The 10 Best Jobs for Former Teachers

In a 2020 survey by the National Education Association, 55% of educators said they’re considering leaving teaching earlier than they’d planned.

Pandemic fatigue and staff shortages have put a lot of strain on educators over the past few years. Now, many teachers are considering pursuing different career paths — some with their teaching degrees and others with more specialized certificates or advanced degrees.

So what are these jobs exactly? Here are our picks for the top 10 jobs for former teachers.

Want to advance within the field of education? Then consider becoming an education administrator. You can pursue work as a principal and supervise an elementary, middle, or high school. Alternatively, you can become a superintendent and manage an entire school district.

These professionals focus on creating an effective learning environment for students. Though administrators work mostly at the macro level, they also have some hands-on responsibilities at schools. For example, you might observe and evaluate teachers and organize budgets.

To become an education administrator, you’ll typically need a master’s degree in education administration, a master of public administration, or an advanced degree in a related subject.

Corporate training is all about educating workers, making it one of the top jobs for former teachers. These professionals oversee employee training, from managing training budgets to creating training programs.

Training and development managers often work in corporate and tech settings but may work at places like healthcare facilities and nonprofits.

To become a manager, you’ll normally need a bachelor’s and relevant work experience or a master’s in training and development, human resources, public administration, or business administration.

As an education consultant, you can put your teaching skills to work in a broader capacity.

These professionals advise schools or school districts on a specific topic area. For example, a consultant specializing in technology might guide schools on how they can integrate technology into their curricula.

Some education consultants work for education companies, helping to design classroom products and tools. Many consultants are self-employed and work on multiple projects at once.

You must typically have a bachelor’s degree in education or a related field.

Prefer to work in higher ed? Then consider becoming a college education administrator. In this role, you’ll oversee student services, faculty research, and all things related to academics.

You can work in a variety of departments, including student affairs, admissions, and the registrar’s office — at both public and private colleges and universities. Some administrators even take on leadership roles as academic deans and provosts.

While some postsecondary education administrator positions are available to those with just a bachelor’s degree, you’ll often need a master’s in higher education administration or public administration to qualify. For an executive role, such as dean or provost, you may need a doctorate.

Many museums offer educational programs, which may feature activities like performing science experiments, hosting art workshops, and running summer camps for children.

A museum education director coordinates these education programs and departments. Common duties may include preparing lesson plans and developing new educational programs, making it a great job for former teachers.

While you may be able to land a role as a museum director with only a bachelor’s degree and several years of teaching experience, some museums prefer you to have a master’s degree in education, museum studies, or a related field.

Successful HR managers have several of the same skills as teachers. They work with people daily, handling employee relations and conflicts — just as teachers do in the classroom with students. As an HR manager, you must understand the importance of communication and interpersonal skills.

HR managers perform various functions, including figuring out how to best use employees’ skills in a company, overseeing benefits and hiring, and addressing staffing issues.

To become an HR manager, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree and several years of related experience. A master’s in human resources, business administration, or public administration can make you a more desirable candidate.

Instructional coordinators — sometimes called curriculum specialists — set teaching and curriculum standards for schools and districts.

These professionals develop and implement general curriculum plans and evaluate their effectiveness. Teaching plans must prepare students to meet federal, state, and local benchmarks.

In general, you need a master’s in education or curriculum design to become an instructional coordinator — often in addition to getting state licensure. Check your state’s board of education to learn more about licensing requirements.

Education policy analysts typically work for nonprofits, think tanks, lobbies, and government organizations with the aim to help shape and improve the public school system. Common duties include researching how education policies affect students and how educators can improve them.

Most education policy analyst positions require you to have a master’s in education, public policy, or child development.

If you still want to help students succeed (just not as a teacher), you might be interested in becoming a school or career counselor.

School counselors often work with students who have behavioral, mental, or emotional conditions that impact their ability to learn and do homework. Career counselors, in contrast, help high school and college students decide what career to pursue after graduation.

To become a counselor, you usually need a master’s in school counseling or educational psychology. You may also need to obtain a license, depending on your state.

Project managers oversee projects for large corporations, nonprofits, government agencies, healthcare organizations, and educational facilities. Typical responsibilities include strategizing and planning, supervising employees, setting deadlines, securing resources, and outlining budgets.

Project management can be a great job for former teachers. After all, teachers must know how to manage many moving parts in their classrooms! The most effective project managers are highly organized and skillful communicators.

Editor’s note: The salary numbers in this piece are sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) or Payscale, while the growth rate projections are from the BLS.