For teachers, making a career pivot can seem daunting, given that their education and experience are very specialized, and may not seem applicable to other industries. As a vocation and not just a job, many teachers heavily identify with their profession, and oftentimes overlook the highly transferable skills that they’ve acquired.
However, the truth is that teaching requires a huge amount of skill in a variety of areas, and it’s their capacity as both generalists and specialists that makes former teachers so hireable. So if you’re a teacher looking for inspiration for the next in your career, you’re in the right place. This list of alternative careers for former teachers can help you find a new purpose for your in-demand skills.
Is It Easy for a Former Teacher To Find Another Job?
Yes. Teachers develop many skills during their careers that are transferable to other industries and areas of professionalism. From organizational and management skills to excellent interpersonal and communicative abilities, teachers are highly employable and can find success in many different roles.
15 Best Jobs for Former Teachers To Consider
Here are 15 great roles and career paths for former teachers to consider moving into.
Sales Representative
Sales might seem a long way from teaching, but there’s actually a lot of overlap in the communication skills used for both jobs.
Role and Responsibilities
- Serving customers by selling relevant products and services
- Conducting customer research and finding new leads
- Managing existing customer accounts
Average Salary
Sales representatives can expect to earn an average of $63,403 per year in the U.S.
Essential Skills
The communicative skills teachers develop during their career transfer well to sales. Just as teachers present themselves as trustworthy figure and adapt their approach based on the needs of each student, sales representatives must develop their approach around each customer and build trust to make a sale.
Related Read: 21 Sales Representative Skills to Start & Grow Your Career
Where to Start
While strong verbal and communication skills are essential in sales, most jobs rely on training rather than talent. Sales cycles, research, and strategies can be studied at online sales bootcamps that aim to prepare beginners for a new job in the sales industry.
School Administrator
Administrative jobs require deep knowledge of an organization and how it runs, and former teachers already have a good grasp on the inner workings of a public school or private school.
Role and Responsibilities
- Coordinating administrative processes (staff, students, food, etc.)
- Managing budgets and events
- Taking calls from parents and guardians
Average Salary
The average salary for a school administrator in the U.S. is $57,953.
Essential Skills
The school administrator is often the point of contact between schools and parents, so being personable and passionate about education is an important part of the job. The organization skills required are also not unlike those needed by a teacher.
Where to Start
As a former teacher, you already have a number of skills and a lot of relevant experience connected to the job. To supplement this, we recommend earning some administrative certifications in Microsoft Office, typing, or project management.
EdTech Developer
As an EdTech Developer, which is a subset of software engineering, former teachers have the opportunity to combine their existing knowledge with a new skill.
Role and Responsibilities
- Designing and implementing new educational technologies and teaching materials
- Keeping up to date with educational research
- Developing new and effective systems for optimal comprehension and retention
Average Salary
Software engineers (including EdTech developers) can earn an average salary of $93,846 in the U.S.
Essential Skills
By taking the knowledge and soft skills gained from hands-on teaching experience in a traditional classroom, former teachers can approach the development of new EdTech software from a user-focused perspective.
Where to Start
There are many ways to learn how to code and develop software, with a popular option being online coding bootcamps. Students can benefit from 1:1 support and flexible schedules, allowing them to become job-ready in a matter of months.
Writer
Using their experience in crafting clear and engaging writing, teachers can become great freelance writers.
Role and Responsibilities
- Creating clear and engaging copy for a variety of purposes
- Researching writing topics and explaining complex concepts
- Liaising with clients or colleagues to create the best possible end product
Average Salary
Writer salaries vary but Indeed places the average salary at $59,186 a year.
Essential Skills
Both teaching and writing require communicative skills, primarily the ability to express ideas with clarity and accuracy. Keeping your reader engaged is also necessary, much like keeping a student engaged in a class.
Where to Start
If you want to improve your writing skills, there are many online classes and certifications to look into. Otherwise, creating a portfolio of written pieces to show to prospective employees is a great place to start.
Event Planner
Teachers develop impressive planning and organizational skills when developing lesson plans, which can be applied to many other kinds of projects.
Role and Responsibilities
- Designing and planning events according to a customer brief
- Liaising with clients and working together to develop solutions
- Solving problems and managing events on-site
Average Salary
Event planners can work in many industries, but average salaries are around $53,582.
Essential Skills
Organizational skills are essential for any event planner, alongside creativity and communication skills. Teachers have plenty of experience in planning and tailoring classes for individual classes, and plenty of communication skills to help design events with clients.
Where to Start
Event planner relies heavily on their personal network, so finding online and in-person communities is an important first step. Developing a portfolio by offering your services to friends and acquaintances will also help you develop your skills and gain experience.
Digital Marketer
Similar to sales, communications skills gained through teaching can also be used for marketing roles.
Role and Responsibilities
- Planning digital marketing campaigns on social media and email
- Maintaining social media accounts and creating uploads schedules
- Collecting data on marketing campaigns
Average Salary
Digital marketing is important in various industries, and salaries average at around $58,551.
Essential Skills
Digital marketers need to connect with users through social media and other digital means, which requires demographic research and communication skills. Strong knowledge of current trends and social media platforms is also necessary.
Where to Start
Useful certifications for digital marketers include SEO training, social media scheduling, and certifications in advertising.
Project Manager
Management skills are in demand in a variety of industries, and teachers can develop these fundamental skills by managing the education of students and the students themselves.
Role and Responsibilities
- Establishing and maintaining processes for managing project teams and progress
- Developing relationships with third-party contributors and clients
- Assigning and monitoring project resources for maximum efficiency
Average Salary
Project managers are valued professionals, and earn an average of $77,434 per year.
Essential Skills
Project managers need to be able to look at the bigger picture, and plan long-term projects. Teachers gain experience with this through developing and implementing curriculums that they follow over a long period of time.
Where to Start
Special courses at universities, schools, and online exist that focus on project management. Certifications in leadership skills can also be useful.
Social Worker
Much like teaching, being a social worker necessitates working with children and vulnerable individuals, and requires a personable and understanding attitude.
Role and Responsibilities
- Visiting clients and assessing their needs
- Providing appropriate resources, care, and administrative help to claim benefits
- Assisting with court cases and appeals
Average Salary
Social workers in the U.S. are generally paid a median salary of $62,135.
Essential Skills
School teachers generally gain some experience working with social workers during their careers. These situations can be delicate, and require patience, empathy, and understanding.
Where to Start
Some administrative certifications can help bolster your resume for a social working role, but personality and interview skills are more important when looking for social work. A background working with children can also be beneficial.
Education Consultant
Stepping away from teaching doesn’t have to mean stepping away from the education field entirely. After working within the education system, former teachers are in a great position to help to improve it.
Role and Responsibilities
- Analyzing the curriculum, educational programs, teacher performances, and student results of an entire school, university, or community college
- Designing and delivering workshops to help improve lessons and admin processes
- Working as a corporate trainer to instruct staff in dealing with students with extra needs
Average Salary
Education Consultants can earn an average of $63,449 per year.
Essential Skills
An in-depth understanding of educational systems is essential, as well as up-to-date knowledge of leading educational strategies and models. Former teachers will also put their teaching skills to use to train staff in new teaching principles.
Where to Start
Many educational consultants work for firms, so joining a consulting firm can be a good place to start. Former teachers already have a lot of relevant knowledge and experience for a consultant role, but it’s good to have a personal statement about why you want to move into this section of the industry.
Data Analyst
As well as focusing on existing experience, former teachers can also learn a completely new skill and enter a new industry.
Role and Responsibilities
- Collecting and wrangling large data sets for analysis
- Deriving new and actionable insights from analyzed data
- Presenting results to stakeholders and decision-makers within a company
Average Salary
Data analysts earn an average of $66,075 per year, with ample opportunity for growth.
Essential Skills
Knowledge of databases, SQL, and Python is necessary to become a data analyst. The most transferable skill from a teaching career would be the presentation skills needed to share their findings.
Where to Start
Online courses and bootcamps in data analytics are a popular and increasingly acknowledged form of education in this area. By enrolling in a bootcamp, students can learn from experienced industry professionals and progress towards their first job at an accelerated pace.
Customer Success Manager
Other potential career options using existing interpersonal skills include working in the customer experience sector.
Role and Responsibilities
- Analyzing data and processes to improve the customer experience
- Liaising and supporting long-term clients to ensure satisfaction
- Upselling services and products
Average Salary
The median salary for a customer success manager is around $54,878.
Essential Skills
Communication and interpersonal skills are important parts of the job. Sales, marketing, and management are also important skills that most employers will expect candidates to have experience and certification in.
Where to Start
In addition to these certifications, background and education in sales can also be relevant for this role. Sales bootcamps can help prepare beginner-level students for a job in sales and customer liaison in a matter of months.
Entrepreneur
They say anyone can become an entrepreneur with enough motivation, and teachers are no exception.
Role and Responsibilities
- Developing new ideas and business models
- Setting up the beginnings of a business or new operation
- Leading a team, solving problems, supervising sales, marketing, development, and more
Average Salary
The salary of an entrepreneur depends on the success of their ideas but Indeed shows that they make an average salary of $65,328.
Essential Skills
Entrepreneurs are generally self-starting and motivated individuals. They are driven by their ideas and have the communication and interpersonal skills to sell those ideas to others and bring them on board.
Where to Start
Entrepreneurialism starts with an idea and a network of people. After developing a business model and pitch, you’ll need to find talent to help develop and implement your ideas and backers to invest in the business.
Fundraising Manager
For those who enjoy giving back to the community of their school district, working for nonprofit or charitable organizations is a potential alternative.
Role and Responsibilities
- Finding and managing donors and rants for a nonprofit organization
- Developing and implementing donation campaigns
- Budgeting incoming and outgoing funds
Average Salary
Fundraising managers earn an average salary of $52,204 in the U.S.
Essential Skills
There are no specific qualifications required to become a fundraising manager, but passion for the cause and good communication skills are important. As the person in charge of the money, those who rely on the charity are directly affected by your efforts.
Where to Start
To get into the nonprofit industry, it can be a good idea to take part in volunteer projects and start to build a network. For fundraising managers, certification in money management software can also be a good idea.
Public Relations Specialist
Working with businesses and organizations to maintain a public image and communicate successfully is another line of work for those with excellent communication skills.
Role and Responsibilities
- Writing press releases for the media
- Evaluating promotional content to ensure it’s compatible with the brand’s identity
- Helping clients communicate effectively with the public
Average Salary
Depending on the client, public relations specialists can earn varying amounts. A typical salary in the U.S. is around $67,560.
Essential Skills
Communicative skills are essential for public relations professionals who focus on relaying information clearly and accurately.
Where to Start
Public relations specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in a relevant field, such as communications or social science.
Realtor
Another potential area in the sales industry is real estate.
Role and Responsibilities
- Gathering client information on preferences, financial situation, and locations of interest
- Guiding clients through the buying process and advising during negotiations
- Presenting properties to clients
Average Salary
Realtors can earn a respectable salary in the U.S., averaging $98,545.
Essential Skills
Interpersonal skills are an important part of the role, as realtors need to build trust to complete a sale. Organizational skills are also relevant, as realtors manage multiple clients and properties at a time.
Where to Start
An education in sales can be useful for this role, either from a college or an online bootcamp. Personality and charisma are important parts of the package, so interview skills are helpful.
FAQs About The Best Jobs For Former Teachers
Here are some frequently asked questions on career changes as a former teacher.
Is It Easy To Work Remotely as a Former Teacher?
Yes. There are plenty of career choices available to former teachers that allow you to draw on your existing skills while working remotely. For example, many roles in writing, consulting, tutoring, and editing are often carried out remotely.
What Are Some Companies That Are Actively Hiring Former Teachers?
There are many companies out there hiring former teachers, including firms with sales departments and organizations in the private education sector. Former teachers also have job opportunities with companies like Udemy or Coursera to create and post an educational course on an area of expertise for users to take online.
