Career Options Outside the Classroom

Professional educators have many career paths beyond the classroom, where their skills—such as explaining complex ideas in engaging ways—are highly transferable. If you’re exploring alternative roles, consider these steps:

  1. Define Your Purpose: Reflect on your motivation as an educator. Do you enjoy helping others, working with specific groups like children or those on the Autism Spectrum, or engaging in one-on-one versus group settings? Clarifying your “why” helps guide your job search.
  2. Choose Your Ideal Work Environment: Think about where you’d like to work—whether from home, in a government role, or in sectors like business, non-profit, or entrepreneurship. Understanding your preferred environment ensures a good fit for your skills and values.
  3. Identify Transferable Skills: List key skills developed as an educator, such as communication, multitasking, and adaptability. This will highlight positions that match your strengths.
  4. Determine “Must-Haves”: Make a list of essential job criteria, like salary, benefits, and flexibility, to help focus on realistic options that suit your needs.
  5. Research Potential Roles: Use platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn to search for roles related to your preferred population (e.g., “autism educator”). You might also look up local nonprofits that align with your goals.
  6. Network and Seek Advice: Speak with mentors, instructors, and professionals for insights, or consider informational interviews to learn more about career paths that interest you.

Careers for Professional Educators Outside of the Classroom 

  • Teaching 
  • Administration Services, such as Second Language, Curriculum Supervision, Career/Technical Education, Special Education, Library/Information Technology Services, & Reading 
  • Tutoring Services 
  • Test Preparation 

  • Elementary, middle, and secondary schools (public, private, Montessori, charter) 
  • Schools overseas 
  • Daycare centers 
  • Recreating programs and camps 
  • Health clubs 
  • Family daycare 
  • Nanny firms 
  • Federal, state, and local government 

  • Certification requirements vary by state/country.  Research certification needs for your career field, location, and potential employers. 
  • Graduate study may be required.  Research degree level needs for your career field and potential employer. 

  • Teaching 
  • Research 
  • Information/Library Services 
  • Student Support Services 
  • Instructional Design 
  • Curriculum Development 

  • 4-year colleges and universities (public and private) 
  • Community colleges 

  • Graduate study in content area is required for most teaching positions. 
  • Graduate study may be required for some administrative and student support service positions. 

  • Career/Technical Education 
  • GED Preparation 
  • Literacy Development 
  • English as a Second Language 

  • Correctional facilities 
  • Museums 
  • Residential care facilities 
  • Vocational services 
  • Language schools: overseas and domestic 

Graduate studies in adult education or areas of specialization are needed for many positions. 

  • Training & Development 
  • Instructional Design 
  • Publishing and Editing 
  • Technical Writing 
  • Textbook Sales 
  • Sales 
  • Customer Service 
  • Management 
  • Human Resources 
  • Entrepreneurship 

  • Consulting firms 
  • Business and industry training facilities 
  • Manufacturing companies 
  • Retail and customer service industries 
  • Hospital and healthcare organizations 
  • Restaurants and hotels 

  • Obtain experience within another area of Human Resources before pursuing a training and development position. 
  • Consider graduate studies to allow for specialization in some career fields of interest. 
  • Be prepared to start with entry-level positions, such as management trainee programs. 

  • Teaching 
  • Community Affairs 
  • Advocacy 

  • Government agencies 
  • Non-profit organizations 
  • Educational facilities 

  • Develop experience through volunteering or completing an internship in a government agency. 
  • Becoming familiar with the government application process. 

  • Direct Service 
  • Programming 
  • Administration 
  • Management 
  • Public Relations 
  • Fundraising 
  • Research 
  • Grant Writing 
  • Case Management 
  • Counseling  
  • Advocacy 
  • Volunteer Coordinating 

  • Service organizations (United Way, Red Cross, Goodwill Industries) 
  • Youth organizations (YMCA, Boys & Girls Club) 
  • Immigrant and refugee service providers 
  • Shelters 
  • Hospitals and hospices 
  • Residential treatment facilities 
  • Correctional facilities  
  • Nursing homes 
  • Adoption agencies 
  • Religious institutions 
  • Family service agencies  

  • Research organization’s values to find a good fit which aligns with your values. 
  • Consider the population which you would like to serve and in which capacity. 
  • Develop skills such as grant writing and fundraising 
  • Consider graduate study and appropriate licensures for specific career fields of interest.   

Material partially referenced from ASU Career and Professional Development Services “Education Career Pathways.”