Now Teach -

A common theme among the people I talk to looking to change careers to teaching is finance. How is it affordable, what support is available and what lifestyle changes will need to be made? These are just some of the regular questions around financing a career change I and the team receive.

The truth is that there is no one answer to any of these questions because it depends on your own circumstances. So, with that in mind, we thought it best to open the floor up to our Now Teachers to answer your finance questions via our LinkedIn page, so they could offer their wisdom first-hand.

One of our followers, Lucy H, asked the key questions – and member of our Network jumped in to share their reflections.

“I was wondering how people manage to finance this switch - do they rely on support from a higher-earning partner, or wait until they've saved enough to cushion the drop in income? Especially when teaching a subject which isn't supported by a bursary or scholarship.”

It starts with planning

Ramsay Short, former journalist now teaching English said:

“This is a very real question, one people don’t talk about enough, and is of course a major reason why people don't do it!

I switched via the salaried route, and even then, I had to take a serious financial hit. The salary was modest at best, but crucially, I wasn’t paying to train, which made it just about viable.

“For me, it came down to a mix of having some savings behind me, being willing to adjust my lifestyle for a couple of years and being very clear on why I was making the move. Not everyone has a higher-earning partner to fall back on and many people who do this don’t.

“For me, it was a short-term sacrifice for a long-term shift into something more meaningful—and I’d still make the same decision again!”

Ramsay’s right - financial considerations are often the biggest barriers for people switching into teaching. I always encourage planning carefully, looking at savings, lifestyle adjustments, and the different training routes.

Salaried programmes, for example, let you train without paying fees, which can make a difference. It is worth noting, though, that most require some teaching experience and often finding your own school placement, so these can be more difficult to secure.

Remember your ‘Why’

Tom Engell, former corporate comms professional now teaching English added his thoughts:

“I truly don't think there is a single answer. It is, of course, a vital question - you need to know that you're not going to struggle financially. My case was a mixture of the things you mention and those that other colleagues touch on in their replies.

“All that said, once the numbers add up, I would certainly argue that being paid less is vastly outweighed by the sense of challenge, satisfaction - and just freshness. Few people lie on their deathbed and give thanks for their avoidance of risk and new experiences. If you're tempted...go for it!”

This is such a great point, there’s no single answer when it comes to finances, and everyone’s situation is different. You may be eligible for financial support through student finance, not only the tuition fees but also means tested maintenance grants and loans.

As Tom shares, what really matters is that the challenge, satisfaction, and new career of teaching often outweigh the pay cut. It is always important to move when the time is right for you.

Timing is vital

Macrui Dostourian, former lawyer now teaching Maths replied:

“Although I had a bursary, I had to rely on making lifestyle changes and on waiting for my kids to get older so I wouldn't have childcare expenses. I had known I wanted a change for a long time, and I knew that whatever job I changed to would mean a drop in salary (some of the alternatives I looked into actually pay less than teaching). It also helps that teaching salaries go up fairly quickly in the first few years.”

This is a really helpful perspective. I speak to many Now Teachers to discuss timing, family commitments, and lifestyle adjustments and how these play a big role in making a career switch into teaching. Even with a bursary or other support, it’s important to plan around childcare, savings, and potential pay changes.

The encouraging part is, as Macrui says, that teaching salaries tend to rise fairly quickly in the early years, making the transition more manageable over time. With careful planning and patience, you can make a meaningful career change achievable.

What to do next

As you can see from the responses we had from some of our Now Teachers, everyone’s circumstances are different.

The most important point to remember is that no matter your situation, I and the rest of the Now Teach team will help you explore every avenue of support available, not just with regards to finance, but through every stage of your career change.