Teachers have one of the toughest jobs out there—not only are you an educator, but you’re also a babysitter and role model, too. You work early mornings and sometimes late nights. That’s why it can feel very demanding for some—and why some choose to leave teaching for another career path.

One former teacher named Abby Norman posted to her Twitter to educate others on why she left her career teaching. And it’s pretty eye-opening:

“I quit my teaching job and now make more bartending for 15 less hours week. Also I get blamed for way way less and get told thank you way way more. No lesson plans or grading papers. Remember this when people ask about the teacher shortage.”

Her tweet caused other former teachers to spill the details on why they decided to quit teacher to pursue a different career path. Here are the top answers.

1. More Money

   I left my teaching job to go back to IT and literally doubled my salary overnight. For the next 2 years people tried to get me to come back to teach comp. sci and could never offer more than 60% of what I was making. At some point altruism isn’t enough.

   — Fenian Santa (@FenianSanta) July 18, 2021

2. Better Physical Health

   Former teacher and medically retired principal here with EdD…the amount of work, harassment, and mandatory emotional toll (yet to see that mentioned) in education-with low pay, crap benefits- my Docs said I should quit or else I’d die. So there’s that.

   — The Alien Away-Team. (@AFreakingBreak) July 18, 2021

3. More Flexible Schedule

   Quit teaching English, got a job in recruiting making 20k more per year (was making master’s degree salary as a teacher), now I can WFH, and I bank a lot of time off due to schedule flex. Also was paid for my 4 months of maternity leave. And no more admin to judge my pedagogy.

   — Tee hee heezy (@TheLJWay85) July 18, 2021

4. Better Work/Life Balance

   I quit my (hs theatre) teaching job and will be making less money but the change in work/life balance more than makes up for it. No more eighty hour weeks or holier than thou types telling me I should be glad to sacrifice myself for future generations.

   — Unofficial Theatre Teacher (@UnofficialMsRob) July 18, 2021

5. Less Stress

   I just made that transition after 9 years of teaching. I actually got slightly better pay and health insurance as a teacher of 9 years than as a beginning software engineer, but my stress is so much lower. It has been a really good transition for me.

   — Mr. Ancalade (@MrAncalade) July 18, 2021

6. No Commute

   I was laid off from a private school and started tutoring independently. Made more net pay working 25-30 hours a week with no commute, duties, or management BS. Taught more subjects too. Organized education is usually a mediocre compromise at best.

   — Dale Baker (@DB1212013) July 18, 2021

7. Less Hours

   I was a substitute teacher in 1998 and was aghast when I discovered my teenage son made more money in tips delivering pizza for 5 hours than I did as a sub in his school on the same day.

   — Jill Dehlin (@jdehlin) July 18, 2021

8. Everything is Better

   I quit my teaching job too bc I was working 80+ hours/week for very little pay, & I found out a teacher friend w/ 30-more years of experience only brings home $1k more per month than me. Imagine working your @$$ off for 30 years for just $1k more, all while being treated like💩?

   — QuiteRandomMel (@melnoah42) July 18, 2021

9. Needed More Support

   After last year I’m surprised that anyone is returning to a classroom. My step-sis didn’t. Her district required her to teach in person all year and didn’t provide any scheduling assistance or time off to get the vaccine.

   — Sue H-P and Bizzy and Minnie and Booger 🐾🌵🌲 (@sehp1020) July 18, 2021

10. Too Draining

    A quarter of the teachers in my school left after this draining year, and many of us who are left are strategizing our way out. I love my students and want to do everything possible for them, but I’m just so tired. Teaching takes years off lives.

    — Matty (@Matty0707) July 18, 2021

11. No COVID Testing

    I retired early in July 2020 because of no: CoVid testing, potential vaccines or government protections for schools during a Global Pandemic💔 I felt like I was the only one protecting myself & my 79 year old Momma❗️Altho I miss teaching, my friends & students, I don’t regret it. pic.twitter.com/AtZKlkTcJ7

    — Sheri_Scary💙 Fully Vaxxed & Masked (@sheri_scary) July 18, 2021

12. Exhausted and Overworked

    Good for you! I’m quitting my reading interventionist position. I’m exhausted, overworked, and I can’t survive on my pay. I hold a MA and loved what I did, but that didn’t feed my daughter and I. I’ve no idea what I’m doing in Sept. but that’s better than going back to teaching.

    — Excessively Diverted (@librariesrgreat) July 18, 2021

13. No Respect

    Teachers shouldn’t have to get a 2nd job to make ends meet, put up with being disrespected by parents & students, do unpaid work (all work outside of school hours-planning and grading-are unpaid), buy supplies w/ our $-no other profession has to. Why do you think teachers should?

    — Stephanie Shutes (@StephanieShutes) July 18, 2021

Do you know a teacher who quit their job to embrace a new career?