Are you a teacher who is feeling the itch for a new and exciting career change? If so, you're definitely not alone; many teachers find themselves at a crossroads at some point in their career. A recent study in England showed that record numbers of teachers in England were leaving the profession. This overview describes top jobs for ex teachers, which we'll go into more detail in throughout the article:
| 👷♀️Job Title | 💰Salary Range (UK) | 💪Required Skills and Training |
|---|---|---|
| Student Learning Support | £22,360 to £43,586 | Teaching experience, strong communication skills, Level 2 Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools |
| Private Tutoring | £21,699 to £68,164 | Teaching experience, subject knowledge, adaptability, no specific qualifications required |
| Publishing | £25,000 to £43,500 | Teaching experience, strong writing and editing abilities, familiarity with publishing software |
| Education Liaison Roles | £40,247 to £45,163 | Strong background in teaching, excellent communication skills, understanding of curriculum standards |
| Corporate Learning & Development | £25,000 to £42,975 | Communication and presentation skills, e-learning tools, LMS, virtual training platforms |
| Human Resources | £25,837 to £41,614 | Good communication skills, patience, degree in HR or business admin may be useful |
| Administration | £32,000 to £141,375 | Time management, teamwork, communication, customer service, proficiency in Microsoft Office |
| Youth Worker | £24,950 to £28,769 | Experience with children/teens, safeguarding knowledge, degree in Youth Work, Community Development, or Social Work |
| Academic Advisor | £27,803 to £45,000 | Communication, interpersonal, organisational, analytical skills, undergraduate degree |
| Museum Worker | £28,915 to £48,000 | Communication, creativity, relevant degree in fields like art history or ancient history (if needed) |
| Technical Writer | £26,264 to £73,914 | Writing and communication skills, ability to simplify complex info, degree in English or journalism (optional) |
| Career Coach | £18,000 to £41,500 | Communication skills, relationship-building, relevant coaching certificates (optional) |
| Teacher Trainer | £25,422 to £56,922 | Classroom experience, communication skills, familiarity with adult teaching, bachelor’s in education |
| SEND Consultant | £23,000 to £75,000 | Background in special education, bachelor’s/master’s in special education or educational psychology |
| Project Manager | £31,887 to £89,841 | Organisation, leadership, experience managing projects, problem-solving skills |
| Public Health Educator | £17,696 to £51,542 | Bachelor's degree, computer proficiency, knowledge of public health |
| Library Services | £23,702 to £26,525 | Bachelor's degree, IT systems knowledge, communication skills |
| Educational Consultant | £40,968 to £119,832 | Bachelor's degree, Experience in education, organisation skills, problem solving |
| Content Creator | £26,375 to £34,622 | Strong knowledge of English language, creative thinking, knowledge of content management systems |
| Corporate Trainer | £18,024 to £40,056 | Bachelor's degree, communication skills, organisation and planning skills. |
| Teaching Abroad | £12,500 to £44,300 | Bachelor's degree, Classroom experience, TEFL |
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1. Student Learning Support
For ex-teachers keen to stay within education, student learning support roles offer an opportunity to provide academic assistance and mentorship to students having trouble with their studies or coursework.
Generally, job options are easy to find, being offered in places like primary and secondary schools, tutoring centres, and even on online platforms.
🤑Average Salary
£22,360 - £43,586
🧰Needed skills
- Teaching experience
- communication skills
- curriculum expertise
👨🏭Desired training
Level 2 in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools.
2. Private Tutoring
For ex-teachers keen to stay within education, student learning support roles offer an opportunity to provide academic assistance and mentorship to students having trouble with their studies or coursework.
Generally, job options are easy to find, being offered in places like primary and secondary schools, tutoring centres, and even on online platforms. Right now, you can find out where to teach English online.
🤑Average Salary
£21,699 - £68,164
🧰Needed skills
- teaching experience
- subject knowledge
- adaptability
👨🏭Desired training
No specific qualifications required.
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3. Publishing
Private tutoring is a super flexible option for ex teachers, allowing them to tailor their teaching approach to each individual student's needs and requirements. As a tutor you can choose to work in person or remotely.
You are free to specialise in the subjects you most enjoy teaching.
🤑Average Salary
£25,000 - £43,500
🧰Needed skills
- teaching experience
- writing and editing skills
👨🏭Desired training
familiarity with publishing software
4. Education Liaison Roles
If you love teaching but want a less demanding role, a career in education liaison could be a fit. You’ll act as a bridge between publishers, educators, and schools to develop educational materials that are both fun and effective.
🤑Average Salary
£40,247 - £45,163
🧰Needed skills
- background in teaching
- communication skills
- knowledge of curriculum standards.
👨🏭Desired training
No specific qualifications required.
5. Corporate Learning and Development
Corporate learning and development roles allow former teachers to apply their skills in creating and delivering training for employees. Jobs after teaching in this field include trainers, instructional designers, and program managers.
🤑Average Salary
£25,000 to £42,975
🧰Needed skills
- communication skills
- presentation skills
- proficiency with e learning tools
👨🏭Desired training
LMS and virtual training platform
Hear more about the switch from primary school teacher to an instructional designer featuring former career technology teacher Patrice Isaac.
6. Human Resources
In human resources, you’ll be expected to put the skills you’ve learned in the classroom to the test by managing various aspects of an organisations or businesses workforce, including hiring, training and dealing with new and existing employees.
🤑Average Salary
£25,837 - £41,614
🧰Needed skills
- communication skills
- patience
- ability to remain calm under pressure
👨🏭Desired training
A degree in human resources or business administration.
Good interpersonal skills and enthusiasm are essential to motivate others, so they'll make the most of their skills in the workplace.
7. Administration
Administration jobs for ex-teachers are great to put their organisational skills to good use. In this position, you’ll be in charge of managing a company's finances, operations, or programs, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and efficiently.
🤑Average Salary
£32,000 - £141,375
🧰Needed skills
- time management skills
- communication skills
- teamwork oriented
- customer service abilities
👨🏭Desired training
Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs and other business platforms.
8. Youth Worker
Youth worker roles allow ex-teachers like you to make a positive impact on young people's lives by providing guidance, support, and mentoring in settings such as community centres, youth clubs, or residential homes.
🤑Average Salary
£24,950 - £28,769
🧰Needed skills
- experience of working with children
- knowledge of safeguarding practices
👨🏭Desired training
A degree in Youth Work, Community Development, or Social Work.
9. Academic Advisor
As an academic advisor, you’ll support students by offering advice on educational and career decisions. You'll help them choose courses and explore career opportunities, and guide them through their academic life.
One such example is Inspira, a careers advice and development organisation which provides guidance for teenage students in the North-West of England.
🤑Average Salary
£27,803 - £45,000
🧰Needed skills
- communication
- interpersonal
- analytical
- organisational
- problem-solving
👨🏭Desired training
Undergraduate degree
10. Museum Worker
Museum work is a great fit for ex teachers who love sharing their knowledge with others but want a more fun and visually stimulating environment to work in. Here, you’ll be able to create engaging experiences, putting your knowledge to work.
You'll create installations covering topics like art, history, science, and culture for visitors of all ages and walks of life.
🤑Average Salary
£28,915 - £48,000
🧰Needed skills
- communication
- creativite thinking
- ability to work independently
👨🏭Desired training
A relevant degree, like art or ancient history.
11. Technical Writer
Passionate about writing and tech? Then starting a new career as a technical writer might be just what you’re looking for. The bulk of your work will involve creating user manuals, how-to guides, and other forms of written content.
🤑Average Salary
£26,264 - £73,914
🧰Needed skills
- writing and communication skills
- subject knowledge
- research skills
- detail oriented
👨🏭Desired training
Degree in English or journalism
Build a portfolio as soon as possible.
Prospective clients will want to see samples of your work in print and/or online.
Having a selection of texts on a variety of subjects boosts your chances of hire.
12. Career Coach
Career Coaches use their expertise to help clients navigate the business world so they can achieve their career goals. For ex-teachers, being a career coach can feel natural as they will apply many of the skills gained through teaching, just in a new and exciting context.
🤑Average Salary
£18,000 - £41,500
🧰Needed skills
- communications
- interpersonal skills
👨🏭Desired training
Relevant certificates, such as the ones offered by the International Coach Federation (ICF).
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13. Teacher Trainer
Teacher trainers play a crucial role in preparing the next generation of educators. In this position, you'll design and deliver programs that help teachers build skills and stay current with the latest teaching tech and methods.
🤑Average Salary
£25,422 - £56,922
🧰Needed skills
- communication skills
- classroom experience
- experience with adult learners
👨🏭Desired training
A bachelor's degree in education
14. SEND Consultant
If you want to find a career related to supporting students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), becoming a SEND consultant might be your true calling.
In this role, you'll work with schools, families, and local authorities to ensure that every student gets the support they need to thrive.
🤑Average Salary
£23,000 - £75,000
🧰Needed skills
- communication
- problem-solving
- advocacy skills
👨🏭Desired training
- Background in special education
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in special education or educational psychology
15. Project Manager
If you’re the type of ex-teacher who has a knack for organisation and leadership, taking on a project manager job may suit you. You’ll be in charge of planning, executing, and overseeing various projects, making sure they’re completed on time and within budget.
🤑Average Salary
£31,887 - £89,841
🧰Needed skills
- leadership skills
- communication
- teamwork oriented
- Office Suite and other software
👨🏭Desired training
- At least a Bachelor's degree in the project's field.
- Relevant experience working on similar projects.
This is also a field where a portfolio helps sell your skills, particularly if the projects you led before were of a visual nature.
16. Public Health Educator
The COVID pandemic showed us how vital it is to have rational public health policies in place. More importantly, it revealed how crucial the need is for people who can reach and teach citizens about public health.
🤑Average Salary
£17,696 - £51,542
🧰Needed skills
- communication
- interpersonal skills
- computer proficiency
- teamwork oriented
- knowledge of public health trends, rules, and best practices
👨🏭Desired training
Bachelor's degree in public health, education, or a related field.
17. Library Services
These days, libraries are under threat. Political movements, lack of funding and the availability of information online puts these institutions in danger of disappearing altogether. Society needs visionaries who can return libraries to the centre of their communities.
To do so, these institutions must be reinvented, to update services and offer learning programmes in tune with the times.
🤑Average Salary
£23,702 - £26,525
🧰Needed skills
- communication
- teamwork oriented
- IT skills
👨🏭Desired training
Bachelor's degree, knowledge of information management.
In the UK, nearly 800 libraries have shut their doors since 2010.
This statistic shows a terrifying loss to communities around the country.
18. Educational Consultant
Educational consultants do the same work as academic advisors and learning support coaches, but on a broader scale. You'll still talk with students and parents about educational opportunities, but you'll also help them find suitable schools and prepare their application packages.
🤑Average Salary
£40,968 - £119,832
🧰Needed skills
- communication
- problem-solving
- goal-oriented
- organisation skills
👨🏭Desired training
- Minimum of a bachelor's degree in education counseling
- relevant experience in education.
19. Content Creator
This career is a lot like technical writing but it includes creative elements. For instance, this page presents factual information, but the layout is made engaging and the content is easy to digest. As a content creator, you will flex your research abilities while mastering the design skills to arrive at such results.
Beware that many content creators are independent contractors. These freelance positions might not offer the stability and steady paycheque you're looking for in jobs after teaching UK. On the other hand, it is satisfying work, and you're not attached to anyone's yoke!
🤑Average Salary
£26,375 - £34,622
🧰Needed skills
- research capabilities
- written communication
- creative thinking
- knowledge of content management systems (WordPress, Joomia, et al)
👨🏭Desired training
Bachelor's degree in English, journalism or marketing.
Relevant experience may substitute for educational requirements.
This career also demands a portfolio with a variety of web pages that showcase your skills.
20. Corporate Trainer
Corporate trainers come in several flavours. You might work for a firm's Resources department, training employees. Or, you could work for a continuing education firm that contracts with companies for employee and leadership development.
You don't necessarily need any business education, or to specialise in what that company produces. You might teach time management skills, leadership strategies, or give language lessons.
🤑Average Salary
£18,024 - £40,056
🧰Needed skills
- leadership traits
- communication
- organisation and planning
- time management
- teamwork
👨🏭Desired training
Bachelor's degree in education, business, or a related field.
21. Teaching Abroad
Granted, this career change doesn't take you out of the classroom. Still, being a 'foreign teacher' is an evolution - in your life and your teaching career. The demand for native English-speaking teachers is high, and your training and credentials make you the ideal candidate for the best schools.
🤑Average Salary
£12,500 - £44,300*
(depending on the country, school, and level taught.)
🧰Needed skills
- communication skills
- classroom management
- knowledge of English
- team oriented
👨🏭Desired training
Bachelor's degree, teaching certificate and classroom experience.
Despite being a native English speaker and a licensed teacher, you still need a TEFL (Teacher of English as a Foreign Language) certificate to teach abroad.
How Can I Retrain for a Career After Teaching?
Retraining for a career after teaching isn’t always a smooth process. Furthermore, finding well paid jobs after teaching UK is a challenge. You have two paths toward your new career:
😊What do I have?
- List skills, talents, experience
- Seek training to boosts your profile
- List industries where your skills are relevant
- Search for opportunities
- Application/interview cycles
😍What do I want?
- what do I want to do?
- What does it take to do it?
- What do I have that gets me there?
- What do I need, beyond what I have?
- How do I get it?
The standard approach (Option 1) is market-driven - what employers want from you. The other is you-driven: what do you want from the market? Deciding which path to follow depends on your circumstances and personal preferences. Whichever your decision, know that retraining for jobs after teaching abound.
Beware of walking away from teaching only to fall into a similar or worse work situation.
If possible, take this transition time to go after what you want.
You can always work interim jobs until you get where you want to be, professionally.
What Alternative Jobs for Teachers Exist?
In 2025, the public sector remains one of the UK's largest employers. Across all sectors, ex teachers find many areas to put their skills to good use. All in all, career options suited for teachers exist everywhere in the open market:
- social worker
- educational psychologist
- community education officer
- youth worker
- education administrator
- local government officer
- policy advisor
- careers advisor
- training and development officer
NHS Jobs for Teachers
Earlier, we touched on public health and the pandemic. That was just the tip of the iceberg that represents all the jobs our National Health Service (NHS) have open. Former teachers are uniquely qualify for many positions, but they will likely need additional training in medical terminology.
| 👩⚕️Position | 🧰Requirements | 💷Salary range |
|---|---|---|
| Work and Health Coach | Bachelor's degree or equivalent, strong report writing skills, teamwork oriented. | £29,970 - £36,483 |
| Learning and Development coordinator. | Bachelor's degree, communications, experience with curriculum design, some medical knowledge. | £33,289 - £47,529 |
| Educational Consultant | Bacherlor's or master's degree, knowledge of NHS system functions, communication skills, IT skills | £28,615 - £35,229 |
| Patient Education | Bachelor's degree or higher, communication skills, teamwork oriented. | £26,219 - £29,350 |
| Support Staff | Bachelor's degree or higher, computer skills - office suite and dedicated platforms, team-oriented. | £28,529 - £37,815 |
| Administrative Roles | Bachelor's degree or higher, organisational skills, leadership skills, team-oriented | £32,639 - £47,984 |
| Corporate Trainer | Master's degree or higher, knowledge of NHS systems, good communicator. | £39,953 - £86,285 |
| Human Resources and Sales | Bachelor degree or higher, good communicator, knowledge of NHS systems, team oriented | £31,326 - £44,568 |
Life After Teaching
It seems a shame to leave behind the career you aspired to and trained for. Even more so when you consider the investment you made: the time, effort and dedication to achieve all you pinned your hopes on. And then, to add insult to injury, you put in quite a bit of money, too.
A trap that dictates you've put too much in to walk away, so you must invest more.
This type of illogical thinking keeps people trapped in unsuitable situations, trying to wring more from their investment than there is to be had. But there's no shame in realising/admitting that your chosen path isn't serving you well.
The first step to moving on from teaching is forgiving yourself for making such an investment in good faith. You're a bit older now, and wiser. You know that some things matter more, like personal satisfaction and a well-balanced life.
The investment was never into your career. You invested into yourself.
Whatever you put into your teaching career, you've first put into yourself. You own the knowledge of your experiences, and everything you worked for. And, you own the papers - degrees, to prove it. Those go with you wherever you go, be it work in the private sector, or taking your adventure abroad.
This informative podcast helps teachers come to terms with walking away from teaching.
This popular platform is both a how-to guide to leaving teaching, and a source of inspiration. There, you'll hear from former teachers: their frustrations and disappointments, and their heavy hearts as they turned away. And then, they share their lightness of being, and their joy of doing, in their life after teaching. Who knows? One day, you too might narrate such a journey.
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Some common sense clearly laid out ideas
Thankyou
Enjoyable and informative reading. Best of it’s kind. I now feel more confident about a career after teaching! Thank you.
I am retiring after 30 years of law teaching can you advise what i could do part time ?
Hi Vincent! Thanks for getting in touch and congratulations on your retirement! Here are a few part-time opportunities you might consider:
1. Consulting:Leverage your legal expertise to offer consulting services to law firms, educational institutions, or organizations.
2. Adjunct Teaching: Teach part-time at a local university or community college. Your experience would be valuable to students.
3. Legal Writing: Write articles, create educational content, or work on legal publications and journals.
4. Volunteering: Get involved with organizations that focus on legal aid, education, or community service.
5. Mentoring: Offer mentoring services to young professionals or students in the legal field.
Consider what aspects of your career you enjoyed most and explore opportunities that align with those interests.
Best of luck!
Thank you, this was very insightful. I needed exactly this, today.
Hi Vanessa. Thanks so much for your valuable feedback. So glad to hear that you found this article useful! Best of luck! :)
This was helpful to read! Any advice as a new art teacher thinking of changing career paths?
We are glad you found the article helpful! 😊 As a new art teacher exploring a career change, consider fields where your creativity, teaching skills, and eye for detail can shine. Some options could be curriculum development, educational consulting, or even roles in creative industries like graphic design, museum education, or arts administration. Follow what inspires you, and remember that your teaching experience has equipped you with versatile skills! 🌟🎨