Here is a list of some of the best jobs for social studies teachers looking for a change. There is currently a massive teacher exodus happening in our country, and only one third is due to retirement. If the thought of leaving teaching has crossed your mind a time or two (or every day for the past year), rest assured that you are not alone.
What if I told you that you could make good money using the skills you already have as a social studies teacher? That sounds pretty good, right? Well, read on to hear about legitimate jobs for social studies teachers. Keep in mind that any of these have side hustle potential as well!
#1 Tutoring
What is it?
Tutoring is just a stone’s throw away from teaching, and it has many of the same benefits such as working with kids and sharing a subject area/s that you love. Because they require similar skill sets, these are some of the best jobs for social studies teachers. A tutor is generally responsible for:
- Creating an individualized plan.
- Planning and teaching lessons.
- Monitoring progress.
- Providing feedback.
- Communicating with parents, teachers, and students.
What Does It Pay?
A tutor’s pay will depend on a number of factors such as degrees held, experience, state, and whether the tutor works for a center (such as Varsity Tutors and Sylvan) or is self-employed. According to Recruiter.com, the average tutor salary is $45,000. Tutor pay has definitely been on the rise, and jobs are expected to be plentiful.
What is the Schedule?
The beauty of being a tutor is that you can work as many or as few hours as you’d like. Obviously, during the school year, hours will generally be restricted to after school, evenings, and weekends. The summer opens up schedules for more daytime hours.
#2 Teaching English
What is it?
This type of teaching position is different because you will be working with students (usually one-on-one) from around the world and teaching them the English language virtually. If learning about another culture and sharing your culture sounds interesting, this position might be a good fit for you. There are many companies out there that are hiring such as VIPKID, and DaDa. Job responsibilities include:
- Sparking interest and motivating students.
- Being prepared for teaching sessions by reviewing provided materials.
- Showing up on time for teaching sessions.
- Making sure that the necessary technology is working appropriately.
(That’s right- no lesson planning, grading, or conferencing with parents!)
What Does It Pay?
VIPKID advertises $15 to $22 an hour while DaDa says it pays up to $25 an hour. The pay rate depends on degree, certifications, and availability. There are opportunities for raises and bonuses as well.
What is the Schedule?
Since you are interacting with students from other countries, peak work times (depending on your/their time zone) tend to be early mornings Monday through Friday or late evening to early morning on weekends. Some companies have a minimum number of hours they want you to work per month and set schedules. Most classes tend to be around 25 minutes. Your teaching skills make this one of the best jobs for social studies teachers.
#3 Social Media Manager
What is It?
This is one of the more interesting on this list of best jobs for social studies teachers. A social media manager uses social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) to increase an organization’s exposure, generate sales leads, build brand awareness, and provide customer service. If you understand the workings of social media, are analytical, and can strategize, social media management (SMM) may interest you. According to workable.com, duties of this position can include:
- Performing research on current trends and audience preferences.
- Designing and implementing social media strategies to align with business goals.
- Setting specific objectives and reporting on the return on investment.
- Generating, editing, publishing, and sharing engaging content.
- Monitoring search engine optimization and web traffic metrics.
- Communicating with followers and responding to questions.
What Does It Pay?
Glassdoor.com reports that the average salary for a social media manager is $50,473. This number can vary depending on numerous factors such as the exact duties assigned, location, and experience.
What is the Schedule?
The short answer is that it varies. Social media managers need to be good with boundaries and managing their time. Since social media operates around the clock, that puts pressure on the SSM to have their “finger on the pulse” at all times. Thankfully, there are things they can do, such as scheduling content or using an app like Hootsuite, to make their lives a little easier. Because of the pay, remote working capability, and relevance, this one makes our list of the 36 best alternatives for teachers who want to quit.
#4 Dispatching
What is It?
Dispatchers get things or people where they are needed. If you have a knack for geography and good communication skills, this option may be right for you. This is why we include it on our list of best jobs for social studies teachers. Dispatchers are often responsible for:
- Receiving and responding to notifications and requests for service.
- Coordinating operations efficiently.
- Creating and communicating schedules.
- Transmitting information clearly.
- Updating and maintaining records.
- Collecting, summarizing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data.
What Does It Pay?
According to Salary.com, the average salary for a dispatcher is about $45,000. Plus, it offers the perk of being a dependable work-at-home career option away from the stressors of teaching.
What is the Schedule?
Many dispatching jobs are in the typical 9 to 5 work hours category. There are some, however, outside of the usual work day. It depends greatly on which sector you work in. To find available remote dispatching jobs, try searching LinkedIn, Indeed.com, and ZipRecruiter.com.
Don’t forget to check out our list of work at home jobs for English teachers and Math teachers.
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