Career change to teaching
Preschool to high school teachers, including special education and career and technical education. Together they employ 4,078,270 people (BLS, May 2025). Below: the jobs whose skills carry over best, what you need to get in, and pay.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0, BLS OEWS May 2025 and BLS CPS 2025 · How we match careers
- Median pay, Elementary School Teachers
- $63,970
- Usual preparation
- A bachelor's degree
- Workers 45 or older
- 46%
- Careers on this page
- 10
The best jobs to switch from
Jobs whose skills carry over best into these careers, by our career-change match score, with the skills people in that job usually need to build.
Skills to build: skills that are at least 0.25 points more important in the new career (O*NET 31.0 importance, 1–5). How we match careers
What you need to get in
Education (Elementary School Teachers)
- 78% of workers say the job requires bachelor's degree
- 22% of workers say the job requires master's degree
Usual preparation: A bachelor's degree (O*NET 31.0 Job Zone). Most common on-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Licenses and requirements
Kindergarten and elementary school teachers usually must have a bachelor's degree. All states require teachers in public schools to be licensed or certified for the grade level they teach. People with a bachelor's degree in another subject can still become teachers: all states offer an alternative route to certification for people who already have a bachelor's degree.
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers
The careers on this page
| Career | Median pay | U.S. jobs | Usual preparation | Workers 45+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,970 | 1,388,390 | A bachelor's degree | 46% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $72,040 | 1,065,210 | A bachelor's degree | 47% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $64,370 | 620,090 | A bachelor's degree | 46% |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $38,140 | 478,780 | 1–2 years (training or associate) | 35% |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $74,260 | 163,930 | A bachelor's degree | 47% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School | $66,270 | 111,420 | A bachelor's degree | 47% |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,680 | 108,870 | A bachelor's degree | 35% |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $66,810 | 95,200 | A bachelor's degree | 47% |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | $64,830 | 29,510 | A bachelor's degree | 47% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School | $65,030 | 16,870 | A bachelor's degree | 46% |
Similar careers to consider
The careers most like elementary school teachers by skills and daily work (O*NET 31.0).
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors85% similar · $61,540 · A bachelor's degree
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term83% similar · $41,670 · A bachelor's degree
- Tutors82% similar · $43,350 · 1–2 years (training or associate)
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary82% similar · $75,870 · A graduate degree
- Instructional Coordinators81% similar · $77,440 · A graduate degree
- Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary81% similar · $77,570 · A graduate degree
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Questions about switching to teaching
What jobs make it easiest to switch to teaching?
By our skill match, people working as Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors (95%), Substitute Teachers, Short-Term (94%) and Childcare Workers (88%) have the most transferable experience.
What education do you need for teaching?
Elementary School Teachers: 78% of workers report bachelor's degree as required; 22% of workers report master's degree as required (O*NET 31.0). Usual preparation: A bachelor's degree.
Is it too late to switch to teaching at 40?
46% of elementary school teachers are 45 or older and their median age is 43.4 (BLS Current Population Survey, 2025, broader occupation group).
How much do elementary school teachers make?
The national median is $63,970 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). Highest-paying states: Washington ($102,350), California ($99,650), District of Columbia ($96,580).