Looking for new Career

[Ghzbani]

So I've been a highschool math teacher in Texas for 4 years now. While I definitely love the work and kids, and it's something I'd definitely like to come back to, with the way texas is treating the pandemic (as if its nonexistent) my wife has been strongly encouraging me to leave education.

With that in mind, I'm honestly not sure what kinds of jobs to think about applying for. As an fyi I've been teaching for 4 years. Prior to that I worked a string of administrative assistant-type jobs. I have a bachelor's in business administration.

I had previously considered getting a real estate agent license but we will likely be moving to colorado in the next year (wife's work) so I'm not sure if that's a good idea.

Any advice at all is sincerely appreciated. Teaching is a profession I really do enjoy but the safety (or lack thereof) combined with the relatively low pay (about half of what my wife makes) seems to point to this being a post FIRE career choice.

[mozar]

Is your wife saying she wants you to have a job that is 100% remote? Real estate you can do virtual showings but at some point you'll have to meet the client.

Seems like the problem is the state not the career, imo. In my state all teachers are working completely remote.

If you do actually want to change careers coding is one where it may be easier to work from home, depending on the company.

[samanil]

I've heard math teachers can make good money in certain markets. I live in Seattle and a friend who has been teaching English for 20 years makes 6 figures (so he says). He has a masters and additional certificates that increased his pay. He also gets summers off. Furthermore, this whole area is taking the pandemic very seriously. No school for the rest of the school year I believe.

[thesis]

I don't know how well schools here in Colorado have handled the pandemic, but if you otherwise like the work, it might be worth sticking with it wherever you end up. But if you want to combine your math experience with programming, you might find some very lucrative opportunities here. For what it's worth, there's a high demand for people who can teach programming and computer science well, so if you really love teaching, that's an angle you could approach, and it might open quite a few doors.

[Proud Foot]

Since you enjoy teaching, have you looked at teaching for a virtual charter school? Where I am the local virtual charter school has 2-3x'ed their enrollment numbers this year as a result of COVID and are looking for qualified teachers to meet the demand.

[fpjeepy]

I would suggest you read Cal Newport's "So Good They Can't Ignore You" before you make any decisions.