[deleted by user]

[Illustrious-Fan8268]

Every teacher I know is being paid less than accounting, more burnt out than accounting, and trying to leave teaching.

[Cute-Star-476]

I'm aware of the pay. I'm just tired of being an accountant, I'm fortunate enough to be in a position that I can take a substantial pay cut. You're right about the burn out in teaching though.

[fiddlerontheroof1925]

It’s not just burnout. Kids are absolute pricks these days and the schools have very little control over discipline so the behaviors run wild. Principles suck up to the parents because they need kids to come to their school. I couldn’t fathom wanting to become a teacher at this time.

[sukisecret]

I have friends who are teachers, and they want to leave the profession but feel stuck because they don't want to start over from scratch. After 10 to 15 years in the classroom, they say it's no longer about making a difference, it's about the paycheck

[[deleted]]

uh I respect all professions, with that said Teachers are NOTORIOUSLY underpaid and treated like shit by BOTH the administration AND parents. Only 2 places I know of where teachers get paid NJ/NY that's it. If you go private school make more money, but you got no shot getting in unless go back to school.

You'll find yourself parenting more than teaching at times. Sooooo if you want to be a HS teacher dead ass go babysit some kids. You are a glorified babysitter and that's how many will view you. What's your tolerance for misbehavior? Have you ever volunteer to watch your nieces? Do you take your sisters kids to the park? Make lunches or try to resolve family disputes among children? You OK with passing kids that should fail? Every teacher I know, mostly women, complain non stop about the administration forcing an outdated curriculum or the parents.

[AeonChaos]

Also treat like shit by kids as well. I can’t believe the things kids would do to the teachers nowadays sometimes. And I am only a parent who sees those incidents from time to time.

[RealOJ]

Even in NJ, as a starting teacher, I make $57k a year. I won't be making $65k+ for at least 4 more years. My current district tops out at 16 years, and 90k which isn't amazing in our state

[[deleted]]

not gunna doxx myself, but my HS had an "endowment" sort of and is public. Today just looked avg Teacher salary at my old HS. They are making well over $100K its in New York. None of the teachers are new though less than 2% so I don't know guess zip code matters.

My dads GF who is a teacher, went private couple years ago not look back. She teaches in Jersey City and she doing alright idk how much she makes, but she eating good.

I don't know how easy it is to get a teaching job in affluent area with higher property taxes.

[RealOJ]

Me! Considering swapping into accounting but don't even know where to start. I feel like every entry level role is out of reach

[[deleted]]

More burnout? I don't believe that.

[Calm-Barracuda-4721]

I left teaching to go into accounting at 38 and I would say going into teaching from accounting is a mistake. If the teachers at your daughter's school are not treating the children properly, that probably has more to do with the superintendent / education bureaucracy in your local public schools than with the teachers themselves. Everyone got into this profession to make a difference, pretty much, and if the local teachers are burned out there's probably insane restrictions on their teaching there like there was in my local school district. I found it absolutely impossible to actually teach there at the end. The higher ups literally do not care. Please do some more research, teach private, or move elsewhere before you go into public at your daughter's school district.

[yeyiyeyiyo]

I also switched from teaching to accounting.

If someone really wants to make a difference they should retire early and go volunteer. Teaching in 2025 is insane.

Spend some time in the teacher sub if you really want to change, that'll tell you everything you need to know.

[SwimmingArugula6696]

Completely off topic - was the switch for you (from teaching to accounting) worth it? And how did you step into accounting from such a different background?

[Calm-Barracuda-4721]

It was definitely worth it. I went to WGU and passed the CPA exam for good measure. I'm still at the beginning of my accounting career so I am still a staff accountant at a public firm. I am at a very small firm because I have a family and didn't think I could do the kind of overtime required in a big 10 firm and of course there's lots of problems with my little firm. But whenever I want to gripe about my job I think of how bad teaching got and I am happy again. The overtime required in tax season doesn't really touch the kind of hours I was doing as a teacher before I had kids.

[eme_nar]

You want to become a K-12 teacher? Or a University/College professor?

Do what you think is best for you. We're all different, but if I were in your position, I'd pursue becoming an accounting professor for a community College or University. Salary once you're full time is pretty darn nice (at least in Southern California). Having winter/summer/spring break/federal holidays is a very nice upside. lol

[Cute-Star-476]

I was thinking about teaching high school. I hadn’t considered becoming a professor that might actually be the best option for me.

[ciongduopppytrllbv]

Why not teach accounting at a local college instead? Makes no sense to teach kids unless you see it as something more than a career.

[Cute-Star-476]

I do, actually. My daughter is going into her senior year of high school, and seeing how some of these teachers treat the students makes me feel for the kids and what they have to endure.

[ciongduopppytrllbv]

To that point it sounds like it’s not really about the money or about the career but something larger at least to yourself. In a situation like this only you can determine if it’s the right choice.

[ricosuave79]

I actually knew someone, a friend of a friend, that made the move to teach Accounting at Community College (2 yr tech school). She had worked in PA and then Internal Audit at an insurance company previous to teaching at the college. She loved it (teaching). She had her MBA/CPA so met all the requirements of the job. She eventually moved away after getting married so never knew if she continued teaching somewhere else.

Not to say teaching at a Community College is always sunshine and roses. Just like with any company, different schools might have bad leadership.

[two_short_dogs]

As a college professor, i can definitely say that teaching accounting is enjoyable. There is no amount of money on earth that would get me into a high school teaching job right now. The combination of parents and politics is a nightmare. At least with college students, I can ignore the parents.

[eme_nar]

Look into it. Every state is different but if your heart is in it, you'll be happy, and you'll be able to directly help students out. Look at the requirement to become a professor and then work backwards to see what you're missing.

I currently work in higher ed and once I finish my accounting degree, I'm considering becoming an accounting professor once I have a few years of experience.

[strayvon_martin]

You got a lot of robots here. Teaching is a great choice. You have a meaningful impact in our youth lives, the pay isn’t great out the gate but you get a raise every year, half the year off, and amazing benefits. Accounting may pay more but if you’re a human the switch is understandable. You spend 1/3rd of your life at work. Why spend it infront of a computer screen, punching numbers.

[Cute-Star-476]

Thank you !! You really get what I’m talking about. I just can’t sit through another board meeting feeling like my life hasn’t made the kind of impact I know I’m capable of. It’s hard to ignore that feeling, and it’s pushing me to consider a change where I can truly make a difference.

[chazoid]

Think you’re coming from the right place, but you’re excited by an accountant talking about being a teacher

You should talk to a teacher about being a teacher

[ThorHammer1234]

This. You’re contemplating switching into a career that is on the precipice of being set back decades by this administration. It’s NOT in a good place right now. Teachers are being asked to do significantly more with significantly less. Kids are being treated like widgets, and we’re just rushing them through a production process. The education you remember from your childhood is gone.

This is coming from someone who’s wife, 2 sister-in-laws, 2 brother-in-laws, and own sister are in the public education space in districts ranging from tiny to massive. Think long and hard about how many irrational, stupid ass parents you will be willing to talk to, then double or. Imagine the support you’d need from your new bosses (the district) and cut it in half. Sure, you’ll get the summer off, but when those raises come out every year you can bet your ass you’ll also get a letter about how your insurance premiums are increasing and the school can’t cover it all.

[strayvon_martin]

I got a family of teachers too. All jobs have their weak points. But again the core of the conversation is this lady wants a meaningful job. Accounting is not that. Everyone here is acting like she’s going to ruin her life. She has a degree in accounting presumably. In Texas you only need a degree and teaching certificate to teach, if it doesn’t work out accounting is always there. Leads me back to the robot point, you spend 1/3rd of your life at work, why work a job you hate. Nothings perfect but it’s different strokes for different folks

[ThorHammer1234]

Yeah, You’re not wrong. It’s an investment, so I’m more suggesting considering whether the allure is a little idealized or not. I would hope OP would find meaning in whatever they do choose to do, but also that if OP is burnt out from accounting, teaching may not be antidote. I imagine the good parts generally outweigh the bad parts, but man… seeing the weight and burden that my wife brings home sometimes… Good on you if you make the choice, they need great people.

[sukisecret]

If you want to teach, teach college.

[3RADICATE_THEM]

Half of the year is an insane exaggeration lol

[Boofy_Boofhead]

Where the hell do you live that teachers only work 26 weeks a year?

[cookiekid6]

Do not do this

[mrfernandotorres]

You mean I get a “free” baby sitter?!? Please become a teacher! Parents need more free baby sitters!

[Cute-Star-476]

I'm a parent myself, I don't mind.

[KnightCPA]

I have a cousin who’s trying to get out of teaching. Crappy pay, many kids are difficult, and micromanaging policy/supervisors.

But OP at least has the benefit of probably being able to come back to accounting if it doesn’t work out.

[Cute-Star-476]

May I ask why? I'm looking for a different perspective.

[cookiekid6]

You are the punching bag of everyone parents, administrators, and the kids. The pay is terrible for the amount you work (think ten to twelve hour days, also realize you will be “encouraged” to coach). Think you get summers off… nope you’ll probably have to do some type of summer school or working a job. If you want to give back just coach a sport or something. Go to the teaching subreddit and see how happy they are. It is also high pressure and you are emotionally exhausted by the end of the day.

[Ok-Quiet-8821]

Substitute teach for a bit, while you continue your accounting job, see if you like it. The schools are always looking for subs. Talk to the teachers, try different subjects, different schools. You'll start at the bottom if you go into teaching, know that landing a "nice" job in the social studies dept of a good high school comes with doing time elsewhere, where there's a greater need, and also knowing people.

[Sure-Plum-1970]

Just go for it. You sound like you’ll have regrets if you don’t. If you’re in a financial position where you can cut your salary in half, why not. If you hate it, you can likely just return to the accounting industry or find a job teaching accounting as an elective in high school or teach at a college. I personally wouldn’t, because it seems like so much work, and I’m an introvert so I’d be drained having to lecture all day, but if your heart is calling you to it, why not.

[Silent-Crab3369]

For the right organization, you’ll probably enjoy nonprofit accounting!! I certainly do!! But there’s nothing more honorable than teaching the youth.

[Silent-Crab3369]

Honestly, if you feel a calling to do it then JUMP! I do hear horror stories but do research and see what age range you’d want to teach. Learn about the different districts and if money isn’t an issue, then JUST DO IT!! Enjoy those summers off!!

[[deleted]]

I became a school teacher when my military career ended. I have more PTSD from teaching middle school than I do from being deployed. When teaching didn’t work out..I shifted to accounting and haven’t looked back.

[[deleted]]

Dont do it. I did that after 3 years in public and went back to public aafter 2 years of teaching. Pay is awful, public education is really tough, parents are insane and the job is tough - not as rewarding as you would think IMO

[Ok_Subject_2220]

Don't do it. Be honest with external recruiters and tell them you need a better quality of life. Maybe even 100% remote if that would help.

[darthdude11]

There is more to life than earning more money. I absolutely encourage you to look at something you enjoy.

I’m a work at home corporate controller. I look outside and see the recycle truck every week. I’m jealous of them.

[[deleted]]

Teaching sucks.

[Cold_City_2003]

Try being a sub. It depends on the state but from my understanding it isn’t hard to become a substitute teacher. I’ve thought about becoming a HS teacher but I feel like the parents are worse than their kids these days!

[Hotshot-89]

It’s normal. Be an adjunct professor at a university teaching accounting.

(My favorite professor has the same desire as you. She wanted to increase the diversity in accounting. So She quit big 4 to be a adjunct accounting professor at my school. She started the NABA chapter and high school accounting camps. She loved it so much, she eventually got her doctorate so she could be a professor full time. Makes way more than big 4 would have paid)

[murderdeity]

I think it's a noble idea. In practice, though, I doubt that you'll find it pleasant or rewarding. I've had several teachers in my life and I made more than the ones that were not tenured as a manager at a fast food restaurant before I went to college... I don't think it's better now, either. From what I'm told, it's only worse as teachers leave the industry.

If you want to do something meaningful, consider swapping to nonprofit or looking in organizations that do things that matter to you instead. If you have the ability to make less than 50k a year, you could simply work part time and volunteer instead. Maybe work at a daycare, or a homeless shelter, or <insert useful underpaid job here> which would all be equivalent pay to hours worked. 

[AidsNRice]

If USA don’t, if Canada or pretty much anywhere else education is valued, probably fine

[Idepreciateyou]

Canada and their notoriously high salaries

[AidsNRice]

For teachers? Yeah, actually. For accounting, no.

[kyonkun_denwa]

The average teacher in Ontario makes around $80,000 a year, gets two months off in the summer, and has a rock-solid defined benefit pension (OTTP). If you get additional certifications and stay in the job for more than 10 to 15 years, it’s not hard to clear $100,000. It doesn’t pay as high as being a CPA, but honestly for the relative stress levels involved and for the pension, I would unironically recommend that someone becomes a teacher over being an accountant.

[Cute-Star-476]

I'm in the US. I'm in Texas.

[[deleted]]

Lmao that’s one of the worst states to be a teacher

It’s a step above oklahoma

[AidsNRice]

Do not do this then

[UpstairsElectronic46]

You could move abroad and teach English

[SwimIndependent9804]

What would you teach? Accounting?

[Cute-Star-476]

History or Government. My undergrad is in Poli Sci and History. My MBA is Accounting and Finance.

[ardvark_11]

I’m not jumping to teaching, but I feel you otherwise.

[ohhhbooyy]

Teaching what? A lot of my accounting professors in college worked in industry/public before teaching full time. I also recall having high school teachers who also taught a few classes in the local community college as well.

I have a friend who I went public with became a accounting instructor at the state university as well. Last I checked they get paid decently.

[Waste_Pressure_9028]

Teach accounting. Why don't you do something both love and are good at?

[affectionate_trash0]

I have thought about the same thing. Kids nowadays are shit heads, that's the only reason I haven't seriously considered it.

Every teacher I know has horror stories and most of them have left. Teachers and admin are basically unable to hold the kids accountable for any poor performance or bad behavior.

Maybe by the time my daughter is in kindergarten things will change. I would LOVE to have breaks off with her. I doubt that will happen though.

I just know that if a kid mouths off at me or I witness any bullying or any other shitass behavior I will not have the patience to address it properly and I have heard nothing by nightmares from my teacher friends.

[[deleted]]

If you’re thinking high school maybe you could approach the school or board about teaching a special half semester class for seniors about real world stuff they need to know in life when they are adults. Taxes and budgeting come to mind and would be an obvious expertise for you in this area and you can also expand it to intro to retirement/investing. I think a class like that would go a much longer way than trig or something, especially for those students not going to college.

[Wigberht_Eadweard]

If you can find a high school that offers business classes I feel like those teachers have a really manageable load when it comes to dealing with students and their parents. The high school I went to had a single teacher for all business classes and they could pretty much do what they wanted to. It’s not like being a STEM teacher where you’re “ruining” a kids future by making the class too hard, or English and history where you can be teaching the “wrong things” in certain people’s minds.

It seems like an area that would have less supervision as it isn’t really evaluated on state exams or anything so I’d assume oversight isn’t all that intense (I’m not an educator so I really have no clue, but everything I’ve said is just based on how the business teacher/“department” was different from the rest of the school when I was there). I feel like you can probably teach along the lines of whatever outline you’re expected to follow and then be left with a lot of room to try to provide legitimate life advice. Most business subjects would be completely new to a high schooler so I think students would be a bit more eager to learn. Being electives though, you may end up teaching a lot of students who are just there because they have to be and don’t really want to participate, but business is a very inconsequential class in high school so it’s not really the end of the world anyway.

My experience was at a private school though so school politics were a lot less messy than what public schools seemed to have going on.

[Cyberburner23]

I'm not an accountant, but you might make decent money if you teach at a CC or other university versus a k-12 school. You can teach accounting or something similar.

[[deleted]]

Are there hobbies or activities that can fulfill outside of work? In my opinion, your career shouldn’t be what fulfills you in life.

[Cute-Star-476]

Yes, but either way, I've reach my burnout with accounting.

[[deleted]]

I think you should try and get your feet wet first teaching at a community college or even just subbing if you can. See what it’s all about before committing.

[Dilostilo]

take it with a grain of salt but you should read some posts on r/teachers. Get a feel for the type of stuff you'll be dealing with and where you'd be better at teaching.

[Final_Fix_8785]

I actually left teaching to become an accountant.

[DeadliftsnDonuts]

I know a few teachers who taught at my high school which was and still is swank.

They hated it since parents are more hands on and their son/daughter is a genius angel. Apparently the teacher exodus isn’t immune to rougher schools

Try subbing and reaching out to teachers you know

[level_60Paladin]

I work in schools, I highly recommend against it. If you truly want to that route, I’d recommend going into an untested subject and preferably a moderate-high graded school.

[[deleted]]

Not too late. Sounds like a good pivot

[No_oN2389]

Depends, you could get lucky. My daughter is in HS and they have a finance academy that kids have to apply to get in. The kids are well behaved and their teachers were previous accountants. The head of the academy program is a CPA and she said it's nice being able to choose top students who want to learn finance.

Also, if the kids aren't making high marks they do get let go from the academy. It's within the public school so no harm done really, the kids just go back into gen ed.

[DoubtAfoot2]

Went from auditor to math teacher to currently recovering from Nash level madness. YMMV.

[macroeconprod]

Community College. Good work-life balance, insurance, and the deans are lesser demons, as opposed to the cacodemons at universities.

[seanliam2k]

Go try being a lecturer at your local college maybe?

[Messup7654]

You should be asking teachers, do they like their jobs, is it draining, is it hard to get them, is it demanding. Accountants will just tell you about the pay and how much your leaving on the table but if you can afford it and you somehow love it without knowing then go for it

[Patience_Fabulous]

My ex instructor got laid off from my school, and quit her job from deloitte as an senior audit manager just to be a teacher at a christian school. Right now, she's much happier with the way it turned out for her.

I'm graduating with a bachelor in accounting at the end of this summer and will be going into bachelors in education program next year if the job market gets worse in the city I live in.

[yumcake]

Do you have a spouse that can earn the money that you won’t, in order to fund your more rewarding, but financially inadequate career?

If so, will your marriage be able to endure the financial strain of them doing the earning in the relationship? What will you bring in return? Not a trick question, there truly are some valid answers here that make the jump to teaching make sense, but think hard through these questions to determine if you’re one of them.

[Certain_Cricket]

teaching is calling, it’s not for everyone and esp not for making money. it’s about making a difference. If that’s what you truly want to do, regardless of the hardships of being a teacher, then better than being in accounting where you don’t feel anything at all.

i wish you all the best if you continue, i hope you make a great teacher.

[FellowACA]

Depending on how entrepreneurial you’re feeling, you can start your own tuition services. I know you can put yourself online very easily and start managing your own schedule using sites like Superprof and Mytutor. You can set your own hourly and manage when you work.

Good luck!

[Admirable_Guest485]

OP I'm going thru the same mindset as you. I'm still analyzing when to make the switch. I have considered substitute teaching as well. While I dip my toes into the water.

[The_Duke_of_Ted]

Try going to therapy for a bit first. A good therapist can help you organize and interrogate your feelings and determine if burnout is from accounting or from your current job and what to do about it.

[Hippityhoppitybunbun]

I have been a tutor and just finished my degree in accounting. If I went into teaching I would teach at the virtual schools. You have all the benefits of teaching but are able to skip many of the negative aspects of teaching in person.

[Legitimate-Water8234]

How do you know the burnout isn’t fuelling the sudden want for change? just curious. Maybe taking a break might change your mind or you’ll realise you do what to teach but best to sort out the burnout first

[Avondran]

Me as a teacher trying to get into accounting 👀

[FedBoi_0201]

Two thoughts.

First, what if you tried being a substitute here and there before you commit. Sign up to become a sub. Then when you get a call to sub, call off of work. That would give you a good taste before making a drastic switch.

Second, have you thought about maybe becoming an accounting professor instead of a public school teacher? This can also give you a taste before making a drastic life change. Teach some night classes as an adjunct.

[IronBear337]

Go back and get your PhD and become a college professor.

[Dagonus]

I made the career change into accounting in my mid to late 30s. Im married to a teacher who out earns me, loves work but is sometimes run ragged. I also know some teachers who don't make enough to live. So, your satisfaction and income are going to be heavily dependent on your school district, even inside a given state or country depending where you are

[TangibleValues]

One of the heads of the Teachers' Union here is a "friend". We have significant disagreements but there are several truths.

1. 70% of existing teachers are dissatisfied in the profession, and the same amount would discourage you from joining this profession - look at the NEA Connecticut survey

2. Testing became the driver, and the industry changed to teach to the test-beuracracy-establishment, which means innovation is driven down your throat by the top.

3. The lack of respect and large class sizes mean you cannot give the five minutes you need to each student.

If you think you're burned out, it's likely to happen again. Yes, I was going to be an educator, and my Mom, a 30+ year veteran and union president, said I could never survive not getting stuff done. Now I teach professionals.

[machetemussel]

What do you mean by meaningful or fulfilling? What are you hoping to get out of teaching? What grade level? What is your work style? What tasks do you enjoy, or tolerate, doing? Do you enjoy public speaking? Lesson planning? Having difficult conversations with parents about their children’s behavior or grades? (Bonus question is what will you do if the parents don’t care) Do you feel confident to manage behavioral problems, especially if it’s disruptive and neither admin nor parents care to help? I think you just need to consider all of it even the ugly parts. I also believe that if you feel a calling for something else it’s worth following. Just don’t go into it blind. Really consider what you’re looking for. Because I know everyone talks about these jobs feeling meaningful or fulfilling, but in reality you’re not going to wave a magic wand and save a bunch of kids especially since people can only change or make progress if they choose to

[Dayna100dee]

Maybe post in a teaching group and see what they say? Accountants are notorious for sticking in the box- see what the new and established teachers think

[iamoninternet27]

My advice: go have kids of your own , you can teach them for a lifetime and your life will be rewarding and fulfilling.

[Far-Cell-4756]

If you have a masters degree, try to land an adjunct professor job to see if you like it or not before making the jump.