A general perception is that educators in America are overworked and underpaid, and to be honest; it is essentially correct. Regardless of how much teachers love their work, they commonly report experiencing burnout and financial stress. However, you would be surprised to know that many alternative career pathways in education offer competitive pay in a low-stress environment.
If education is your field of interest, but you are looking for something less demanding that offers better financial growth than teaching, here are six alternative careers in education you can consider opting for:
Six Alternative Career Options in the Field of Education
- Instructional Manager
Instructional managers oversee the development of teaching materials and maintain teaching standards in elementary and secondary schools, ensuring they align with state requirements.
They work closely with teachers, school principals, and other administrative staff to create and organize instructional materials and assess their impact. In addition, they select district-wide textbooks and make crucial decisions regarding the curriculum. An instructional manager may need an administrator’s license to work in public schools.
The minimum education requirement for this role is Masters in Education (MED) with a major in Curriculum and Instruction. The program teaches you education philosophies and trains you in the art of developing a curriculum. Besides, if you are already working as an educator and want to switch careers, then you can opt to pursue an online master of education in curriculum and instruction offered by a reputed university or college. By studying online, you can easily complete your degree at your own pace while working full-time.
- Private Tutor
For some people, managing a classroom becomes more difficult than teaching. Understandably, handling many children with varying personalities and capabilities by yourself can be quite a challenge. So what should you do if you still want to continue teaching and increase your income?
The perfect career switch for you is to become a private tutor. Fortunately, private tutors are in high demand as parents realize that all children have different needs, and some require one-on-one attention to excel. Additionally, many parents today prefer homeschooling children to help them develop a more balanced viewpoint.
As a private tutor, you can keep doing what you love, i.e., teaching, without dealing with the classroom’s chaos. While at the same time, since you get to work with children individually, they get your undivided attention, allowing you to tailor your teaching techniques according to each child. Plus, with the high demand and specialized nature of work, the income of a private tutor is pretty decent.
- School Administrator
Another alternative career option in education for educators is finding a role in the administration. Administrative positions are available in every school and college, from coordinators and supervisors to principals and superintendents. In the administration department, the work is not only great but also has roles offering high pay.
In an administrative role, especially in a senior position, you must perform several daily tasks. From supervising classes and extra-curricular, handling parents’ concerns, looking into disciplinary issues, managing teachers and staff, arranging events, and mediating disputes, you will never know which hat you’ll have to sport on any given day.
A job in administration is rewarding, and there are also plenty of opportunities available in this department, especially for former teachers with first-hand experience managing classroom issues. In an administrative role, you can make a real difference for students and make sure their school or college experience is fond and memorable.
- School Counselor
For educators who enjoy spending time with children but dislike grading, transitioning into a role as a school counselor can be an excellent fit.
As a school counselor, you may work at a single school or divide your time among several schools within your district. You’ll interact with students, provide guidance on challenges they’re experiencing at school and at home, and assess students for learning and behavioral differences. Moreover, in this job role, you’ll communicate with parents, keep them up-to-date on their child’s progress, and collaborate with teachers to help them address the needs of their students. You may also occasionally work directly in classrooms, engaging students in group discussions on personal and social issues.
- Homeschool Consultant
If you’re seeking alternative career options within the education field, consider becoming a homeschool consultant. As a homeschool consultant, you can assist in delivering an excellent education to children, even though you are not responsible for direct instruction. Your primary role is to work with parents or small groups of homeschoolers to refine the educational process. It may involve observing parents during their teaching sessions with kids, assisting in lesson planning and curriculum development, and guiding parents through the assessment process to ensure their children meet learning objectives. Homeschool consultants may work as freelancers or serve in an educational consulting company.
- Preschool Director
For teachers who enjoy working with young children but do not want to teach in a traditional classroom setting, transitioning to a role as a preschool director can be an excellent career option. As a preschool director, you will support teachers, interact with students, foster relationships with parents, and set objectives for the preschool.
Although some preschool director positions only require a bachelor’s degree, many demand a master’s or doctorate.
- Life Coach
If you’re a teacher who loves to assist others but wants an alternative to classroom teaching, consider working as a life coach. As a life coach, you can form encouraging and positive relationships with different individuals.
As a life coach, you have various work options available. You can establish your own life coaching agency if you’re a self-starter. Many individuals entering life coaching start their businesses while working full-time in another position. Alternatively, you may choose to work with a life coaching agency. No matter which path you take, you’ll work closely with people, assisting them in setting and accomplishing their objectives.
Final Words
With the right mindset and skills, you can make a great living in the field of education by opting for a career in any of the above areas. Education is a diverse field that encompasses much more than just teaching children. So figure out what you want to do and follow the path most suits you.
