Feeling Burned Out as a Teacher?
We heard a lot about teacher burnout during the pandemic. There were many teachers leaving the profession due to tremendous stress from teaching during that time. However, several years later, we continue to see high teacher burnout rates and many choosing to pursue new careers. So, if you’re a teacher considering a career move, this post shares perspectives of some former teachers who transitioned to careers in the field of ABA therapy.
To leave or not to leave teaching?
For many special education teachers, burnout doesn’t come from a lack of passion—it comes from limited resources, large caseloads, and the ongoing challenge of meeting widely diverse student needs in a traditional classroom setting. Balancing academic instruction with behavior support can feel overwhelming, leaving educators searching for a more sustainable way to make an impact.
As a result, many special education teachers explore a career change into Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). This transition allows educators to focus on individualized, evidence-based support while continuing to work closely with children who need it most.
In ABA settings, former teachers often find renewed purpose in helping children develop functional skills, improve emotional regulation, and make meaningful progress—one learner at a time. The structured, data-informed approach of ABA provides clarity and measurable outcomes, while ongoing collaboration with families and clinical teams reinforces whole-child support.
At Healing Haven, educators frequently bring their classroom expertise into roles such as Behavior Technician, with opportunities to grow professionally and pursue certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Skills like lesson planning, data collection, collaboration, and understanding diverse learning styles naturally transfer into ABA therapy—within an environment designed around individualized care rather than one-size-fits-all instruction.
Leaving teaching doesn’t mean leaving behind your calling. For many special education teachers, transitioning into ABA is a way to continue supporting children and families—while finding balance, professional growth, and a setting built to support both clients and clinicians.
Why consider the field of ABA
If you’re a teacher who recently left your position or are toying with the idea of a career change, you might feel inhibited by uncertainty of where to go next. Our team might be biased, but jobs in Applied Behavior Analysis are an excellent option for teachers experiencing burnout.
Many former teachers move into this field and find their position as a Behavior Technician very manageable and much less stressful. Additionally, working in this field, you are still able to make a difference in young lives. If you’ve left teaching, your experience and skills are not lost. Consider these four reasons why ABA therapy might be the perfect post-teaching career for you.
1. Utilize similar skills
As teachers, you do so much and wear too many different hats—more than most people realize. Yet, in turn, you develop invaluable skills that are not just limited to life in the classroom. These include patience, creative thinking, and excellent communication skills. Put these refined skills to use in ABA therapy as a Behavior Technician or Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Both positions require close communication with parents and great attention to detail when taking data on a client’s therapy plan. Because ABA is evidence-based, it requires the precise organizational skills and thoroughness that teachers acquire. Additionally, thinking outside-the-box is helpful in ABA when analyzing and creating behavior intervention plans. Because teachers experience a range of behaviors in the classroom, they bring valuable insight when understanding motives for behavior in their clients.
2. One-on-one work versus overpacked classrooms
In ABA therapy, working with kids with high behaviors can be difficult at times. However, Behavior Technicians work one-on-one with a client and receive supervision from the client’s BCBA. BCBAs often work with 7-10 clients total but not all at the same time; they schedule times to be with each client individually. BCBAs are able to work with one child at a time, create tailored treatment plans, and track progress in a way that feels both intentional and impactful.
Teachers learn how to manage behavior in classrooms of numerous kids at once. So, imagine the ease of only having to worry about one of those kids at a time—you can absolutely do this!
3. Continue making a difference
Teachers often choose their profession because they want to make a difference in children’s lives. Good news—you don’t have to leave that behind in ABA therapy. Our own Healing Haven Behavior Technicians often speak to the fulfillment of helping kids and families, as well as seeing kids’ quality of life improve drastically.
Former teachers-turned-BCBAs share that they value the opportunity to get to know clients and families better, creating more personal connections. They also find an increased level of resources provided in this field to get the children what they need.
A career in ABA therapy means every day you are actively working toward the purpose of changing someone(s) life for the better. ABA helps build the foundational skills that support long-term success in the classroom—so in many ways, ABA is connected to education, just through a more focused lens.
4. Comparable and/or better compensation
Making a difference in young lives is the ultimate fulfillment in being a teacher. Yet, it’s realistic to want respectable compensation for your work. Unfortunately, as we are aware, most teachers are underpaid. According to Salary.com the average teacher salary in Michigan ranges between $52,700 and $74,500 per year, depending on experience. In comparison, a BCBAs annual salary ranges from $77,000 up to over $100,000, depending on experience and location. And Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), which is an entry level position, make an average of $49,000 per year working full-time in Michigan. Since the BCBA position requires a master’s degree and licensing, and the Registered Behavior Technician position does not, this is a justifiable difference.
Though Behavior Technicians don’t make quite the same amount as BCBAs, once a Behavior Technician earns their RBT credential, they can make nearly the same as a new teacher. ABA career salaries line up as comparable and even better compensation to that of teaching.
Ready for change?
The intensifying issues educators face today are understandably enough to cause teacher burnout. However, the decision to leave teaching and try a whole new career is not made lightly.
Are you experiencing teacher burnout? If so, take a look at Behavior Technician opportunities as a possible new career path. Still have questions? Head over to the Join our Team page to learn more and apply.
Hiring Event
We invite you to schedule an interview at our Hiring Event on Thursday, May 28. We have interview time slots available between 8 am and 6 pm, so we hope you’ll join us after school to discover how you can transition to a new career that continues to make a difference! Schedule your interview today.
We are ready to welcome you to the world of ABA and Healing Haven!