Jobs for former teachers
Jobs and careers for former teachers,
including remote ones.
Leaving teaching doesn't mean leaving your skills behind. Companies pay well for people who can explain, plan, train and manage a room. Here are the best jobs for former teachers, which ones you can do from home, how to translate your experience for a new employer, and the option of building your own path.
Free · No card needed · Results in a few minutes
You're not starting over
What former teachers bring to a new career.
Years in the classroom build skills many companies struggle to find: explaining complex ideas simply, designing learning that works, managing groups, handling difficult conversations with parents, and juggling dozens of deadlines at once.
The challenge is rarely your ability. It's knowing which careers value those skills, and describing them in words employers recognize. This guide covers both.
Career options
12 of the best jobs for former teachers.
Roles marked "Remote-friendly" are often available as work-from-home or hybrid positions.
1. Instructional designer
Design training courses and e-learning for companies, universities and training providers. Probably the most natural move for teachers.
2. Corporate trainer
Teach employees new skills, systems and processes. Corporate training jobs for former teachers often sit in HR or Learning and Development teams.
3. Curriculum developer
Write and structure learning material for education publishers, ed-tech companies and training providers.
4. Customer success and onboarding
Help customers learn and get value from a product, especially in education technology. Teaching, under another name.
5. Ed-tech sales and account management
Sell education products to schools and districts. Former teachers are trusted because they've been the customer.
6. Sales and product enablement
Train sales and support teams on products and processes. A well-paid corner of corporate training.
7. Learning and development specialist
Plan employee development programs, onboarding and leadership training inside a company.
8. Education writer and editor
Write, edit and review educational content, textbooks, assessments and articles.
9. Academic advisor or admissions
Guide students through programs and applications at colleges, universities and private schools.
10. Recruiter or HR specialist
Use your people skills in hiring, onboarding and employee support.
11. Online tutor or online teacher
Keep teaching, but on your own terms, through online schools, tutoring companies or your own clients.
12. Program or project manager
Run education programs, training projects or community initiatives for nonprofits, museums and public agencies.
Where to look
Types of companies that hire former teachers.
Education technology
Learning apps, school software and online learning platforms need people who understand classrooms.
Corporate L&D teams
Mid-size and large companies with training, onboarding and development programs.
Publishers and content companies
Textbook, assessment and educational content publishers.
Training providers
Companies that deliver courses, certifications and workshops to other businesses.
Nonprofits and museums
Education programs, community outreach and visitor learning.
Colleges and universities
Advising, admissions, student support and online program teams.
Your CV and LinkedIn
How to translate teaching experience into words employers use.
Hiring managers outside education may not see what "differentiated instruction" means for their business. Rewrite your experience in their language:
- Lesson planning becomes instructional design and content development
- Classroom management becomes group facilitation and stakeholder management
- Differentiated instruction becomes tailoring training to different audiences
- Parent conferences become client communication and difficult conversations
- Grading and student data become assessment design and data-driven decisions
- Running the school year becomes project management with fixed deadlines
Work from home
Remote jobs for former teachers.
If working from home is a priority, focus your search on these roles:
Often remote or hybrid
- Instructional designer
- Curriculum developer
- Customer success and onboarding
- Ed-tech sales and enablement
- Education writer and editor
- Online tutor or online teacher
Usually on-site, at least partly
- Corporate trainer delivering in-person sessions
- Academic advisor and admissions
- Museum and nonprofit education programs
- Some HR and recruiting roles
Step by step
How to move from teaching to a new career.
Map your skills
Find the skills you'd most like to keep using. The free career assessment shows which ones people would pay for.
Choose one or two target roles
From the list above. Applying for everything makes your CV look unfocused.
Rewrite your CV and LinkedIn
In the language of your target role, using the translations above.
Build one proof piece
A short e-learning sample, a training outline or a writing sample. Proof beats a cover letter.
Talk to former teachers
Find people on LinkedIn who made the same move. Most are happy to share how they did it.
Start with step 1 today
Find out which of your skills people would pay for. Free, in a few minutes.
Another option
Or build a path of your own.
Not every former teacher wants a new employer. Some turn their teaching skill into a business: private tutoring, online courses for adults, education consulting for parents, or corporate workshops sold directly to companies.
It's a bigger step, but it's the one that gives you control over your time and income. Many start it as a side hustle while still teaching. See our guide to side hustles for teachers, or read about freelance side hustles for experienced professionals.
Silvio Paiva · Founder, The 40s Reset
Who wrote this
Why I wrote this guide.
I'm not a teacher. I spent over two decades in enterprise B2B tech sales and consulting, the corporate world where roles like training, customer success and sales enablement live.
I built The 40s Reset to help experienced professionals, teachers included, see the value in what they already know and take it somewhere new.
Free career assessment
You're not starting over. You're starting from experience.
Find out which of your skills people would pay for, who needs them, and which path could suit you best.
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Questions
Jobs for former teachers: common questions.
What jobs can former teachers do?
Instructional design, corporate training, curriculum development, customer success, ed-tech sales, sales enablement, learning and development, education writing, academic advising, recruiting, online teaching and program management are all common moves.
What are the best remote jobs for former teachers?
Instructional design, curriculum development, customer success, ed-tech sales and enablement, education writing and online teaching are often available as remote or hybrid roles.
What companies hire former teachers?
Education technology companies, corporate learning and development teams, publishers, training providers, nonprofits, museums, and colleges and universities all regularly hire former teachers.
How do I get a corporate training job as a former teacher?
Rewrite your CV in corporate language, prepare a short sample training session or outline, and connect with trainers and L&D managers on LinkedIn, especially people who were teachers themselves.
Do I need a new degree to leave teaching?
Usually not. For most roles, a focused CV and one proof piece matter more. A short certificate can help for instructional design, but it's rarely required.
Can I start my own business instead of finding a new job?
Yes. Tutoring, online courses, education consulting and corporate workshops are all businesses built on teaching skills. Many former teachers start them as side hustles before leaving.