Alternative Careers For Teachers: Make Money Outside of Teaching

We all think about alternative careers occasionally. Some of us maybe more than others. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a job where you could go to the bathroom whenever you wanted to?!

Teachers spend a great deal of time…well…teaching and it shows. For all their hard work, though, the pay isn’t all that great. People definitely don’t go into teaching for the money. That being said, there are plenty of ways teachers can make money outside of teaching.

“What other ways can I make money?” I find myself asking this question silently or out loud on a regular basis. Do you ever utter these words?

Check out our list below and see if any of these things catch your attention and that you could use to make money on the side…

*this post contains affiliate links, please read my disclosure for more information

Check Out the Following Alternative Careers

Create Online Classes

There are a number of different ways that you can earn an income by still using your educational skills but in a totally different way. Teaching doesn’t have to happen in the classroom. Share your expertise by creating online classes. There are platforms that make this a very easy process.

My favorite is Teachable.com, but there are a number of others that all have very similar user interfaces. Learning how to create a profitable course is quick and easy once you decide what skills you want to share. Don’t be shy! We all have something to offer others, and you are already a natural when it comes to planning a unit or curriculum 😉

Sell Lesson Plans

Chances are, you’re creating lessons and curriculum packs for your classroom. Rather than keep them for just your students, you can easily sell them on sites such as TeachersPayTeachers and Teacher’s Notebook.

If you aren’t sure how to get started, there are online courses to walk you through the whole creative process. Check out the MEGA list of resources for how to start selling on Teachers Pay Teachers.

You already have all the content and knowledge, you just need to polish it up a bit and put it out there. How much you make is entirely dependent on your skills and the time and effort you put in. Some teachers make a little extra cash for the shoe budget (or family vacations). Others have completely replaced their teaching income (and then some).

Start a Blog

Whatever your passion is, you can create a blog and share your thoughts and talents with the world. There are blogs for everything from animal husbandry and homesteading to fashion and make-up tutorials. If it’s something you could talk about for hours or that you are constantly reading about, you can blog about it.

If you are building a Teachers Pay Teachers shop or a business where you offer a service, then a blog is vital to help drive traffic and get the word out about what you have to offer. There are ways to monetize a blog (that take time and effort) and there are people all over the world who make a full-time income from their blogs alone.

Building a blog will let you share your expertise (whether it’s within the education field or not) and let you make money outside of teaching by using your other skills such as writing, organizing, data collection, and more.

This isn’t fast or easy money, but it could be a great way to build an alternative career while you are still teaching.

Virtual Assistant

If you are organized (and love to help others be organized and on task) then becoming a virtual assistant could be just the thing you are looking for. There are over 150 different ways to offer this service.

With more and more people starting online businesses and hiring remote employees or contractors, it was just a matter of time before virtual assistants were needed.

As a teacher, you are already used to chasing after more than 18-25 people and keeping them on task. Being a virtual assistant could be your niche! If you love Pinterest, this is definitely something you should look into!

Bookkeeping

While the term “bookkeeping” seems to mean different things to different people, it generally means you record financial transactions and keep track receipts, invoices, and accounts payable. This can be done in an office or virtually (thank you World Wide Web).

This is a perfect opportunity for detail-oriented teachers looking to make money to help with a tight budget or it can replace their teaching salary. You can learn all the ins and outs of bookkeeping online and start gaining clients when you can fit them into your schedule. 

Tutor Online 

OK, it’s still technically teaching, but it’s nowhere near what you’re used to in the classroom! These days, teaching ESL to children in China seems to be trending. Some sites I’m aware of include VIPKid, Landi, and SayABC. Beware that VIPKid has become so popular that teachers are having a hard time booking classes. As far as I know, that isn’t the case with the other two.

Look Into a Temp Agency for Alternative Careers

A temp agency can help you put your best talents to good use! Are you a fast typer? Consider doing a data entry position part-time. Make sure to let them know you’re only looking for seasonal, flexible work, though.

Your skills as a teacher could make this position a great alternative career for teachers.

Special Events

You could work the “special events” and concerts doing backstage stuff and/or wristbands, serve drinks, and plenty of other things. Contact your local concert venues and radio stations.

Become an Uber Driver

These days, the yellow taxi has become a thing of the past. Uber drivers can be found all over and are able to work whatever hours they choose in whatever locations they choose.

If your care isn’t up to par for being a taxi, Uber will even help you get a car that is suitable. If you’re looking for a little side hustle that doesn’t involve more “work,” this could be the one for you!

There are some places where an Uber driver can make double the salary of a teacher. If it’s available in your area this could make a great alternative career for teachers (if you like to drive).

Freelance Writing

There are plenty of places where you can book legit freelance writing gigs. UpWork is among the popular ones (they also have an app). In addition, WeAreTeachers is always looking for more writers!

How much money you make with this freelance site is up to you. Create a great profile, start placing bids with a great cover letter, and you can make enough to help build a pretty good stash.

This one goes along with blogging (a little). You can write articles for publications or write for yourself and self publish an eBook, info-product, or regular novel. It’s an alternative career that most teachers are well suited for!

Alternative Careers For Teachers

Whatever you decide to do on the side, please make sure you don’t overwork yourself. I know teachers don’t make a lot of money and often need something else to supplement their income.

If you would like more information on how to leave the classroom, I would recommend you read some more posts on My Life After Teaching. Brittany writes about her time in the classroom, why she chose to leave it, and how you can do the same (with help from her) if you are wanting to make that change and find an alternative career!

However, nothing is worth your mental sanity. Just make sure taking on an extra gig doesn’t overwhelm you and you’ll do well! There are plenty of ways to make money outside of teaching and some that you can build slowly over time.

Related Posts:

Benefits of Creating Teacher Resources

Make Money Outside of Teaching

3 Ways a Pinterest Virtual Assistant Can Help Grow Your Business