When you decided to become a teacher, no doubt it felt like exactly the right move. Somewhere along the way, though, things changed. After all, teachers experience burnout at an incredibly high rate—nearly 40% say they’re very often or always burned out, and 77% report high levels of stress. What’s more, 85% of teachers feel underpaid, while 4 in 10 say they don’t get the respect they deserve. It’s no surprise many teachers are ready to move on. So how do you go about finding companies that hire former teachers?
Can Teachers Find Work Outside the Classroom?
Absolutely! There are a lot of terrific careers for those leaving the classroom behind. Your teaching degree and experience make you an excellent fit for all kinds of other work.
You may want to stay in the field of education, in which case you could pursue curriculum design and development, textbook writing and editing, or educational website development. Or you could leverage your leadership skills to work in occupational or corporate training. Find a big list of jobs that allow teachers to use their skills outside the classroom here. Plus be sure to learn how to make your resume stand out in the corporate world.
Ready to move on? Be sure to download our teacher resignation letter templates when new opportunities arise!
What industries hire former teachers?
Teachers looking to leave the classroom can find work in almost any industry, given their own subject matter expertise, skills, and passions. That said, there are several industries where teachers especially have a real leg up. Take a look at companies that hire former teachers for these types of jobs:
Note: Not all of these companies will have jobs available at any given time. Bookmark their employment pages and check back often.
Curriculum Development and Publishing Companies
There’s a huge market out there for curriculum and learning materials, and these companies often hire former teachers to help build quality products. Here are some of the roles former teachers might find at these types of companies:
- Curriculum Writer/Creator: Informing curriculum is a great way to directly impact what goes on in the classroom without actually being in it! It’s a great opportunity to share your knowledge with other teachers. Average salary: $81,037.
- Editor: An editor typically works with writers to develop content that fits within the editorial guidelines of an online or print publication. If you worked within a particular subject, you may find your knowledge is even more in demand for editorial work. Average salary: $72,362.
- Curriculum Sales and Service Rep: Curriculum publishing companies often employ former teachers to sell and train educators on using the company’s products. Average salary: $76,321.
Working in curriculum development or publishing allows you to leverage teacher skills and knowledge like these:
- Subject matter expertise
- Written communication skills
- Lesson plan development
- Differentiated learning experiences
- Learning standards and goals
The following publishing and curriculum design companies hire former teachers.
Educational Websites and Ed Tech Companies
Teachers, students, and families rely on digital learning resources more than ever before, and the field is growing day by day. Lots of these companies look to former classroom teachers to help design, build, improve, and sell their projects. Here are some of the roles former teachers are especially qualified to fill at these organizations:
- User Experience (UX) Designer: A UX designer’s role is to make a product or service usable, enjoyable, and accessible—skills that teachers use every day. This role is particularly suited for teachers with strong tech skills. Average salary: $94,472.
- Educational Technology Consultant: A consultant may work for a company or directly for a district, helping them choose and implement software and other digital learning experiences. Average salary: $93,827.
- Curriculum Writer/Creator: Many websites provide online curricula or learning experiences. Former teachers can create those digital lessons and activities. Average salary: $81,037.
When you take a job in ed tech, you’ll be able to use teacher knowledge and skills like:
- Subject matter expertise
- Lesson plan and learning activity design
- Self-paced learning opportunities
- Differentiated learning experiences
- Learning management system skills
The following top ed-tech companies and websites hire former teachers.
Online and In-Person Tutoring, Coaching, and Mentoring Companies
Teachers are uniquely qualified to tutor or mentor struggling students, or provide educational coaching to students, schools, or organizations. They can start a new career in positions like these:
- Tutor: These gigs can vary from full- to part-time, online or in person. Tutors get the chance to apply their own personal knowledge expertise, helping students one-on-one or in small groups. See our guide to online tutoring jobs here. Average salary: $50,546.
- Career Coach: These development professionals help people adjust and improve their career paths through one-on-one guidance and advising. Average salary: $67,752.
- ESL Teacher: ESL (English as a second language) teachers instruct students in fundamental skills such as reading, writing, and speaking English. In addition, they may help newcomers to our country with customs and everyday-life questions. Average salary: $56,863.
These types of jobs are best for former teachers who:
- Enjoy working one-on-one or in small groups
- Are willing to accommodate the schedules of their clients
- Have experience differentiating their lessons for different learning styles
- Feel comfortable offering their knowledge and skills to guide others
The following companies hire tutors, mentors, and coaches.
Other Companies That Hire Former Teachers
Though many former teachers find jobs at education-related companies, they aren’t the only ones who hire those with education backgrounds. In fact, many corporations need instructional coaches, trainers, educational directors, and other jobs that require a background in teaching and learning. Some jobs former teachers might take on at many companies include:
- Educational Policy Expert: Be the change by becoming a policy expert, a person who has hands-on administrative experience with a desire to review and adjust policies within educational institutions. Average salary: $90,089.
- Community Director: Who better than a former teacher to organize and facilitate educational and athletic programs and events for kids? Average salary: $68,714.
- Corporate Trainer: Promote employee growth and development by training workers to develop their skills or create entire training programs used to teach and train employees. Average salary: $67,431.
- Education Manager: Work within a company or organization to facilitate teaching and learning activities, organize educational programs, obtain funding, and more. Average salary: $59,462.
- Disability Services Coordinator: Many companies and organizations support individuals with disabilities, helping them to live independently in the community. This can be a great job for those with SPED experience. Average salary: $52,311.
For jobs like these, look to organizations and companies such as:
Ready to move on from teaching? Don’t forget to grab our free resignation letter templates!
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