Top Alternative Jobs for Teachers

People often seek a teaching degree for a variety of reasons. Some are motivated by a desire to work in the classroom and make an impact on students’ lives, while others are driven by a passion for learning and a deep interest in education. In addition to teaching in a classroom, graduates with a teaching degree can apply the skills they were taught in their teaching program to other kinds of jobs. A teaching graduate’s transferable skills can be used in a diverse range of industries and work settings, so there may be jobs for teachers outside of education. Whether you’re interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education or if you’re ready to apply to a master’s or doctoral program, most degrees in education will teach important competencies that can be transferred to a variety of industries.

In This Article:

• Transferable Skills Acquired From an Education Degree
• Alternative Jobs for Teachers in Education
• Alternative Jobs for Teachers Outside of Education
• Explore Alternative Career Opportunities

Transferable Skills Acquired From an Education Degree

Transferable skills are those that aren’t only useful in one specific industry or occupation but rather can be helpful in a wide range of career paths.

Here are some transferable skills that teachers may possess:¹

• Problem-solving and decision-making 
• Communication and collaboration
• Time management
• Emotional intelligence
• Organization
• Adaptability

Alternative Jobs for Teachers in Education

Other than teaching in a classroom, professionals with a teaching degree (and licensure) may have many opportunities to put their education and skills to good use. They can find work in the extended field of education programs.

A career pivot may also be interesting to teachers who have worked in the classroom and are ready to try something new. The experience they have as educators is often valued by and transferable to many different education-related ventures in curriculum and instruction. While a degree in education may not lead to the following positions, the skills taught within an education degree may be transferable to each of the positions. It is also important to conduct research on these roles as some of them may require a graduate degree.

To find more jobs for teachers outside of education, consider the following careers for education majors:

1. Write Curriculum or Instructional Coordination

Education graduates and experienced teachers may possess skills that can be applied to a career in curriculum writing.² A curriculum writer or an instructional coordinator is responsible for developing various learning materials, activities and instructional guides. Alternatively, they may be tasked to create new programs in emerging subjects such as social-emotional skills, mindfulness and career readiness.

Curriculum writers may create educational materials including:

• Lesson plans
• Teacher guides
• Assessment items
• Video scripts for lessons
• Games workbooks

This role may be right for teachers who enjoy developing curriculum and want to use their knowledge to work with a large number of students and teachers.

2. Educational Policy, Administration and Top Executive

Other jobs for teachers may include careers in shaping educational policy.² Professionals in this field investigate and communicate the impact that policies and other forms of legislation would have on students and teachers.

They collect research to use in their recommendations and write briefs on key issues in education. A degree related to education is important in this area since an educational policy expert must be just that — an expert. Studying teaching practices and pedagogy can be an invaluable first step toward a career in this field.

3. Admissions or Career Counselor

Generally, people who complete a teaching degree program care about education and want students to feel the same passion for their own fields of study. This can make working as a college admissions counselor a potentially rewarding alternative for teachers who enjoy getting to know students’ strengths, needs and interests.³

Admissions counselors help potential and incoming college students make decisions about their educational path. They can help students decide what to major in or which classes to take. Admissions counselors may also help students find extra help or become familiar with the resources available on campus.

4. Training and Development or Tutoring

Education graduates who like to teach but prefer a non-classroom environment may enjoy the flexibility involved in training or tutoring.² These roles often provide additional assistance to students or groups of students in a variety of subject areas. By being able to train and help develop people within various subjects, it can be a valuable skill to utilize.

Tutoring can take place in the student’s home, the tutor’s home or a designated tutoring center. For many, tutoring can provide a more adaptable learning environment in which the teaching style can be modified to fit the preferences and cognitive styles of the individual student and tutor.

5. Educational Consultant

There are several types of educational consultants. For example, an educational consultant may work with a school system on improvements or help special needs families navigate the education system. Some educational consultants focus on helping students and families choose schools.⁴

Families may not necessarily be education program experts and may need help in understanding all their options. Graduates with teaching degrees can choose to work as school choice consultants to help them make personalized decisions about college admissions and career goals.⁴

School choice consultants first get to know the students, including what they want and need from a college education. They then use their information and training to make appropriate recommendations.⁴

Alternative Jobs for Teachers Outside of Education

Teachers typically have many transferable skills. The work they do requires emotional intelligence, flexibility, communication and problem-solving.¹ These transferable skills can translate well to a variety of jobs for teachers outside of education. 

Some other jobs for teachers include the following:

1. Instructional Designer

Instructional designers use their understanding of how learners best acquire knowledge to create training programs, classes and sessions within their desired curriculum. Many instructional designers work closely with the human resources team to ensure effective onboarding and training of new and existing employees.Teachers and teaching degree graduates may have enough experience designing lessons and units to transition to a career as an instructional designer.²

2. Careers for Education Majors in Sales

Teaching graduates who have excellent interpersonal skills may find sales to be a rewarding career.² There are different possible paths within sales that a former teacher might consider.

For instance, you could consider becoming an educational sales representative. This would involve selling educational supplies, remote learning tools, technology, consulting services and so on to schools. Or, you might consider becoming a sales manager for a company that sells a wide range of products or services, not necessarily focused on the education field.²

3. Life Coach

Life coaches help people work through challenges in their lives. They may help individuals make healthier choices or counsel them through overwhelming times. They can help clients become better organized or more fully equipped to lead an authentic life. Educators are often excellent listeners and helpers, which naturally make them great coaches.

Life coaches seek to develop a strong rapport with their clients to help them achieve the best results. Teaching degree graduates can use the interpersonal and communication skills they were taught in their degree program to pursue life coaching.³

4. Entrepreneur

Teachers can make excellent entrepreneurs if they are strongly motivated to succeed.⁵ Teachers who have a hobby or skill can monetize that effort and start their own business. A teacher who loves to sew may start making and selling clothing, for example. A teacher who enjoys coding might decide to launch an app startup.

Entrepreneurs are responsible for developing business models and plans, securing funding and overseeing every aspect of the company (at least, initially). While educators may use their talents to form a side business, experience with marketing, sales, product development and more may also be required.

5. Editor

Becoming an editor is another alternative career that a former teacher may pursue, especially teachers who specialize in writing, English or reading.² Editing can be particularly well-suited to someone who enjoys language and, in particular, likes to improve language. Editors may work on anything from book manuscripts to advertising campaigns to journal articles.

6. Freelance Writer

Many teachers might find a writing career to be a good fit since teaching jobs often require strong writing skills. Former teachers might pursue writing jobs at newspapers, magazines and advertising and marketing agencies.³ As a freelance writer, you might have your own writing business and be responsible for finding your own clients, producing all the work and managing your business’ finances and daily operations.

Explore Alternative Career Opportunities 

Many alternative jobs for teachers can be pursued with just a bachelor’s degree and perhaps some work experience. However, others may either require additional credentials or be easier to pursue with more education. For example, some education consulting firms might require their educational consultants to hold a master’s degree.⁴

At Grand Canyon University, you can choose from a wide range of master’s degree programs — both in the education field and beyond. You’ll be taught core competencies in your chosen field that are immediately applicable, and you may find that you can pursue your career transition with greater confidence.

If you earn your teaching degree and ultimately decide that classroom teaching is not the career for you, there are still plenty of options. When you enroll in the College of Education at Grand Canyon University, you will have the support of your peers and professors as you find the right career path.