Many educators are drawn to teaching by a deep commitment to students and learning. Over time, some look beyond the classroom in search of careers in education with greater opportunities for professional growth.
Sound familiar? Education offers many rewarding career options outside the classroom—including instructional design jobs, special education counselor positions, and curriculum design careers.
The good news: your classroom experience translates. Skills such as lesson planning, assessment design, technology integration, and relationship-building are in high demand and may clear pathways toward jobs for teachers outside the classroom.
This article outlines key career options, how your strengths apply, and how a master’s degree in education can support a rewarding pivot into impactful roles across K–12, higher education, EdTech, and nonprofit sectors.
Use Your Teaching Skills to Drive Innovation
Lead Change With Tulane’s Online MEd
What Are Instructional Design Jobs, and Why Do They Appeal to Teachers?
Instructional designers create effective learning experiences by developing the structure, content, and tools needed for instruction. Their work spans formats—including online modules, printed materials, and hybrid courses—to promote learning that is engaging, accessible, and outcome-driven. Though often behind the scenes, their impact is far-reaching.
What do instructional designers do in practice? Responsibilities typically include:
- Developing curriculum and training programs
- Creating online learning modules and platforms
- Producing instructional materials such as guides, assessments, and learner tools
- Analyzing data to improve learning outcomes
- Collaborating with subject matter experts and tech teams
- Revising and refining content based on feedback
If you’ve created lesson plans, differentiated instruction, or integrated technology in the classroom, you’re already using key instructional design skills. Teachers bring a deep understanding of learner needs and engagement strategies, making the instructional design career path a natural next step.
How much does an instructional designer make? The median annual income for instructional designers is $74,720, with roles that pay from under $46,000 to over $115,000, depending on experience and level of responsibility. Opportunities span K–12 schools, higher education, nonprofits, EdTech companies, and corporate training teams. The job market is steady, with about 20,100 openings expected annually through 2033.
Special Education Program Leadership: A Different Path to Impact
For those passionate about working with specific populations, roles such as special education counselor, instructional coordinator, or education program designer offer the chance to improve how schools serve diverse learners. Professionals in these fields can impact entire districts or organizations.
These positions go beyond day-to-day instruction and may include:
- Designing and managing individualized education programs (IEPs)
- Leading staff training on specially designed instruction
- Promoting inclusive practices across schools
- Advising students and families
- Collaborating with administrators on compliance
If you’ve advocated for a student, created differentiated instruction, or coached peers on inclusive strategies, you already have the foundation for this work. School and career counselors earn a median income of $65,140, with job growth projected at four percent, as demand rises for educators skilled in supporting diverse learners.
Transferable Skills That Set Teachers Up for Career Growth
Years in the classroom equip teachers with a versatile skill set that translates well into roles across education. Teaching goes far beyond delivering lessons; it includes instructional design, data-informed decision-making, clear communication, support for diverse learners, multitasking, and collaboration. These same skills are essential in instructional design jobs, curriculum leadership, and education program development.
As a teacher, you know how to create engaging learning experiences, adapt to varied needs, integrate technology effectively, and lead by example. You’re used to making quick decisions, supporting families, and contributing to school-wide goals. These are valuable leadership skills that are in demand across many jobs for teachers outside the classroom.
Earning a Master of Education (MEd) allows you to build on those strengths. You’ll explore curriculum design, learning theory, and parity-driven decision-making across K–12, higher education, and adult learning contexts. Courses in leadership, data analysis, and inclusive learning design further refine your expertise and expand your impact. Whether you’re pursuing a career change for teachers or stepping into leadership, your classroom experience provides a powerful foundation.
Career Examples: Where Teachers Go Next
Many teachers discover new ways to apply their skills beyond the traditional classroom. Instructional design jobs and special education leadership are good fits, as they build directly on classroom experience. They are also in demand. A range of other paths also allow educators to use their insights to make a broader impact:
- Curriculum designer: Develop educational content and frameworks that align with learning standards and instructional goals. They focus on what students learn by organizing subjects, lessons, and materials to ensure consistency, clarity, and effectiveness across classrooms or programs.
- Director of learning design: Oversee the strategy and implementation of instructional programs across schools, districts, or organizations. They lead teams to create engaging, effective learning experiences that align with educational goals, technology, and best practices.
- Education nonprofit leader: Drive mission-focused initiatives that promote access and innovation in learning through strategic leadership and community impact.
- Policy analyst: Influence education reform by researching and crafting policy recommendations that shape laws, funding, and systemic change.Â
- School counselor: Support students’ mental health, academic success, and career readiness by guiding them through personal and developmental challenges.Â
- Training and development specialist: Help teachers, administrators, or corporate teams grow professionally through targeted training programs and workshops.
These roles show that a passion for education can extend far beyond the classroom, offering opportunities for leadership, creativity, and meaningful impact across the field.
How Tulane’s Online MEd Helps You Take the Next Step
A successful transition beyond the classroom starts with the right preparation. The online MEd from Tulane University helps current and former educators build on their strengths and gain the knowledge, tools, and confidence to lead in new educational settings. Designed for working professionals, the flexible format combines asynchronous coursework with live, interactive classes accessible from anywhere.
Grounded in four central learning objectives — Ethics and Professional Norms, Cultural Responsiveness, Learning and Instruction, Building Professional Capacity — the program establishes a strong foundation in areas essential for educational leadership. Coursework spans critical areas such as curriculum design, instructional innovation, data-driven decision-making, and systems thinking. Courses like Foundations of Instructional Design, Educational Leadership and Policy for Changemakers, and Reimagining and Leading Equitable Education Systems for the Future emphasize hands-on learning and real-world application.
Students also benefit from Tulane Career Services, including personalized advising, resume and interview support, job search tools, and employer connections. Led by faculty with real-world experience, the program prepares graduates to pursue impactful roles beyond the traditional classroom confidently.
You Don’t Have to Leave Education to Grow
If you’re wondering what’s next for your teaching career, you’re not alone—and you have more options than you may realize. Roles in instructional design, curriculum development, special education leadership, and other education-adjacent fields offer new ways to lead, innovate, and support learning.
Your classroom experience is a strong foundation. Tulane’s online Master of Education program provides the skills, guidance, and credentials to help you take the next step with clarity and confidence.
Connect with an enrollment advisor to learn more—or start your application today.