Annual Probability of a Teacher Leaving the Profession

Teacher turnover remains a significant challenge in US education. Approximately 8% of public school teachers leave the profession entirely each year, while an additional 8% move to different schools (total turnover of about 16%). This translates to roughly 250,000 teachers leaving the profession annually.

The primary reasons teachers cite for leaving include low salary (the average public school teacher salary is about $66,000 but varies widely by state), burnout and workload, lack of administrative support, student behavior issues, and a desire for a career change. Teacher burnout worsened significantly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, with surveys showing over 50% of teachers reported considering leaving the profession.

Teacher shortages are most acute in special education, math, science, and bilingual education, and in rural and high-poverty schools. The cost of teacher turnover to school districts is estimated at $20,000 per teacher who leaves. Strategies to improve retention include higher salaries, reduced class sizes, mentoring programs for new teachers, and improved working conditions. States with the highest teacher salaries generally have the lowest turnover rates.