Top 20 best jobs for former teachers if you’re looking for a new career path as an educator

When it comes to careers, the classroom doesn’t have to be the end of the road for educators. It can be just the start of a thrilling journey filled with endless possibilities. There are many top-notch jobs for former teachers available, and we’re here to help you narrow down your options. From shaping education curricula to leading corporate training sessions, you’ll quickly find yourself embarking on a new adventure when you choose to start a new career path as a former educator. 

In this guide, we will learn more about the top 20 jobs for former teachers and what it takes to get started in those roles. Here’s what we will cover:

• How to leave teaching and jump into another career

• Top 20 jobs former teachers will excel in

How to leave teaching and jump into another career

Before you can start a new career, it’s first important to learn how to leave teaching and wrap your mind around jumping onto another career path. Here are a few tips that can help you through that process.

• Start with self-reflection. The first step in the process is taking a look at your career goals, your strengths and passions, and your skills. You should also consider what it was about teaching you loved and what new challenges you most want to pursue.

• Research each role you are interested in. You should consider the various industries and roles that appeal to you most and gain insight into the typical work you would be doing. Consider attending networking events and reviewing online sources to get more information about each role.

• Take your skills into account. Some skills you have as a teacher include communication, problem-solving, leadership, and organization, among others. Understanding what your skills are can help you determine which job aligns best with your experience.

• Consider professional development. If you are interested in a career path that requires more skills than what you currently have, secondary education or professional development sessions might be necessary.

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Top 20 jobs former teachers will excel in

One of the great things about being an educator is that you have a large number of transferable skills and experience in your corner. If you are ready to put those to work for you, be sure to check out some of these top jobs for former teachers.

1. Adult education instructor

Leaving the field of education behind completely is not always necessary. Sometimes, finding a new career could mean shifting to an adult setting versus an elementary or high school setting. Some of the jobs you could consider as an adult education instructor include ESL or GED preparation, personal or professional development, and vocational training. Curriculum development, classroom management, and support services for adult education facilities are also great career options for former teachers.

2. Career counselor

As a career counselor, you will help others learn more about their desired careers and how to be successful in them. You may find yourself teaching goal-setting tactics or helping students write and refine their resumes and cover letters. Teaching interviewing techniques as well as supporting students who are transitioning into new careers are also common duties of a career counselor.

3. Community outreach coordinator

For those who want to help out their community, this role could be the best fit. It involves engaging and serving the community by implementing outreach programs. That may involve community engagement activities, partnering with businesses to improve the community, or even planning programs that address community needs.

4. Corporate trainer

If you’re ready to jump into the corporate world, a corporate trainer is a fantastic option for former teachers. It allows you to put your teaching skills to work for you while training employees of an organization. Most corporate trainers have complete control of the training process, from training needs analysis and curriculum development to employee onboarding and more. In this role, you will become an instrumental part of a company’s success because you will be responsible for shaping the future of the workforce.

5. Curriculum developer

Taking a step back from actively teaching while still being involved in education is possible when you are a curriculum developer. In this role, you will create resources, instructional plans, and educational materials that support both teachers and learning. This could include designing new curricula, creating instructional materials, or performing assessments of current curricula.

6. Education writer

As an education writer, you will use your experience and knowledge of the education industry to research and write content for teachers, parents, students, and the general public. This content could be related to various aspects of education and be useful in helping to shape education as a whole. In this role, you may find yourself interviewing key members of the education industry, fact-checking information, and finding new ways to engage with your audience.

7. Education consultant

When education facilities are looking to improve their programs and outcomes, they turn to education consultants for guidance. When considering this career path, build your skills for education analysis, strategic planning, and curriculum development. You may also need to gain experience related to compliance and policy development and research and development. An education consultant supports organizations, schools, and other educators.

8. Education technology specialist

If you love integrating technology into educational settings, the education technology specialist role may be perfect for you. Not only will you have an opportunity to build the technology of the future, but you will also be able to teach others how to use and appreciate the capabilities that come along with it. You’ll also be able to ensure the organization’s technology continues working properly and effectively.

9. Entrepreneur

As an entrepreneur with a background in education, you will already have access to many of the skills needed to be successful. Entrepreneurs need to be adaptable and be critical thinkers with organizational with leadership experience. These are all skills you’ve likely developed as an educator. You will also understand how to work with others and how to lead a team to success. Plus, thanks to your diverse skill set, you can work in a variety of industries and sectors.

10. Government educational liaison

There is always a need for someone to bridge the gap between government entities and educational institutions. In this role, your job is to communicate, collaborate, and partner with education stakeholders and government agencies. This may be done on the federal, state, or even local levels. Some of the roles you may take on in this position include policy advocacy, policy analysis, grant writing, and community engagement.

11. Guidance counselor

For those looking for a way to work with students without being an educator, a school counselor is a great option. This role could involve providing academic advising services, career and college counseling, and personal or social development. Above all, a guidance counselor is there to help students achieve greatness regardless of their set of limitations or personal goals.

12. Human resources training and development specialist

Since you already have teaching skills in your toolbox, becoming a training specialist may be a great option. To be successful in this position, you will need to understand how to design and implement training programs for employees within an organization. This involves discovering the training needs of an organization, developing a training program, and analyzing the results. This role is also typically responsible for conducting new employee orientation and training.

13. Instructional materials reviewer

Evaluating educational materials and resources to ensure quality is crucial to the success of an educational organization. That’s why an instructional materials reviewer is such an important part of the education process. This job involves reviewing the content of instructional materials, aligning that content with the standards that are in place, removing biases and stereotypes, and providing feedback and recommendations for future material.

14. Librarian

Librarians may work in a school setting, but they could also work with the general public. It will be your job to promote literacy, provide access to information, offer reference assistance, and ensure library materials are cataloged and protected. You may also be involved in planning programs and events for the community, such as summer reading programs and professional development sessions.

15. Museum educator

If you love history and teaching it to others, becoming a museum educator may be right up your alley. You’ll be responsible for developing educational programs and activities that are aligned with artifacts and exhibits found in the museum. Community outreach programs, education activities and events, and storytelling are also usually big parts of being a museum educator. The ultimate goal of most museum educators is to help the community develop a desire for lifelong learning.

16. Researcher

As a researcher, you could be employed in a variety of establishments. While some jobs are strictly in an education organization, others are found in the public sector. Researchers are all about asking questions and designing studies that test their theories. You will need to have skills related to collecting and analyzing data, generating findings, and literature reviews and publications. You will also need to know how to apply your research findings to real-world problems and policies.

17. School administrator

School administrators are an important part of educational success, though they don’t work in a direct teaching or education role. In this role, you will oversee the day-to-day operations of a school while working to promote student success. This could involve strategic planning, budget management, personnel management, and curriculum development. You will also oversee student support services and school operations related to transportation, parent engagement, and community engagement.

18. Special education advocate

When working with special education programs, experience related to educational rights, IEPs, and assessment and evaluation of students is necessary. It will be your job as a special education advocate to support students with disabilities and their families by providing educational support and guidance. Your goal as an advocate is to help families find the tools needed to help their students be successful regardless of their limitations.

19. Student coordinator

As a student coordinator, you will likely work within a school to oversee various aspects of student affairs and programs. Your exact duties can vary depending on the institution and your role, but you will likely be in charge of planning student activities and programs, offering support to students, providing orientation programs for new students, and developing student success initiatives. In this role, you will be looking for ways to enhance a student’s experience and foster engagement and success among a school’s students.

20. Tutor or academic coach

When students are struggling, a tutor or academic coach can help give them the individualized attention they need to be successful. One reason this is a great job for former teachers is because you have the skills needed to know how to help support a student’s understanding of academic subjects. Plus, you can work in either a school setting or a private one. 

There are numerous jobs for former teachers out there, and when you find the best fit, our job search strategy tool can make the search for the best role easy.

Key takeaways

1. There are diverse career opportunities available for former educators that go beyond a traditional classroom setting.

2. Former teachers have many transferable skills that make them ideal candidates for many roles outside of education.

3. When looking for the best jobs for former teachers, keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to explore unique careers.