Most Common Career Paths for Australian Teachers After Leaving the Classroom
Jan 16, 2025


Kas
There are many reasons why Australian teachers are leaving the profession, as we covered in our previous article. All of this is supported by relevant sources and recent evidence. It’s crucial that our sources are up-to-date, as the reasons teachers leave the profession evolve in response to workplace constraints and changing living conditions.
Teaching is an incredible profession that attracts some of the most dedicated and skilled individuals. Teachers inspire countless young people and make a lasting impact on their lives. By no means are we encouraging teachers to leave or casting a negative light on the profession we hold dear (and that I’m still a part of!). However, it’s important to present information impartially and realistically.
Teaching today is more challenging than ever, and the statistics show a growing trend of teachers leaving the profession and pursuing alternative career paths. Leaving teaching doesn’t equate to failure—it’s a sign of recognizing that your path may have changed and that your valuable skills can be transferred to other careers.
In this article, we will explore the top career paths teachers in Australia commonly transition to after their teaching careers. Our hope is that this information provides guidance, inspires you to consider new opportunities, and helps you find a role that reignites your passion while supporting your well-being—mentally, physically, and professionally.
We are only covering 10 careers but there are so many- teachers have such a variety of skills and the ability to adapt to many situations due to the nature of our role. I think one of the biggest skills we have is our ability to communicate effectively with people of all ages and in different walks of life, these social skills will allow and teacher looking for a new career and head start on anyone else as these skills will benefit any role in any industry.
Here are the top 10 careers teachers transition to after they are done with teaching:
Education Consultant
Why it’s a fit: Education consultants in Australia help schools and educational organizations improve teaching practices, curriculum, and student outcomes. Teachers with extensive knowledge in curriculum design or special education may choose to become consultants, working with schools or governments.
Salary: Education consultants in Australia can earn between AUD $65,000 and AUD $110,000 annually, depending on experience and the scope of their work.
Sources:
- Seek.com.au: Education Consultant Jobs
- PayScale: Education Consultant Salary Australia
Corporate Trainer
**Why it’s a fit: **Teachers’ experience in training and guiding groups translates well to corporate environments. Teachers moving into corporate training roles design and deliver employee training programs. These roles can exist in industries like human resources, sales, leadership, and IT.
Salary: Corporate trainers in Australia earn an average salary of around AUD $75,000 to AUD $100,000 annually, depending on industry and experience.
Sources:
- Seek.com.au: Corporate Trainer Jobs
- PayScale: Corporate Trainer Salary Australia
Human Resources (HR) Specialist
Why it’s a fit: Teachers excel in people management and communication, making them a natural fit for HR roles. As HR specialists, teachers may handle recruitment, employee relations, training, and development in companies or government organizations.
Salary: HR specialists in Australia typically earn between AUD $60,000 and AUD $85,000 annually
Sources:
- Seek.com.au: HR Specialist Jobs
- PayScale: Human Resources Specialist Salary Australia
Instructional Designer or Learning and Development Specialist
Why it’s a fit: Teachers interested in technology and instructional design can move into roles creating online courses, training programs, and educational materials for businesses, government agencies, or educational institutions. These roles often require knowledge of learning theories and eLearning platforms.
**Salary: **Instructional designers in Australia typically earn AUD $80,000 to AUD $110,000 annually.
Sources:
- Seek.com.au: Instructional Designer Jobs
- PayScale: Instructional Designer Salary Australia
School Administrator (Principal, Deputy Principal, or Assistant Principal)
Why it’s a fit: Teachers who have strong leadership abilities and want to make a broader impact may transition into school administration roles. As principals or deputy principals, they manage staff, set policies, and lead school-wide initiatives.
Salary: School administrators in Australia earn an average salary of AUD $120,000 to AUD $160,000, depending on the size of the school and location.
Sources:
- Seek.com.au: Principal Jobs
- PayScale: School Principal Salary Australia
Nonprofit Sector Roles (Program Manager/Coordinator)
Why it’s a fit: Teachers often transition to nonprofit work, where they can use their leadership and organizational skills to run programs that support education, social services, and community development. Many nonprofit organizations value teachers’ experience in working with diverse populations and developing educational programs.
Salary: Program managers/coordinators in the nonprofit sector in Australia typically earn AUD $60,000 to AU $90,000 annually.
Sources
- Seek.com.au: Nonprofit Jobs
- PayScale: Nonprofit Program Coordinator Salary Australia
Social Worker
Why it’s a fit: Teachers often move into social work to continue helping children, families, and communities. Social workers advocate for students in schools or provide support to vulnerable populations outside of schools.
Salary: Social workers in Australia earn a median salary of AUD $65,000 to AUD $85,000 annually, with the potential for higher earnings in specialized areas.
Sources:
- Seek.com.au: Social Worker Jobs
- PayScale: Social Worker Salary Australia
Educational Technology Specialist
Why it’s a fit: Teachers with a passion for integrating technology into the classroom can move into roles where they help schools or businesses adopt new technologies for learning and training. They may also train other teachers in tech integration or create digital learning content.
Salary: Educational technology specialists in Australia earn between AUD $70,000 and AUD $90,000 annually.
Sources
- Seek.com.au: Educational Technology Jobs
- PayScale: Educational Technology Specialist Salary Australia
Content Writer or Editor (Educational Content)
Why it’s a fit: Teachers with writing skills can transition into content writing, particularly within the education sector. They might write textbooks, develop digital resources, or contribute to blogs, e-learning platforms, or educational publications.
Salary: Content writers in Australia generally earn between AUD $50,000 and AUD $75,000, depending on the level of experience and the employer.
Sources:
- Seek.com.au: Content Writer Jobs
- PayScale: Content Writer Salary Australia
Real Estate Agent
**Why it’s a fit: **Teachers who enjoy helping others, organizing tasks, and working with people may find a rewarding career in real estate. Real estate agents guide clients through buying, selling, and renting properties, and the role requires strong communication and negotiation skills.
Salary: Real estate agents in Australia earn AUD $60,000 to AUD $150,000 or more annually, depending on commissions and sales.
Sources:
- Seek.com.au: Real Estate Jobs
- PayScale: Real Estate Agent Salary Australia
Summary
There are many avenues for you to continue to use and apply the years of experience you have and the diverse skill set you have acquired. It is clear that as our roles as teachers are dynamic and we take on many responsibilities outside of our agreed upon services and formal training, we all have developed a broad range of unique skills. This is a massive strength and allows teachers to be adaptable to many different industries even without formalised training in those roles. Teaching develops many transferable skills in those whom teach or work in educational settings. Skills such as:
- Communication Skills: Teachers excel at explaining complex ideas in simple terms, presenting information effectively to diverse audiences, and providing constructive feedback.
- Leadership and Management: Managing a classroom, coordinating activities, and guiding students through learning processes develops strong leadership and organizational skills.
- Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Teachers constantly adapt lessons and find creative solutions to challenges in the classroom, honing their ability to think on their feet.
- Time Management: Balancing lesson planning, grading, meetings, and student support teaches teachers how to prioritize and manage time effectively.
- Collaboration: Teachers regularly work with colleagues, parents, and administrators to support student success, developing strong teamwork and interpersonal skills.
- Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Teachers work closely with students, understanding their needs and emotions, which builds strong interpersonal and empathy skills.
- Conflict Resolution: Managing classroom behaviour and resolving conflicts between students helps teachers develop conflict resolution strategies.
- Adaptability: Teachers learn to adjust to new educational tools, curriculums, and changing classroom dynamics, making them adaptable in a variety of environments.
Depending on the role teachers even manage financial budgets, decorate classrooms (furniture, painting ect,), organise and purchase resources… I mean the list goes on.
If you are in a position where you want to take a break from your current role or looking for something else to pursue career wise, please know you have all the skills necessary and with some direction, support and training there is a wide world of possibilities out there!
Helpful Resources:
- Fundamental Movement Skills: Flash Cards + Circuit
- Coloured Cones For Teaching P.E! (Amazon)
- Coloured Sit Spots for behaviour management! (Amazon)
- Awesome Teacher Planner! (Amazon)
- How to create a better work life balance?
- Why are minor games important for students to learn?
- Emotional Regulation Posters
- Assessments for P.E- Ready to go
- What are invasion games?
- First time teaching P.E? Heres where to start!