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10 Jobs That Pay More Than Teaching (And Are Great Career Pivots for Educators)
- Cat Moon
- Nov 22
- 4 min read
Which jobs pay more than teaching?
Many of us reach a point where we're ready for a new challenge — a role where we can still help people, use our communication skills, and grow our career without feeling burnt out or tied to a strict timetable.
The great news? There are plenty of careers that typically pay more than teaching, offer better work-life balance, and make excellent use of the skills you already have.
Below are the 10 most realistic, teacher-friendly jobs that tend to offer higher earning potential worldwide.
1. Instructional Designer
Instructional Design is one of the most natural transitions for teachers. You’ll create online courses, training materials, and digital learning content for companies or universities.
Why it pays more:I t’s a specialist skill set, and organisations invest heavily in digital learning.
Teacher skills that transfer:
Lesson planning
Curriculum design
Assessment writing
Creating engaging learning experiences
How to upskill yourself: Look at Instructional Design Foundations and Applications via Coursera. This course helped me pivot into the ID world and gave me an excellent understanding of ADDIE and other instructional theories to land my new role.
More posts on instructional design that might tickle your fancy:
2. Learning & Development Advisor
L&D roles focus on training adults within organisations — everything from onboarding to professional development.
Why it pays more:Corporate training budgets are big, and roles often start above teacher pay scales.
Perfect for teachers who enjoy:
Running workshops
Coaching adults
Designing training sessions
Courses to upskill yourself: Look at upskilling yourself with the Learning and Development course ia Coursera. This course gives you an overview of best practices for creating effetcive training in organisations.
For further info on stepping into L&D take a read of:
3. HR Coordinator / HR Advisor
HR roles involve supporting people, managing processes, onboarding staff, and helping shape workplace culture.
Why it pays more:HR is a core corporate function with structured progression and strong starting salaries.
Teacher skills that transfer:
Communication
Conflict resolution
Organisation
Building relationships
Courses to upskill yourself: The HRCI Human Resource Associate Professional Certificate via Coursera gives you the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in HR. The program covers: recruiting and onboarding, employee policies and procedures, employee engagement and work culture and legal and ethical considerations in HR.
4. Customer Success Manager (EdTech or SaaS)
Customer Success roles help clients use a product, solve problems, and get the best experience.
Why it pays more: Tech companies offer competitive pay and quick progression.
Why teachers fit: It’s essentially “teaching adults how to use something.”
Courses to upskill yourself:
5. Project Coordinator / Project Manager
Project roles involve planning, managing timelines, solving problems, and keeping a project moving smoothly.
Why it pays more:Project roles often sit a level above operational roles and have strong career pathways.
Teacher strengths:
Organisation
Scheduling
Reporting
Managing multiple tasks at once
Courses to upskill yourself: The Google Project Management Professional Certificate gives you the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in Project Management. The program also qualifies you for over 100 hours of project management education. View the certification course here.
6. UX Researcher (Entry-Level)
UX Researchers study how people use products, websites, or apps — and give recommendations.
Why it pays more:It’s part of the tech field, which typically offers higher pay even for junior roles.
Why teachers do well: You’re already skilled in observation, questioning, analysing behaviour, and giving feedback.
7. Cybersecurity Analyst (Junior/Entry-Level)
Cybersecurity is booming worldwide and offers excellent starting salaries and remote opportunities.
Why it pays more: High demand + shortage of skilled workers = strong pay.
For teachers considering tech:You don’t need a degree — short certificates are often enough.
Courses to upskill yourself: The IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate via Coursera comes highly recommended for gaining an employer-recognised certification and build a solid overview of the field. It also prepares you for the CompTIA Security+ exam if you want to advance further.
Still unsure if working in cyber is for you? I've got you covered with one of our success stories below:
8. Policy Advisor
Policy advisors work in government or not-for-profits to research, write, and develop policy recommendations.
Why it pays more:Government advisory roles usually have higher salary bands than teaching.
Why teachers fit:
Research
Writing
Understanding community impact
Analytical thinking
9. Recruitment Consultant
Recruiters help companies find talent — interviewing people, matching CVs to jobs, and building relationships.
Why it pays more: Base salary + commission often surpasses teaching income.
Great for teachers who enjoy:
Talking to people
Encouraging others
Helping match skills to roles
Working with stakeholders
Final Thoughts
Leaving teaching doesn’t mean “starting again.” It means repackaging the skills you already have into roles that value your experience — and often pay more, too.
Whether you want to work in corporate, government, tech, or community sectors, there are countless opportunities waiting beyond the classroom.
Take a look at our other posts on Jobs for former teachers Outside of Education and Best Remote Jobs for Former Teachers
Know of any other jobs which pay more than teaching? Got a success story you wanna share with our readers? Get in touch or comment below!