Life After Teaching: The Best Careers for Ex-teachers

Finding The Best Career after teaching

If you’re hoping to make this your last term in the classroom, one of the biggest hurdles is finding the best careers for ex-teachers. If you’re wondering why 1 in 3 teachers are leaving teaching in Australia within their first five years it probably has something to do with the fact that more than 60% of early career teachers feel they do not have a good work-life balance. 

Unlike us teachers, if you have never taught it might be hard to quite understand why teachers would put up with the crazy hours, horrible working conditions and pitiful career development opportunities. But there is something about watching a struggling student grow into a capable, confident person that keeps teachers in the classroom when no one else would do it. Teaching is a career that gives meaningful purpose to your life, and that is hard to replace. In fact that high is what kept me teaching for eight years before deciding that it wasn’t worth the stress, anxiety, and lack of respect. 

Leaving teaching will require a shift in mindset

One thing I will say is that when you are looking for a better work-life balance you will have to accept that these jobs may not be as “meaningful” as teaching. Even if you are working for an excellent company or not-for-profit, these alternative careers for teachers I have listed will not put you on the frontline so you do not get to reap the rewards of that warm and fuzzy feeling like you’ve made an impact. This means that shifting careers also means that a shift in mindset is crucial for success.

I focused on finding purpose and meaning outside of my work too, and that has really helped me with my work-life balance (if you’re wondering what a life outside of teaching looks like, read my post about what it has been like a year after leaving teaching). It also helps that you’re not putting all your eggs in one stress-filled basket. If you want to read more about my story and how I quit teaching you can read about it on my post How Quitting Teaching Drastically Improved The Quality Of My Life.

What you will find here:

If you are thinking that you are ready to make the switch, I’ve put together a list of careers for ex-teachers that would appreciate your wide range of skills you have developed while teaching (trust me, you have them!). I have included a list for each job outlining why teachers would excel in these positions. These are basically a list of talking points you can add to your cover letter or take with you into your job interview! Now onto the best careers for teachers…

Project Manager

What does a project manager do? 

Project managers are in charge of planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing projects. This is one of my favourite careers for ex-teachers as it involves so much of what we already do. Project managers are expected to deliver a project on time, within the budget, and brief while keeping everyone in the know and happy. A PRINCE2, PMP, or Agile Project Management certification is helpful to have for this. Many jobs list this as nice to have so that means it is not necessary.

The average annual salary for Project Manager jobs in Australia ranges from AUD$125,000 to $145,000 (Seek.com).

Teachers make good project managers because they:

• possess strong communication skills to effectively interact with various stakeholders.
• excel in organisation and planning to create detailed project plans.
• demonstrate leadership and motivation to guide and inspire team members.
• exhibit problem-solving abilities to address challenges.
• showcase adaptability and flexibility to handle uncertainties.
• excel in time management to meet deadlines.
• foster collaboration and teamwork.
• pay attention to detail for monitoring progress and identifying risks (think of every student you had to monitor or field trip you had to plan for!).

Human resources

What does a human resources staff member do?

This is a really great option if you’re a primary school teacher or a generalist. Human resources might sound boring, but there are so many opportunities in this sector. That is why it is the perfect career for an ex-teacher. Human resources looks after the hiring, induction, training, and ongoing support of staff in a company. That means there are so many different areas you could look into. If you wanted to still teach, you could look into training. If you’re a people person you might enjoy working in people and culture or recruitment.

When I first left teaching I worked in human resources for a school. I really enjoyed supporting teachers and helping other teachers succeed. It also gave me important insight into recruitment processes, pay negotiations, and contracts, which has been critically important in my personal career development. A Certificate IV in Training and Assessment is very helpful to have for training roles. You might have completed this already if you already teach senior school students.

The average annual salary for Training Coordinator jobs in Australia ranges from AUD$70,000 to $90,000 (Seek.com) and the average annual salary for People and Culture Adviser jobs in Australia ranges from AUD$85,000 to $100,000 (Seek.com).

Teachers make good HR assistants or managers because they:

• are used to working with sensitive information which is probably the most important factor in terms of success in this role. This role is not for you if you have ever said “political correctness has gone mad!” or you love to gossip at work.
• are accustomed to working with diverse groups of individuals, such as students, parents, and colleagues, and are skilled at building positive relationships and resolving conflicts. 
• possess empathy and emotional intelligence, allowing them to understand and address the needs and concerns of employees. 
• have experience in assessing individual performance and providing constructive feedback, which can be valuable in performance management processes. 
• are skilled at planning and organising activities, such as lessons and events, which can be applied to HR tasks such as organising training programs, workshops, and employee engagement initiatives (in my HR role I would plan monthly movie days!) 
• have the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, work collaboratively, and maintain confidentiality.

Publisher

What does a publisher do?

Publishers work with authors who are publishing learning materials. Every textbook or digital resource in your classroom probably went through a publisher at some point in time. This role is fantastic for teachers who have a strong understanding in a particular field such as maths, science, or humanities. The awesome thing about this role is that it pays well! There is usually some sort of bonus or commission depending on how well the books/materials that you release do.

The average annual salary for Publisher jobs in Australia ranges from AUD$75,000 to $95,000 (Seek.com).

Teachers make good publishers because they:

• have expertise in educational content development and their understanding of instructional needs. 
• possess a deep knowledge of curriculum standards, learning objectives, and pedagogical approaches, enabling them to create engaging and effective educational materials. 
• are skilled at breaking down complex concepts into accessible and structured formats, making them adept at writing and editing content for different grade levels and subject areas. 
• have experience in designing assessments, exercises, and activities that enhance student learning, and can apply these skills to develop comprehensive and well-organised educational resources (this is generally the role of the authors but it is important you know what authors are talking about and you can present the information clearly). 
• have a keen eye for detail and a commitment to quality, ensuring that published materials meet high standards. Their firsthand experience in the classroom gives them insights into the needs and interests of students, enabling them to create educational materials that are relevant, engaging, and impactful.

Instructional Designer

What does an instructional designer do?

An instructional designer is the lazy answer for teachers who want to leave the classroom. It is basically like teaching but you only have to work on planning and curriculum. This is why it is one of the go-to careers for ex-teachers. Plus, no classroom management is a huge bonus. It is important to note that this does not pay as well as teaching does in Australia so it is a disincentive to go into this field.

However, I see it as a great side-step if you are looking for a job outside the classroom you can feel confident applying to. It is also a job most universities consistently advertise for, so it is a great foot in the door if tertiary education is the sector you would like to move to.

The average annual salary for Instructional Designer jobs in Australia ranges from AUD$90,000 to $105,000 (Seek.com).

Teachers make good Instructional Designer because they:

• already possess a deep understanding of educational principles and pedagogical approaches. 
• are skilled at analysing learning needs, identifying objectives, and designing effective instructional strategies to meet those goals. 
• have experience in developing engaging and interactive learning materials, such as lesson plans, activities, and assessments, tailored to different learner needs and preferences. 
• have a strong grasp of curriculum design and can align instructional content with desired learning outcomes. 
• have firsthand knowledge of classroom dynamics, student engagement, and effective instructional techniques, enabling them to create learner-centred and impactful learning experiences. 

Event Planner

What does an event planner do?

If you’re a teacher, you’ve probably had to take on the responsibility of event planning some time in your career. Whether it be an annual art show, a school play, or a sports event, teachers are expected to do this job on top of their current duties (usually for a pittance stipend). However, did you know that could be your only responsibility? I know. It’s crazy. That is an actual job!

I didn’t know about this until I applied for a role in event planning for an edtech company and it dawned on me that I could get paid to travel and plan events for teachers. It didn’t end up being the thing I wanted to do, but I could totally see it being one of the perfect careers for ex-teachers who love to travel and get out and talk to people.

The average annual salary for Events Planner jobs in Australia ranges from AUD$65,000 to $75,000 (Seek.com).

Teachers make good event planners because they:

• have strong organisational and planning skills. 
• are already accustomed to classroom management, such as lessons, activities, and field trips, which requires meticulous attention to detail and effective scheduling. 
• are skilled at managing resources, budgeting, and ensuring smooth logistics, which are crucial aspects of event planning (I was the coordinator for the art department at a previous school so I used my experience maintaining the annual art budget for the classrooms and shows as an example in an interview) 
• are adept at communicating with different stakeholders, including students, parents, and colleagues, and can apply these interpersonal skills to collaborate with vendors, venues, and participants in event planning (think about every time you’ve had to liaise with art gallery staff, principals, parents, and other teachers to organise a field trip).
• possess creativity and problem-solving abilities, allowing them to design engaging and memorable events that align with the desired objectives and cater to the target audience. 
• have the ability to adapt to unforeseen circumstances and maintain a calm and organised demeanour makes them well-suited for the fast-paced and dynamic nature of event planning.

UI/UX Designer 

What does a UI/UX designer do?

This is my top choice for careers outside of teaching for current design/viscom teachers. A UI designer works on the aesthetics of a digital product like a website or app. A UX Designer works on the experience a user has when navigating that digital product (hence the name user experience design). You will be researching and designing user journeys. If you are a design, art, or visual communication design teacher this might be the role for you. You will need a portfolio of your work but this can be mockups you have made for yourself. It is really to show your understanding.

The average annual salary for User Experience Designer jobs in Australia ranges from AUD$105,000 to $125,000 (Seek.com).

Teachers make good UI/UX designers because they:

• (teachers with design backgrounds) already teach the design process and know it well. This is what most companies use when implementing new features.
• have experience using Adobe products. Adobe XD and Figma are the most popular products in the industry, so you already have the knowledge. Not sure about these tools? Figma is free so you could start learning it today!
• possess strong empathy and interpersonal skills, enabling them to empathise with users, gather feedback, and iterate designs based on user insights. 
• have attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and ability to adapt to diverse user needs make them well-suited for UI/UX design roles.

Data Analytics

What does a data analyst do?

Data analysts collect, record, and present data. If you’ve ever sat for hours making a pretty spreadsheet in excel and thought to yourself “this rulez”, then this might be the job for you! Most data analyst jobs require you to have excellent Excel and Tableau skills. If you have a background in maths, design, or computer science this might be something you can easily step into. There are also a lot of high paying jobs in this area so the sky is really the limit, making this one of the ideal careers for us teachers.

The average annual salary for Data Analyst jobs in Australia ranges from AUD$90,000 to $110,000 (Seek.com).

Teachers make good data analysts because they:

• often collect and analyse student data to assess learning outcomes and make data-informed instructional decisions. 
• are skilled at organising and interpreting data, identifying patterns, and drawing meaningful insights.
• have experience in using various tools and technologies to gather and analyse data, such as student assessment software or learning management systems. 
• have experience in communicating data findings to diverse audiences, such as administrators, parents, and colleagues, also translates well into effectively conveying insights derived from data analysis. 

Software Developer

What does a software developer do?

There are so many careers for ex-teachers with computer science or design backgrounds! A software developer is a goodie, as software developers write code to create or improve digital products (which is what you already teach!). This might be a new app or updating features for a website. If you’re interested in this role, I highly recommend asking to teach computer science at your school. I bet they don’t have enough teachers to fill that role. Ask them for professional development or have a look on Youtube if you want to learn in your own time.

Most interviews will require you to write code. It really doesn’t matter if you have a fancy degree on your CV. It matters how good you are at solving problems in real-time.

The average annual salary for Software Developer jobs in Australia ranges from AUD$90,000 to $110,000 (Seek.com).

Teachers make good software developers because they:

• (those who are teaching computer science probably) already have enough understanding in order to land a software developer role. 

• are skilled at breaking down complex concepts and designing logical sequences, which aligns with the process of writing code. 
• have a natural inclination for continuous learning and staying updated with new technologies, which is crucial in the fast-evolving field of software development
• often collaborate with diverse groups, such as students, parents, and colleagues, fostering strong teamwork and communication skills.

Change Management

What does a change manager do?

Last in my list of careers for teachers is a goodie. Change management prioritise change requests for company wide restructures, assess their impact, and accept or reject changes. They also document change management processes and change plans. Change management success is so dependent on good interpersonal skills, which makes this one of the ideal careers for ex-teachers. Understanding of current Change Management frameworks or Agile Project Management will be helpful for this one.

Teachers make good change managers because they:

• have experience in adapting and implementing new strategies and approaches within the classroom setting. 
• are skilled at navigating change, whether it be in curriculum updates, pedagogical shifts, or incorporating new technologies. 
• understand the importance of gaining buy-in and support from stakeholders, including students, parents, and colleagues, and can effectively communicate the benefits and rationale behind the change (think of every orientation or conference you held where there was a curriculum change you had to explain and defend).
• are also adept at assessing the impact of change, identifying potential challenges, and proactively addressing them through collaboration and problem-solving (teachers are masters at spreadsheets and documenting Every. Single. Thing.).
• possess strong interpersonal skills, empathy, and patience, allowing them to guide and support individuals through the change process, fostering a positive and productive environment for all involved.