part-time or full-time, and you can start your own business or work with an agency. Many clients and agencies want their life coaches to have a professional certification, so consider obtaining this before going down this road.
Job responsibilities of a life coach include:
Work directly with clients and help identify their goals
Teach emotional and behavioral regulation techniques
Evaluate clients advancement toward goal actualization
Encouraging continued and sustainable progress
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Curriculum Designer
Average Annual Salary: $57,000
Schools and teachers need a curriculum to teach from, and who better to design it than a teacher? You can put your teaching expertise to work outside of the classroom in this role and use it to help other teachers and students avoid your mistakes and build on your successes.
Curriculum designers usually need at least a master’s degree in education, and they usually work with school districts to create curricula that fit their students and their needs best. They can also work with universities, companies, or other organizations to create classroom and training programs.
Job responsibilities of a curriculum designer include:
Conducting research and collaborating with educators, policymakers, and other professionals to develop quality curricula and learning resources
Developing a range of digital resources to optimize classroom learning and ensure ongoing learning outside of formal settings
Creating stimulating lesson plans and recommending interesting additional resources
Collecting feedback from students and teachers
Monitoring student progress and making relevant changes to curriculums as needed
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Corporate Trainer
Average Annual Salary: $54,000
If you still enjoy the act of teaching but don’t want to be a full-time teacher, you might enjoy being a corporate trainer.
In this role, you can work with an individual company to create professional development courses, you can work independently and book sessions at a variety of companies, or you can work for an organization that hires teams of trainers to work with their clients.
Whether you have a specific area of expertise you want to share or simply want to help employees, managers, and executives better themselves, a career as a corporate trainer can be highly fulfilling for teachers who don’t want to teach anymore.
Job responsibilities of a corporate trainer include:
Collaborate with management to identify company training needs
Design effective training programs
Support and mentor new employees
Manage training budgets
Monitor employee performance and response to training
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Keep your other passions and interests in mind when job searching. It’s difficult to stick at any job for long if you don’t feel fulfilled in it. To avoid burning yourself out quickly in a new role, look for a job that incorporates things that you’re passionate about or simply enjoy.
For example, knowing whether or not you want to work behind a desk full-time can help narrow down your options, and so can knowing if you’re more passionate about getting a paycheck or about getting to do work that you enjoy every part of.
Take some time and think through what you’re passionate about and enjoy doing, remembering that it doesn’t need to be lofty or complicated. Even an answer as simple as, “I don’t want to work around a lot of people,” can help guide you in the right direction.
Be sure to consider professional growth and future opportunities. When you’re shifting careers, it can be tempting to take the first appealing position that comes your way. If you aren’t careful, though, you can quickly find yourself in a dead-end job trying to figure out what to do next all over again.
To avoid this, ask yourself where you’d like to see yourself in five years or even ten years. Even if you don’t have a specific vision, simply thinking through the generalities of your goals is beneficial. Do you want to be working in a role where you get to lead others? Do you want to be doing a job you believe in?
Keep your goals in mind as you search for positions and pay attention to whether or not a particular role will help you get where you want to go. It’s impossible to fully plan out a career, but some jobs lead to dead ends that should be avoided.
Finding a job that offers future opportunities may also look like getting a job that will pay for any additional education you need to reach your goals. This job may technically be a dead-end, but it’s setting you up for your future by allowing you to go to school.
Avoid the parts of teaching you didn’t enjoy. Even if you don’t want to teach anymore because you just detested all of it, chances are, there are specific aspects that you especially didn’t like. It’s important to be aware of what those were so that you can avoid jobs that involve much of the same aspects in the future.
If you got tired of dealing with difficult students, for example, working in a setting with children or even testy adults will probably be just as draining. The same goes for things like company culture or schedule. Name the parts of teaching that you don’t ever want to do again, and then do your homework to ensure you can avoid them in your next job.
While every teacher’s experience is unique, there are a few common reasons why people in this profession decide to quit their job. Below are four of the top reasons teachers make the call to leave the classroom for good.
Very poor work/life balance. One of the most significant perceived upsides of working as a teacher is getting a lot of time off. However, this often isn’t actually the case.
While teachers do get summers and scheduled school breaks off, a great deal of work goes into being a phenomenal educator. This extra work makes having a positive work/life balance more difficult.
Between grading endless stacks of papers in the evening to designing full-blown curriculums, many teachers find themselves putting extra hours in outside of school. After a while, this gets exhausting and leads a vast percentage of teachers to just call it quits for good.
The added pressure of COVID. COVID has been an unforeseen struggle for every professional industry over the past two years. Still, it’s been especially hard on teachers who have never had to face a circ*mstance like this before.
The reality of teachers having a poor work/life balance has never been more accurate since they have been forced to teach entire classrooms remotely.
Classroom management, lesson planning, and testing have all completely changed in the face of COVID. Even when school is taught in person, teachers are needed to adjust to an even more stressful environment when caring for students’ health.
The incredible pressure of COVID and other common unpleasant aspects of teaching have made many teachers decide to exit the field entirely.
Low pay. Teachers are notoriously paid a pitifully small salary for their services of adequately educating future generations. Public school teachers are paid an average salary of $43,798, or around $3,649 per month.
This doesn’t sound too bad until you realize that teachers are also usually responsible for buying a lot of the materials for their classroom, such as decorations to create a fun learning environment or even basic supplies for lessons like paper and pencils.
The already low salary that teachers bring in for their incredibly important contribution to society is whittled away even further by being driven to purchase materials for their students. It makes sense why so many teachers would become fed up with this situation.
A toxic school system. A toxic environment can wear down even a teacher who truly appreciates her students and loves teaching. Things like working under an uncaring administration, unclear communication, or low job security make the job of being a teacher hard to bear every day.
This is another typical reason teachers say they simply can’t take it anymore and decide to stop teaching.
Is teaching the only thing to do with a teaching degree?
No, teaching is not the only thing you can do when you have a teaching degree. You can get a job as a life coach, educational consultant, and school administrator.
How do you transition out of teaching?
Your first step is to decide a timeline on when you want to leave to start your transition out of teaching. Next, you should it’s time to make an exit plan and find a new job that is in another field. When you transition out of teaching, it’s important to process your feeling about leaving the field.
