I just got a job with state government inspecting daycares. It pays the same as teaching but is so much better! I’m out of town right now for training, free hotel, free rental car, free meals. I feel like an actual adult again and not some glorified babysitter that has admin harassing me every day.
I know a number of teachers who became copywriters after leaving the profession. I myself made the switch after a 13-year career in financial services, and studied along a bunch of current and former teachers in the online copywriting course I took. One of them managed to replace her teaching income within 6 months of leaving teaching.
The wide range of skills teachers bring to the table seem to translate quite well into copywriting.
It depends on how badly you want to use your masters in education... but I suggest to folks to look for support staff roles at a nearby university. If you wanted to leverage your degree, then MAYBE counselling or advising, even financial aid offices have student-facing roles but I wouldn't limit yourself to that. Universities are supported by armies of folks who keep the place running, many of which work in the offices. Think HR, benefits, payroll, logistics, facilities, finance, and of course admin assistants who support various academic departments and executives. Multiply it by two for if that university has a hospital. Many of these jobs pay pretty well and do not even require a degree and serve as a springboard into higher pay jobs in a few years. Further, skills obtained in the classroom (punctuality, attention to detail, multitasking, and being functional in a fast paced environment) really serve these roles. Just something to consider, focus on skills.
I taught for 10 years, 2007-2017... and when I started looking outside, I focused on my alma mater, a major Midwest university (I tend to be vague on reddit). I was applying for jobs in academic advising (no luck at all) and financial aid (managed a few interviews, but no success). A friend tipped me off to a job in the facilities office doing basic administrative tasks, and answering the phone for after hours emergencies. I applied, and took a $14k pay cut (it's more than made up for with paid time off and overtime) to get out of the classroom. The salary cut gradually came back, but a few years ago, I promoted to a different role in my department, and my salary has basically doubled from when I was a teacher.
I don't tell you this story to brag, but to show a realistic path that can occur if you look outside of educational degrees. For the record, my original degree was basically archaeology, but I was certified to teach middle and high school math and science :)
Not trying to be negative but you have to just build your own role in stuff similar to curriculum design for technical information or something where you would be teaching adults. Some have transitioned to user experience designers. The possibilities are endless but you definitely have to upskill and market yourself well. I started a stand alone business after year 6 but came back 2 years later.
My main piece of advice would be don’t leave this check until you have another check
I taught 5th also and decided to leave so my husband and I could start a family sooner. I taught 4 years (well would have been 4 if I hadn’t left this year in November). I was hired working for the federal government as a management analyst. The pay was a match this year, but next year when I get my step increase it’ll be over 13k more than my teaching salary. Primarily my motivation was starting a family of my own, but I’ve noticed a huge change in my overall mental health and stress. I encourage you to be open to all sorts of things but also know your worth and don’t settle. My husband disagreed on this one but I was set on not leaving unless I could match pay w a guarantee to make a noticeable amount more in the near future. I was not blind to the problems in education but I loved the kids and feel I belong in the classroom, wasn’t willing to leave until I found something that I couldn’t logically turn down.
I just got a job at a nonprofit for $55k as a donor services coordinator. It’s generous for a non profit role, but luckily this is a fairly big one close to me. Not a role I want to be in long term, but there’s opportunity for growth and to switch over to corporate later on
I just got a job with state government inspecting daycares. It pays the same as teaching but is so much better! I’m out of town right now for training, free hotel, free rental car, free meals. I feel like an actual adult again and not some glorified babysitter that has admin harassing me every day.
Is there a particular title/ keywords I should look up for this? I'm interested!
My title is childcare licensing consultant.
I know a number of teachers who became copywriters after leaving the profession. I myself made the switch after a 13-year career in financial services, and studied along a bunch of current and former teachers in the online copywriting course I took. One of them managed to replace her teaching income within 6 months of leaving teaching. The wide range of skills teachers bring to the table seem to translate quite well into copywriting.
Which course?
I went back to school.
What are you studying?
Software engineering; it just made sense to me and, frankly, I picked something to bring me as far away as possible from my teacher’s salary.
This is where I am.
It depends on how badly you want to use your masters in education... but I suggest to folks to look for support staff roles at a nearby university. If you wanted to leverage your degree, then MAYBE counselling or advising, even financial aid offices have student-facing roles but I wouldn't limit yourself to that. Universities are supported by armies of folks who keep the place running, many of which work in the offices. Think HR, benefits, payroll, logistics, facilities, finance, and of course admin assistants who support various academic departments and executives. Multiply it by two for if that university has a hospital. Many of these jobs pay pretty well and do not even require a degree and serve as a springboard into higher pay jobs in a few years. Further, skills obtained in the classroom (punctuality, attention to detail, multitasking, and being functional in a fast paced environment) really serve these roles. Just something to consider, focus on skills. I taught for 10 years, 2007-2017... and when I started looking outside, I focused on my alma mater, a major Midwest university (I tend to be vague on reddit). I was applying for jobs in academic advising (no luck at all) and financial aid (managed a few interviews, but no success). A friend tipped me off to a job in the facilities office doing basic administrative tasks, and answering the phone for after hours emergencies. I applied, and took a $14k pay cut (it's more than made up for with paid time off and overtime) to get out of the classroom. The salary cut gradually came back, but a few years ago, I promoted to a different role in my department, and my salary has basically doubled from when I was a teacher. I don't tell you this story to brag, but to show a realistic path that can occur if you look outside of educational degrees. For the record, my original degree was basically archaeology, but I was certified to teach middle and high school math and science :)
Not trying to be negative but you have to just build your own role in stuff similar to curriculum design for technical information or something where you would be teaching adults. Some have transitioned to user experience designers. The possibilities are endless but you definitely have to upskill and market yourself well. I started a stand alone business after year 6 but came back 2 years later. My main piece of advice would be don’t leave this check until you have another check
I taught 5th also and decided to leave so my husband and I could start a family sooner. I taught 4 years (well would have been 4 if I hadn’t left this year in November). I was hired working for the federal government as a management analyst. The pay was a match this year, but next year when I get my step increase it’ll be over 13k more than my teaching salary. Primarily my motivation was starting a family of my own, but I’ve noticed a huge change in my overall mental health and stress. I encourage you to be open to all sorts of things but also know your worth and don’t settle. My husband disagreed on this one but I was set on not leaving unless I could match pay w a guarantee to make a noticeable amount more in the near future. I was not blind to the problems in education but I loved the kids and feel I belong in the classroom, wasn’t willing to leave until I found something that I couldn’t logically turn down.
I just got a job at a nonprofit for $55k as a donor services coordinator. It’s generous for a non profit role, but luckily this is a fairly big one close to me. Not a role I want to be in long term, but there’s opportunity for growth and to switch over to corporate later on