Teachers are one of the most underpaid professionals of today’s society. They work hard to teach children, along with their parents, important goals for their future. But more and more are looking at alternative careers for teachers for opportunities to either supplement their income, or change their whole career path. Teacher burnout is real and has affected many teacher recently. However, the skills learned from an education degree, which teachers need, can also be used in other careers, or areas of interests. Many teachers can become a HR rep, or a life coach, or even a motivational speaker.
Whatever the job is, there is always room for learning new skills and moving up the education ladder. In this article, we will discuss 10 of the most common areas of interest that teachers seek employment in, outside teaching itself. These career opportunities will help expand knowledge, provide more experience, and increase the much needed salary of many teachers.
What Transferable Skills Do Teachers Have?
As a teacher and educator, there are a set of skills needed to get your message out; whether it is in front of a group of children, parents, or your own boss. You need to show that you have the knowledge to manage a classroom setting and create a sense of professionalism while teaching your kids. This is also true for those you are working along with teachers as well. Such as principals, consultants, counselors, and more. Here is a list of beneficial skills to acquire.
- Adaptability: the ability to quickly adjust to new conditions, situations or environments.
- Communication: exchange of information, whether through written or spoken language.
- Professionalism: showing competence, reliability, integrity, emotional intelligence, and respect for others.
- Emotional intelligence: understanding how to cope with stress, communicate to others, and build relationships.
- People management: training, motivating and directing employees to optimize their workplace.
- Multitasking: able to do several tasks at the same time.
- Problem-solving: implementing effective solutions to challeging situations.
- Public speaking: The art of communicating to an audience; by use of verbal and nonverbal cues. The use of both gestures and visuals are often used.
- Organization and time management: prioritizing time, creating effective goals, and eliminating clutter.
- Self-motivation: motivating yourself to achieve something all on your own, through one’s enthusiasm or interest.
Why Do Teachers Leave Teaching?
There may be several reasons why a teach leaves the classroom. Sometimes it’s family obligations, the work environment, low job satisfaction, personal development, and much more. Another reason is the drop in salaries over the past several years. Some may blame it on inflation, but it still impacts how teachers work and live to support their own families. Being in the same classroom year after year may be exhausting to some teachers and burnout may develop.
One reason is the overcrowded classroom of students that have occurred in America over the past couple of decades. According to a USNews report, statistics show that more than half of teachers work “unsustainable” hours, which tend to be well over 40 hours each week. Once the kids leave, they are still there, grading papers, well into the evening or on the weekends sometimes. So, there’s no surprise that over 40% of new teachers decide to quit within 5 years. If they don’t quit, then some at least consider it.
Do I Need a Master’s to Leave Teaching?
No, not necessarily. There are education jobs available to former teachers and educators who are looking for employment outside of the classroom. And most of them do not require a masters degree. In fact, if you worked in an early childhood position, say in a secoundary or intermediate school, then a Bachelors in Education would be enough. However, depending on the career path outside of teaching for which you are applying, you may still need a masters if you want to get promoted within that field. If you choose not to do the whole masters program, taking a few extra courses in a specific concentration can also help and be sufficient enough to get promoted in the field of interest.
1. Administration – Principal, Vice-Principal, Superintendent
Sometimes teachers have a calling to do more for the school for which they are employed at. Some feel that moving up the ladder, such as becoming a Vice-Principal, Principal, or even a Superintendent is where they see themselves as. If you strive to go onto the next level, then applying your skills to a career in Administration is where you should start. Depending on some factors, such as experience, location, etc, the jump to an administration role is not that difficult. In fact, the salary could also increase and provide more benefits than just an ordinary teacher. However, with all the benefits does come responsibilities.
Principals and superintendents are also in charge of operations, instruction, and the overall culture of the school and its district. Keep in mind, the average administrator will also carry a masters degree, or possibly a doctorate degree, depending on your state’s requirements. As a school administrator, the average salary is $101,000 per year, according to the BLS.
2. Testing Developer
Many people do not realize that it is the teachers that work to create high-quality standardize tests for students. These tests that teachers develop are to help students perform better, provide good learning outcomes, and expose students and teachers to where the students need to work on better, to become more successful for the future year. Each test can also have questions that may vary on the level of difficulty. As a test developer, you are more than likely need a higher learning degree, such as a masters degree. For the average test developer salary, expect to be paid around $65,000 annually.
3. Education Policy and Research
Although teaching children is often rewarding, affecting change on a larger scale can also be beneficial to teachers looking for ways to supplement their income or change careers within the education field. That is when a career in education policy and research comes in handy. Choosing this as one of the alternative careers for teachers can offer many benefits. Those working in this field will work among advocate groups, politicians, nonprofits, and much more. As an education policy expert, you will observe classrooms. You may also observe teacher involvement and other areas that may be addressed to better serve the community. Having knowledge of education law is a must. A basic four-year degree is needed for this career. However, some states may suggest going for a higher learning education. The average annual pay rate is about $53,000.
4. School Counseling
Not every teacher is fit for the classroom itself, where you are busy grading papers or creating homework assignments every week. So, they choose to become a school counselor instead. As one of the alternative careers for teachers, is offers many benefits. Depending where you live and the strength of your district, some school counselors may work only at one school at a time, or work in multiple schools throughout their district. School counselors may also work with teachers to evaluate learning and behavioral concerns of their students.
As a counselor, you may also have to call in parents for guidance and to find out if anything is going on at home. Especially if the child is acting out or causing interruptions in the classroom. This may be a sign of simply looking for attention, or something much worse; such as abuse or other issues that occur among kids. Most school counselors will need at least a master’s degree, and be licensed by the state for which you live in. The average school counselor salary is $60,140.
5. Career Counseling
For teachers that prefer to work with young adults that are about to graduate high school, then becoming a career counselor is another job or career path to take. As a career counselor, you learn to guide your students to the right career choices by determining their strengths and weaknesses in different areas of interests. Some career counselors will also work with freshmen students of a university or college. Like those still figuring out what their future career should be. Other career counselors may also work at career centers with other groups of counselors, or work at their own practice as well. Career counselors have an average salary of $60,000 per year; however, it may vary by state.
6. Education/Homeschool Consultant
Another interesting career within the education field is working as an education consultant. In this job, you don’t actually work with kids themselves, but work in the school offices or go to several schools in the district to educate principals, teachers, and other staff on how to help improve the instructional process of the children in the district. Sometimes, an education consultant may also have their own privately run offices, outside of the district.
Another similar title is homeschool consultant. As a homeschool educator, you may need to observe parents or small homeschool co-ops to help with teaching materials, supplies, and lesson plans appropriate for the group of students involved. Homeschool consultants may work independently, like a freelance provider, or work alongside a large educational consulting company. Both the education consultant or the homeschool consultant on average make a salary of $106,101 a year.
7. School Psychologist
This next career opportunity is similar to a school counselor; however, many school psychologist will require more extensive education, such as a doctorate degree. A state license is required as well as a doctorate degree. If you love shaping children’s minds and helping them learn and grow, then this the degree for you. The degree is for educators who are looking to transition out of the classroom and into a private practice career. This is also working more one on one with children and guiding them on the path of success. As a School Psychologist, you can expect to make approximately $60,000 per year.
8. Curriculum Representative/Salesperson
For this career path, you will need a bachelor’s degree; especially if you plan to work as a curriculum director. The curriculum representative position will allow someone to travel to different schools to interact with educators. They explain why the curriculum is the best fit for the school students and educators alike. As a representative for the company and curriculum, you will become an expert in your field and know the ins and outs of the curriculum you are selling. Curriculum salesmen, as they are often called, will make around $51,000 per year. This field is for educators who prefer not to work in the classroom, but rather bring a curriculum to the classroom itself. As a representative, you need to be confident in your work. You know how to convince people of your opinion and perspective, and have the ability to sell ice to a eskimo.
9. Curriculum/Instructional Design
As a Instructor, your job was to design the curriculum for your students, to show their needs and learning strengths. Each student learns at different paces and ways. So becoming a instructional designer is not far off from the job duties of a teacher itself. This career field as a curriculum designer and course planner is best suited for teachers and former educators who really know their subject area. Most curriculum design jobs also require at least a master’s degree in education. Median salary for this line of work will give the person approximately $62,000 per year.
10. Corporate Training
Corporate training requires at least a bachelor’s degree and may require a master’s degree. As a corporate trainer, you will develop training, work with employees, and help teach supervisors how to better train their employees. This degree is good for those wanting to move out of a classroom setting and work more with higher learning educators. As a educator, you will learn how to capture peoples attention as well. People in this career field may also work at a single location or may have to travel for work as a corporate trainer. As a corporate trainer, you can expect to earn about $56,000 per year.