Jobs for Former Teachers (2026)
The closest match on transferable skills is Psychiatric Technician, paying a median of $45,130 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) with +20.0% projected employment change over 2024–2034. Below are 30 destinations ranked by how much of your existing skill set they reuse and how much hiring demand they carry.
Leaving a career you trained for is not a failure of nerve, and you are not starting from zero. The work already built explaining difficult things clearly, planning a term of work in advance, assessing progress, and holding a room of thirty people together. Those are O*NET-recorded skills that other occupations pay for. What follows is not encouragement; it is the data, including the destinations that pay less than you might expect.
- Destinations ranked
- 30
- Median pay
- $88,240
- Projected to grow
- 30 of 30
- Openings a year
- 1,229,900
By skill overlap and demand
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Combined, BLS EP
How this list was built
- Careers that reuse what K–12 teachers already do: explaining, planning, assessing and managing groups. Ranked by transferable-skill overlap and projected demand.
- Skill overlap is the cosine similarity between two O*NET transferable-skill vectors: things like social perceptiveness, coordination, instructing and complex problem solving. A high overlap means the day-to-day capabilities carry across; it does not mean an employer will hire you without a conversation about it.
- Demand is BLS projected growth and annual openings for the destination occupation. A good skill match into a shrinking occupation is not a good move, so both count.
- Licences and credentials are not modelled. Some destinations below need one, and each career page states the typical entry requirement.
The top 30 careers to move into
- 95% skill overlap
1. Psychiatric Technician
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $45,130
- Growth
- +20.0%
- Openings/yr
- 15,900
- Education
- Certificate
Reuses 95% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 15,900 openings a year.
Care for individuals with mental or emotional conditions or disabilities, following the instructions of physicians or other health practitioners.
Psychiatric Technician salary & outlook → - 97% skill overlap
2. Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary
Educational Instruction and Library
- Median pay
- $80,250
- Growth
- +16.8%
- Openings/yr
- 8,600
- Education
- Doctorate
Reuses 97% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 8,600 openings a year.
Demonstrate and teach patient care in classroom and clinical units to nursing students.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
- 94% skill overlap
3. Occupational Therapy Assistant
Healthcare Support
- Median pay
- $72,300
- Growth
- +19.2%
- Openings/yr
- 7,200
- Education
- Associate's
Reuses 94% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 7,200 openings a year.
Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
- 92% skill overlap
4. Nurse Practitioner
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $132,300
- Growth
- +40.1%
- Openings/yr
- 29,500
- Education
- Master's
Reuses 92% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 29,500 openings a year.
Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team.
Nurse Practitioner salary & outlook → - 94% skill overlap
5. Health Specialties Teacher, Postsecondary
Educational Instruction and Library
- Median pay
- $107,310
- Growth
- +17.3%
- Openings/yr
- 27,400
- Education
- Doctorate
Reuses 94% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 27,400 openings a year.
Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.
Health Specialties Teacher, Postsecondary salary & outlook → - 92% skill overlap
6. Physician Assistant
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $135,880
- Growth
- +20.4%
- Openings/yr
- 12,000
- Education
- Master's
Reuses 92% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 12,000 openings a year.
Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician.
Physician Assistant salary & outlook → - 95% skill overlap
7. Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor
Community and Social Service
- Median pay
- $60,320
- Growth
- +10.4%
- Openings/yr
- 104,400
- Education
- N/A
Reuses 95% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 104,400 openings a year.
Counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
- 92% skill overlap
8. Financial Examiner
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $94,160
- Growth
- +18.5%
- Openings/yr
- 5,700
- Education
- Bachelor's
Reuses 92% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 5,700 openings a year.
Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
- 88% skill overlap
9. Medical and Health Services Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $123,860
- Growth
- +23.2%
- Openings/yr
- 62,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Reuses 88% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 62,100 openings a year.
Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.
Medical and Health Services Manager salary & outlook → - 90% skill overlap
10. Business Intelligence Analyst
Computer and Mathematical
- Median pay
- $120,230
- Growth
- +33.5%
- Openings/yr
- 23,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Reuses 90% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 23,400 openings a year.
Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports.
Business Intelligence Analyst salary & outlook → - 96% skill overlap
11. Training and Development Specialist
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $69,280
- Growth
- +10.8%
- Openings/yr
- 43,900
- Education
- Bachelor's
Reuses 96% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 43,900 openings a year.
Design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance.
Training and Development Specialist salary & outlook → - 95% skill overlap
12. Occupational Therapist
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $100,330
- Growth
- +13.8%
- Openings/yr
- 10,200
- Education
- Master's
Reuses 95% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 10,200 openings a year.
Assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays.
Occupational Therapist salary & outlook → - 97% skill overlap
13. Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $97,550
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings/yr
- 189,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Reuses 97% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 189,100 openings a year.
Assess, diagnose, and treat individuals and families with mental health or substance use disorders or the potential for such disorders.
Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse salary & outlook → - 95% skill overlap
14. Low Vision Therapist, Orientation and Mobility Specialist, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapist
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $100,330
- Growth
- +13.8%
- Openings/yr
- 10,200
- Education
- Master's
Reuses 95% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 10,200 openings a year.
Provide therapy to patients with visual impairments to improve their functioning in daily life activities.
Low Vision Therapist, Orientation and Mobility Specialist, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapist salary & outlook → - 88% skill overlap
15. Physical Therapist Assistant
Healthcare Support
- Median pay
- $68,380
- Growth
- +22.0%
- Openings/yr
- 19,800
- Education
- Associate's
Reuses 88% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 19,800 openings a year.
Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
- 96% skill overlap
16. Community Health Worker
Community and Social Service
- Median pay
- $51,850
- Growth
- +11.3%
- Openings/yr
- 7,800
- Education
- High school
Reuses 96% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 7,800 openings a year.
Promote health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
- 96% skill overlap
17. Clinical Psychologist
Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Median pay
- $100,580
- Growth
- +11.2%
- Openings/yr
- 4,800
- Education
- Doctorate
Reuses 96% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 4,800 openings a year.
Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
- 90% skill overlap
18. Financial Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $166,570
- Growth
- +14.8%
- Openings/yr
- 74,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Reuses 90% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 74,600 openings a year.
Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.
Financial Manager salary & outlook → - 91% skill overlap
19. Medical Assistant
Healthcare Support
- Median pay
- $45,690
- Growth
- +12.5%
- Openings/yr
- 112,300
- Education
- Certificate
Reuses 91% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 112,300 openings a year.
Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician.
Medical Assistant salary & outlook → - 92% skill overlap
20. Speech-Language Pathologist
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $97,870
- Growth
- +15.0%
- Openings/yr
- 13,300
- Education
- Master's
Reuses 92% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 13,300 openings a year.
Assess and treat persons with speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders.
Speech-Language Pathologist salary & outlook → - 96% skill overlap
21. Human Resources Specialist
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $75,940
- Growth
- +6.2%
- Openings/yr
- 81,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Reuses 96% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 81,800 openings a year.
Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization.
Human Resources Specialist salary & outlook → - 94% skill overlap
22. Marriage and Family Therapist
Community and Social Service
- Median pay
- $66,940
- Growth
- +12.6%
- Openings/yr
- 7,700
- Education
- Master's
Reuses 94% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 7,700 openings a year.
Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
- 95% skill overlap
23. Art Therapist
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $77,930
- Growth
- +11.5%
- Openings/yr
- 4,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Reuses 95% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 4,100 openings a year.
Plan or conduct art therapy sessions or programs to improve clients' physical, cognitive, or emotional well-being.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
- 89% skill overlap
24. Logistician
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $82,320
- Growth
- +16.7%
- Openings/yr
- 26,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Reuses 89% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 26,400 openings a year.
Analyze and coordinate the ongoing logistical functions of a firm or organization.
Logistician salary & outlook → - 95% skill overlap
25. Music Therapist
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $77,930
- Growth
- +11.5%
- Openings/yr
- 4,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Reuses 95% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 4,100 openings a year.
Plan, organize, direct, or assess clinical and evidenced-based music therapy interventions to positively influence individuals' physical, psychological, cognitive, or behavioral status.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
- 90% skill overlap
26. Massage Therapist
Healthcare Support
- Median pay
- $58,450
- Growth
- +15.4%
- Openings/yr
- 24,700
- Education
- Certificate
Reuses 90% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 24,700 openings a year.
Perform therapeutic massages of soft tissues and joints.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
- 92% skill overlap
27. Mental Health Counselor
Community and Social Service
- Median pay
- $60,320
- Growth
- +10.4%
- Openings/yr
- 104,400
- Education
- N/A
Reuses 92% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 104,400 openings a year.
Counsel and advise individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health, with an emphasis on prevention.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
- 89% skill overlap
28. Investment Fund Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $166,570
- Growth
- +14.8%
- Openings/yr
- 74,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Reuses 89% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 74,600 openings a year.
Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.
Investment Fund Manager salary & outlook → - 96% skill overlap
29. Compliance Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Growth
- +4.5%
- Openings/yr
- 106,700
- Education
- Bachelor's
Reuses 96% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 106,700 openings a year.
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
- 94% skill overlap
30. Physical Therapist
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $102,760
- Growth
- +10.9%
- Openings/yr
- 13,200
- Education
- Doctorate
Reuses 94% of the transferable skills O*NET records for teachers, and BLS projects 13,200 openings a year.
Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.
Physical Therapist salary & outlook →
Jobs for Former Teachers: FAQ
What jobs can former teachers do?
Ranked by transferable-skill overlap and projected demand, the closest match in the NueCareer bank is Psychiatric Technician at $45,130 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +20.0% projected employment change over 2024–2034. The full list below covers 30 occupations, 30 of which are projected to grow.
How were these career changes ranked?
Each occupation in the bank carries an O*NET transferable-skill vector. We take the cosine overlap between that vector and the skill vector of the occupation you are leaving, then combine it with the destination's projected growth and annual openings. Careers that reuse what K–12 teachers already do: explaining, planning, assessing and managing groups. Ranked by transferable-skill overlap and projected demand.
Do former teachers take a pay cut when they switch?
That depends entirely on where you land. Across these 30 destinations the middle occupation pays $88,240 a year, with a range of $45,130 to $166,570 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). For reference, the median across all US occupations is $50,980. Every card below shows the real median so you can compare against what you earn now.
Do you need to go back to school?
Not necessarily: 4 of the 30 destinations have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree (BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034). Each card shows the requirement so you can filter by what you are willing to retrain for.