Best Jobs for Former Maths and Science Teachers!

Jobs For Former Maths and Science Teachers

Former maths and science teachers have an incredible number of transferable skills- sadly, I can't relate as I was always more of a writing and reading person at school and hated anything that involved numbers and inputting data. If you're good at problem-solving, identifying trends and analysing data, then you'll likely transition well into a number of different roles outside of the classroom. I've found the best job roles- and you don't need to be a maths or science whizz to apply to them, either.

Here's my list of top jobs for former maths and science teachers:

1. Data Analyst

If you enjoy working with numbers and analysing data, then being a Data Analyst could be a solid career pivot. As a teacher, you'll likely have experience inputting data into spreadsheets, assessing students by looking at results and finding commonalties between students etc. Data Analysts can be paid well, depending on your location- with salaries between £28K-£100k in the UK, depending on level of experience. In the US, entry level salaries range between $65k-$85k- again, this depends largely on experience and location.

What does a Data Analyst do?

• Collects data

• Interprets data

• Makes informed decisions based on data

• Notices trends

• Communicates findings through using presentation or reports.

When applying for Data Analyst roles, make sure that your transferable skills as an ex-maths or science teacher come across in your resume.

To be an excellent Data Analyst, you must translate teaching into business/data language, not just say "I can analyse data effectively." How can you do that?

For example, you could write on your CV:

• Analysed student data to identify learning gaps, informing targeted curriculum changes that improved outcomes such as....xyz

• Applied statistical reasoning to interpret results and communicate findings.

  
  

  If you want more ideas with reframing your resume so that it sounds more corporate, you can purchase my very reasonable Resume Guide here.

How do you become a Data Analyst?...

A strong starting point is to take a course such as the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate. It's self-paced, meaning that you can take your time whilst simultaneously teaching.  At under 10 hours per week, you can complete the certificate in less than 6 months.

The Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate covers:

• Spreadsheets

• SQL

• Data visualisation

• Real-world case studies.

  
  

  It's $49 per month, and once completed, you can directly apply for jobs with Google and employers including Deloitte, and of course, Google. View the certificate here.

2. Management Consultant

Management Consultants are a popular choice for ex-maths and science teachers.

A Management Consultant's role involves improving how a company works, analysing data and often helping a business change direction. Salaries vary, but largely these types of roles pay well. Entry level roles range from £32k-£45k, and in the US entry level salaries range from between $90K-$120K, depending on location and your experience.

How do you become a Management Consultant?...

If you're interested in this field, then this course- Management Consulting Specialisation, takes around 4 weeks to complete at around 10 hours per week. You can start at any time and fit it around work or family life- there are no fixed times you need to complete the course or deadlines. View the Management Consulting Specialisation here.

Another course for stepping into a Management Consultant role, which is highly relevant and is one of the top-rated courses on Coursera, is The Google Project Management Certificate course. If you're good at being self-motivated, organised, an excellent communicator and able to delegate tasks efficiently, then Google is offering its certification program via Coursera. It consists of six courses at a pace of around 8-10 hours a week. A big pro is also that the course is self-paced, so if you're teaching full-time than you can complete the certification program as and when it suits you- there's no need to rush through the modules. This program also qualifies you for over 100 hours of project management education. View the certification course here.

I also recommend researching using LinkedIn and looking up employees who are in the role you want to be in, to see what their core role entails, and to research the types of companies you want to be applying for. For more tips on LinkedIn and how to update your profile to suit new roles, I've got you covered in my post below:

• How Former Teachers Can Use LinkedIn to Land Their Next Career

3. Sustainability Coordinator/Officer/Manager

   
   

Sustainability Coordinators help organisations implement and manage programmes that reduce environmental and social impact. If you’ve ever taught science, guided pupils through projects, tracked progress, or helped them understand complex systems, you already have many of the same skills. If you enjoy sustainability and having a real impact on the environment, then this role could also be of interest. Ex-Science teachers often transition successfully into sustainability and ESG roles. Sustainability Coordinator roles are not as well paid as some of the other roles mentioned above, but they can lead to a higher range once you have gained experience in the field. Entry level roles range from £24k-28k in the UK, and $61k-$70k in the US. If you already have sustainability experience from being the Sustainability Lead at your school, working on sustainability-based projects, or leading whole school training, you might be able to reframe your resume so that your salary can be pitched towards the higher end of this range, and above. Unsure how to reframe your resume? Download and purchase my ultimate Resume Guide here.

What do Sustainability Coordinators do?

Your role might involve:

• Tracking energy use

• Creating sustainability reports

• Supporting corporate ESG goals

• Running community projects

  
  

How do you become a Sustainability Coordinator?

If you’re interested in this field, the Introduction to Sustainability Specialization on Coursera is a great place to start. The course typically takes 3–4 weeks at 8–10 hours per week, and you can complete it on your own schedule. It covers environmental, social, and economic sustainability, and real-world applications, giving you practical knowledge to talk about in interviews or on your resume.

4. Clinical Research Associate

   
   

If you’ve ever taught science, guided students through experiments, monitored their work, and ensured procedures were followed carefully, you already have many of the same skills as Clinical Research Associates (CRAs). Clinical Research Associates help ensure that medical and pharmaceutical clinical trials are conducted safely, ethically, and according to regulations. If you enjoy science, attention to detail, and contributing to advancements in medicine, then this role could be a great fit. Ex-science teachers often transition well into clinical research because they are comfortable with scientific processes, data, and explaining complex information clearly. Entry level roles range from £25k-36k, and in the US $50k-60k.

What do Clinical Research Associates do?

Your role might involve:

• Monitoring clinical trials to ensure they follow approved protocols

• Reviewing research data and trial documentation

• Ensuring patient safety and ethical standards are maintained

• Communicating with hospitals, research teams, and pharmaceutical sponsors

• Preparing reports and tracking trial progress

  
  

How do you become a Clinical Research Associate?

If you’re interested in this field, the Design and Interpretation of Clinical Trials on Coursera is a great place to start. The course typically takes around only 1 week to complete at 10 hours per week (probably 2-3, if you're teaching full time), and you can complete it on your own schedule. It introduces how clinical trials are designed, conducted, and analysed, giving you practical knowledge you can discuss in interviews or highlight on your CV when exploring opportunities in clinical research.

5. Business Analyst

Put simply, Business Analysts help organisations understand problems and make better decisions. Business Analysts' salaries vary depending on who you work for, and your experience. Entry level roles range from 28k-36k in the UK, and in the US, entry level roles are between $65k-85k.

What do Business Analysts do?

• Analyse data

• Review processes

• Work with stakeholders to identify what isn’t working, and what can be improved.

  
  

If you’ve ever analysed student results, spotted patterns and explained those changes to students, parents, or leadership, then you already use many of the same core skills Business Analysts rely on. Maths and science teachers, in particular, are used to working with data, logic, and evidence, which is why they often transition successfully into analyst roles.

How do you become a Business Analyst?

If you’re interested in this field, then the Microsoft Business Analyst Professional Certificate typically takes around 4–6 weeks to complete at 8–10 hours per week, and you can start at any time. There are no fixed class times, making it easy to fit around work or family commitments.

The course covers core business analysis skills such as:

• Excel-based analysis

• Requirements gathering

• Stakeholder communication

• Using data to support decision-making.

To summarise, if you have a maths or science brain, then the roles above could definitely appeal. If you're keen to hear more, but aren't sure on how to rework your CV, or write your cover letter to get noticed by hiring managers, then download my Resume Guide here, and check out the posts below:

• How To Write A Resume: A Guide for Teachers Changing Careers

• How to Write a Cover Letter as a Teacher Changing Careers (Step-by-Step)

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