Updated October 2026
What jobs can PE, music and art teachers do outside the classroom?
Established in 2019, Teacher Career Coach is a community sharing honest advice for teachers considering new careers. Featured in WSJ, NPR, and Yahoo News, 10k former teachers have used our resources to get new roles.
If you are a specialty teacher thinking about leaving the classroom, you may be asking yourself, “What are some alternative jobs for teachers with my subject matter expertise?”
Our team receives messages daily from PE, Music, Art, and other specialty teachers who wonder if the alternative careers we recommend could also work for them. The answer is yes! Specialty teachers have the same types of skills that general classroom teachers have, and can apply for the same types of roles. As you begin searching for an alternative job, you can even put “Teacher” on your resume instead of “Music Teacher.”
However, if you are particularly passionate about your subject area and would love a career that utilizes your specific set of skills, you can find that too! In addition to your teaching skills, you also have skills related to your area of expertise, which can actually help you if you are planning to apply for alternative jobs that align with your subject area.
Searching for Jobs and Finding a Good Fit
Google is going to be your best friend when you are searching for an alternative job that fits your specific passion. Think about the different topics within your subject area that interest you most and type them into Google along with other words that describe the roles you want to pursue, such as “curriculum writing” or “human resources.”
Another strategy that could help you find a good fit is to think of companies first and then navigate to their careers page to browse open positions. For example, if there is a certain brand of equipment or supplies you use in your classroom, research the company to see if they are hiring. Chances are they have positions in human resources, learning and development, corporate training, sales, marketing, project management, customer success and other positions you are qualified for. If you have experience using their product and are passionate about their mission, you can talk about that during the interview process.
All of the alternative jobs that are a great fit for former teachers are still a great fit for PE, music, and art teachers too. Just pay attention to what companies you apply to. This is not to say that a PE teacher cannot land a job as an instructional designer at a tech company. It is possible, but many specialty teachers choose their subject area based on their true passion. So why wouldn’t you want to continue to foster that passion?
Alternative Jobs for PE Teachers
So many PE teachers have reached out to us asking for recommendations on what alternative jobs to search for. Teaching physical education to children is such a specific niche that they feel hopeless about finding an alternative career.
Think about the brand of basketballs you use in gym class, or the textbook publisher of your CPR curriculum. Now research those companies, find the careers page, and determine what roles interest you.
Many PE teachers are also coaches, which means you have a passion for a particular sport. Use that passion to fuel your career search! When I was a teacher, I was also a volleyball coach. During the beginning stages of my search for an alternative job, I researched volleyball brands I was familiar with and found sporting goods companies with open positions in a variety of departments.
If you are struggling with where to start, here are some suggestions for companies and roles you can look into as a PE teacher interested in an alternative job:
- PE/ Health professional development companies
- PE/ Health curriculum companies
- Youth sports programs
- Sporting goods companies
- Sports organizations
- Sports camps
- Fitness organizations
- Gym management
- Recreation management
- Higher education athletic programs
- Non-profits concentrated on sports/ physical fitness
Alternative Jobs for Music Teachers
We often hear from music teachers who have the same feelings about being underqualified for alternative jobs. To reiterate what I said earlier, teachers, no matter the subject area, can translate their experience in the classroom to fit alternative jobs. However, if music is something you cannot imagine your life without, then look for roles that include music.
Think about the brand of instruments or sheet music you use in your class, or the company that supplies the virtual music curriculum. Now research those companies, find the careers page, and determine what roles interest you.
If you are struggling with where to start, here are some suggestions for companies and roles you can look into as a music teacher interested in an alternative job:
- Music professional development companies
- Music curriculum companies
- Youth music programs
- Instrument/supply companies
- Music organizations
- Music camps
- Higher education music programs
- Non-profits concentrated on music
Alternative Jobs for Art Teachers
Art teachers searching for alternative jobs also have so many skills to offer in positions outside the classroom. Some of the roles we recommend teachers investigate, such as instructional design and graphic design, usually appeal to more creative teachers. These positions might be a great fit for a former art teacher, but some may be looking for something different that will still support the arts.
Think about the brand of art supplies you use in your class, or the company that writes your fine arts curriculum. Now research those companies, find the careers page, and determine what roles interest you.
If you are struggling with where to start, here are some suggestions for companies and roles you can look into as an art teacher interested in an alternative job:
- Art professional development companies
- Art curriculum companies
- Youth art programs
- Art supply companies
- Museums
- Art organizations
- Art camps
- Higher education art programs
- Non-profits concentrated on art
Turn your subject into a new career
The Teacher Career Coach Course helps specialty teachers choose a path and translate their experience with HR-written resume templates, LinkedIn guidance and interview prep. Starting at $39/month, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
See what’s inside the course →Narrow Your Focus First
While finding companies first based on your interests can be a great way to find roles that suit your expertise, keep in mind that narrowing your focus should be the first step to finding an alternative job. Applying to several different types of roles because you are desperate for any job outside of the classroom is not going to impress hiring managers.
Companies want to know that you are excited about the exact role you applied for, and you need to be able to explain to them why that is. Narrowing your focus to what type of role you want to pursue should be the first step.
Market yourself enthusiastically for the job in front of you. Do you love planning and organization? Look into project manager roles. Are you an expert at building relationships and collaborating with a team? Customer success or human resources might be your path.
It is so important as you begin the search for alternative jobs that you do your homework. Determine a clear path you want to take, and then produce a list of all the things you love about the role and why it would be a great fit for you.
Once you know the types of positions you want to look for, then circle back to your passion for a particular subject area and get to work. Happy searching!
Job titles to search, by subject
The organizations above are where to look. These are the job titles to type into the search bar.
PE and health teachers
Corporate wellness coordinator
Plan wellness programs and challenges for employees.
Youth sports or recreation program manager
Run leagues, camps and programs for parks departments, YMCAs or nonprofits.
Fitness or gym manager
Manage staff, members and programs at a fitness facility.
Athletic program coordinator
Support college or club athletic programs with operations and scheduling.
Health educator
Teach health topics for hospitals, public health departments or nonprofits.
Sporting goods sales or training
Sell or train customers on products for schools and teams.
Music teachers
Arts administrator
Run programs, events and operations for orchestras, theaters and arts nonprofits.
Music education program manager
Lead youth music programs for nonprofits and community organizations.
Private lesson studio owner
Build a lesson business, in person or online.
Music edtech customer success or content
Support teachers using music learning platforms.
Instrument and supply sales
Work with school music programs as a sales rep or educational consultant.
Event and production coordinator
Use your concert-planning experience in events.
Art teachers
Museum educator
Design and lead programs for visitors, schools and families.
Graphic or visual designer
Turn your design skills into brand, marketing or product design work.
Arts nonprofit program coordinator
Run community art programs and partnerships.
Creative content creator
Make visual content for brands, curriculum companies or social media.
Art supply education or sales
Train educators and customers on products.
Curriculum developer
Create art curriculum for education companies.
Don’t box yourself in
Your subject is a great starting point, but it isn’t the only option. Many specialty teachers move into general paths like corporate training, customer success, project management and sales, where your presenting, organizing and relationship skills matter more than your subject. See the best jobs for former teachers for those paths.
Frequently asked questions about alternative jobs for specialty teachers
What can a PE teacher do besides teach?
PE teachers often move into corporate wellness, youth sports and recreation management, fitness management, athletic program coordination, health education and sporting goods sales or training.
What jobs can music teachers get outside the classroom?
Music teachers move into arts administration, music program management for nonprofits, private lessons, music edtech, instrument sales and event production.
What can art teachers do instead of teaching?
Art teachers become museum educators, graphic designers, arts nonprofit coordinators, content creators, curriculum developers and art supply educators.
Do I need a new degree?
Usually not. A short course in a tool, like design software for art teachers, can help, but your experience and portfolio matter most.
Ready for your next step?
Not sure what comes next? The Teacher Career Coach Course walks you step by step through choosing a new path, translating your resume, networking and interviewing.
