20 Important Rewards of Being a Teacher To Consider

Being a teacher can be a personally and professionally rewarding career. Regardless of your current background and qualifications, knowing how a career in teaching could benefit you can help you decide whether pursuing teaching is the right professional move for you. Discovering the rewards of being a teacher can be an important step in beginning an engaging career in education.

In this article, we discuss different types of teachers and list 20 rewards of being a teacher.

What is a teacher?

A teacher is a person who instructs others, helping them acquire information or competence. The scope of their teaching material varies depending on the educational facility they work for, ranging from multiple subjects in the case of kindergarten and elementary school teachers, to specialization in one particular subject for high school and college teachers. Their exact duties, responsibilities and work environment also vary depending on their educational facility and the age of their students.

Some of the most common types of teachers are:

• Preschool teachers: Preschool teachers help children ages 3 to 5 years old prepare for kindergarten with activities that improve their social skills, motor skills, vocabulary, language and personal hygiene. These lessons often use elements like music, art, storytelling, rhyming, dancing and play-acting to engage with the kids in group or individual settings with activities, games and general play.

• Kindergarten teachers: Kindergarten teachers typically help children further the skills they developed in preschool to prepare them for elementary school. Aside from improving social and personal hygiene skills, these teachers introduce students to school subjects like basic reading, writing and math.

• Elementary school teachers: Elementary school teachers, depending on the school and district, may instruct students from first through eighth grade. As students get older, the curriculum becomes more complex, and they learn more about the essential school subjects, such as math, communication arts, history and science.

• High school teacher: High school teachers specialize in one subject and teach students in the ninth through twelfth grades, and they lead multiple classes within a single day to instruct more students. They may also significantly influence their students' futures because students are older and beginning to make career-related decisions.

• Professors: Professors are the highest level of teachers, and they instruct students in various settings, such as universities or professional schools. While their class sizes may range from small to large, they typically specialize in one subject to teach.

Related: 15 Important Pros and Cons of Being a Teacher To Consider

What are the rewards of being a teacher?

Some of the most important benefits of working as a teacher are:

1. You can make a positive impact on society

Regardless of the type of teacher you are and the ages of your students, teaching them skills and influencing their mindset can help them better integrate into society as adults. Education is usually an essential part of a successful career, meaning that teachers can impact future generations. Besides helping them gain useful skills, teachers are also usually role models for their students, influencing their character development.

2. You can shape your own work environment

Most professions have set work environments that all employees need to adhere to. As a teacher, you're usually able to create a personalized classroom environment and adapt it to your teaching technique and personal preferences, within certain guidelines. Having the freedom to do so can help you enjoy your work and also help students feel comfortable and motivated to learn.

Related: Types of Education and Work Environments for Teachers

3. You get appreciation from former students

Since effective teachers can have a positive influence on their students' lives, they're likely to get appreciation from them many years after graduation. The most common situations when you can get the chance to meet former students are at reunions and when they reach out to you. Adults usually remember the teachers who inspired them and helped them mature both personally and professionally, so being a good teacher can have positive ramifications even decades later.

4. You have the chance to talk about your passion

If you teach a particular subject, you're likely to have a personal passion for that field. Teaching gives you the chance to share your passion with your students and talk about things that personally interest you. Besides making work more enjoyable, teaching subjects that you're also personally passionate about can help you be more effective.

5. You learn new things

Regardless of how well-prepared you are in a subject area, teaching can require you to gain deeper knowledge and adapt to the latest developments in that particular subject. You're also likely to get questions from students and giving them a proper and accurate answer may require further research. This usually means that you constantly get to learn new things and get better at your job as you gain experience.

6. You usually have high job security

Teaching jobs usually have higher than average job security, as there is a constant need for qualified educators and future technological advances are less likely to change that compared to other fields. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics expects overall employment for kindergarten and elementary school teachers to increase by 4% from 2021 to 2031 and for high school teachers to increase by 5% from 2021 to 2031. It credits these increases to meeting demands to replace teachers and responding to a growing desire for smaller class sizes.

Read more: Job Outlook for Teachers: 5 States With the Most Positions

7. You can have an appropriate work-life balance

Most teachers have clearly set schedules, helping them plan their personal lives accordingly. Also, unlike other professions, there's usually no need for working night shifts and weekends. Teachers also benefit from more days off than most professions, including all holidays and vacation periods that their students enjoy.

8. You can develop transferable skills

Working as a teacher helps you develop a diverse skill set with transferable skills. These are skills that may be beneficial or applicable in other careers within the education field or in new industries entirely. Building these skills may help you be a more successful person and enjoy more potential career opportunities.

Related: 40 of the Best Alternative Jobs for Former Teachers

9. You work with others

Teaching is a collaborative occupation. Depending on the grade level and subject you teach, you may work with your peers to develop a new curriculum or create new ways to instruct your students. It also may feel rewarding to know you have the support of your fellow teachers, creating a sense of camaraderie.

10. You can advance your career

Being a teacher can be an excellent start for a fulfilling career in education. It may be possible to advance to other careers within this field, such as those within administration, leadership or higher levels of education. These opportunities may help keep your career exciting and offer additional benefits, such as more pay or ways to grow.

Read more: What Are Advancement Opportunities for Teachers? And 6 To Consider

11. You have variety in your workdays

While there may be some routine in teaching, each day is largely unique. Working with students may present new challenges each day, allowing you to solve new problems. You often also have the freedom to teach materials as you want, enabling you to introduce different ways for students to learn and avoiding repeating the same simple days.

12. You can form lasting relationships

Teachers often form meaningful relationships with other educations, their students and even their students' families. You may have the opportunity to watch students grow and master new skills, which can be rewarding as you see them succeed. This career path enables you to watch students reach important milestones and celebrate their achievements.

13. You can choose who you work with

There are many types of teachers, allowing you to decide what age and type of students you want to teach. Many universities also allow you to specialize in instructing a certain age and, in some instances, subject when earning your degree. For example, if you enjoy working with younger kids, you may specialize in elementary education. Similarly, if you love math but want to work with older students, you could specialize in secondary math education.

14. You watch students succeed

Students often experience challenges, especially when learning difficult materials. Being a teacher allows you to support them as they try to understand the subject and watch them develop their skills. It may feel rewarding to see a student finally succeed at something they previously struggled with and have their own sense of accomplishment.

Related: 8 Qualities of a Good Teacher (And Tips for How To Develop Them)

15. You can celebrate

There are a variety of milestones that occur throughout the year, and being a teacher allows you to celebrate them and make your students feel special. For example, you may do something to spotlight each student on their birthday or half-birthday. You can also create benchmark achievements for the class to celebrate, such as having a pizza party once everyone completes their reading goals for the quarter.

16. You experience positivity

Schools are often positive, encouraging environments to help students feel safe and supported. Students often return this positivity back to teachers to show their appreciation for them. For example, students may draw pictures to give you or they may compliment you to let you know that you're important to them.

17. You don't have a normal desk job

Teaching differs from many traditional desk jobs that may involve working from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Instead, work hours may be earlier, allowing you to finish your day earlier or have time to get to necessary personal appointments. You may also enjoy a more active job than being behind a desk because, depending on your class type, your work requires you to be in front of a class to lecture, lead activities or play with students.

18. You can be creative

Being a teacher allows you to develop and practice your own creativity, even if you're not an art, music or theater teacher. Each year gives you the chance to plan a unique way to approach learning that year, and you can try new things. You can also decorate your classroom in new ways that excite and engage students. This can help you enjoy your space and receive creative rewards from your job, too.

Related: Creativity Skills: Definition, Tips and Examples

19. You have memorable days

Working as a teacher can provide you with special memories and funny stories. Kids often say hilarious things without even meaning to, giving you a good story to tell later and displaying their natural sense of curiosity. You may also develop memories on days with special events, field trips or even big accomplishments that you reflect on later in life.

20. You receive respect

Many people understand that teaching is hard work. As a result, others appreciate teachers for what they do and respect them. It may feel rewarding to know that people admire your work and that parents are grateful for the skills and knowledge you share with their children.