WASHINGTON, D.C., March 2, 2026 — New Gallup research reveals that 71% of U.S. teachers hold at least one second job, a sign of the financial strain that has become a daily reality for educators across the country. The findings are from the latest Walton Family Foundation–Gallup Teaching for Tomorrow study, conducted in partnership with the Bipartisan Policy Center. While most teachers remain committed to teaching, many report difficulty covering household expenses, driving significant numbers to take on additional work during the school year itself.

Second Jobs Are Common and Often Extend into the School Year

Nearly one in three teachers (31%) report holding a second job unrelated to teaching, while 62% say they have held a second job related to education, such as coaching, tutoring or mentoring. Together, these figures amount to 71% of teachers holding at least one type of second job. These roles are not limited to school breaks — among teachers with side jobs, 85% say the work takes place at least partially during the school year, compared with just 15% who say it occurs only during school breaks.

Teachers with non-teaching-related second jobs are more likely to report that the additional work affects their teaching responsibilities. Among teachers with non-education side jobs, 34% say their second job has a negative impact on their teaching, compared with 29% of teachers who hold both education-related and non-education-related jobs and 20% of teachers whose second job is related to teaching. Nearly half of teachers with additional jobs (46%) say their second job has no impact on their teaching responsibilities, while 29% say it has a positive impact.

Only a Minority of Teachers Live Comfortably on Their Income

Financial security remains out of reach for many educators. A majority of teachers (52%) say they are getting by on their present household income, while 28% report living comfortably and 21% say they find it difficult to get by. Financial strain is especially pronounced among teachers who are the sole earners in their households. Among women teachers who are the only income earner, 29% say they struggle financially, compared with 22% of men who are sole earners and 20% of women with another household income source. Despite these pressures, most teachers report positive views of their workplace, with 69% saying they are satisfied with their place of work.

“This new Gallup report shines a light on the challenges teacher face. We need great teaching more than ever before, and that means we need to better support teachers – reducing financial pressure and burnout and making the profession more sustainable – so they can stay in the classroom,” said Margaret Spellings, president and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center. “We say we value teachers, but our actions often don’t show that we do. We must step up and do what it takes to support teachers so they can focus on their most important role: helping their students learn, think, and thrive.”

Financial Strain Is Linked to Burnout and Classroom Impact

Teachers experiencing the greatest financial strain are also more likely to report burnout. Among teachers who find it difficult to get by, 52% say they feel burned out very often or always, compared with 41% of those getting by and 34% of those living comfortably. These teachers are also over twice as likely to hold a second job unrelated to teaching (46% vs. 22%), suggesting that financial pressure often pushes educators toward non-education work. Teaching-related second jobs such as coaching or tutoring are less closely tied to income needs. While simply holding a second job is not strongly associated with burnout, financial stress and non-teaching work are closely tied to teachers’ reports of strain on their professional responsibilities.

“Teachers are the spark in every classroom, and they’re choosing to stay in the jobs they love, if the conditions exist to support them," said Romy Drucker, director of the education program at the Walton Family Foundation. “By learning from their experiences, we can make teaching sustainable even as the profession evolves.”

Commitment to Teaching Remains Strong

Despite financial challenges, most teachers want to remain in education. Two-thirds (67%) plan to remain in K–12 for the rest of their careers, including 55% who expect to stay in the classroom. Among teachers who say it is very important to continue working with students, 80% plan to stay in the classroom long term. Pay remains a key concern, particularly for those under financial strain. Among teachers who find it difficult to get by, 43% cite higher pay and benefits as the most important aspect of their career growth, compared with 38% of those getting by and 28% of those living comfortably.

About the Walton Family Foundation

The Walton Family Foundation is, at its core, a family-led foundation. Three generations of the descendants of our founders, Sam and Helen Walton, and their spouses work together to lead the foundation and create access to opportunity for people and communities. We work in three areas: improving education, protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and investing in our home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta. To learn more, visit waltonfamilyfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and X.

About the Bipartisan Policy Center

The Bipartisan Policy Center and its advocacy affiliate, BPC Action, demonstrate that impactful results are possible when both parties work together. Operating across the full political spectrum on domestic policy issues, BPC develops solutions that lower the everyday cost of living for families, expand opportunity, and strengthen the economy, while BPC Action works directly with lawmakers to advance those solutions in Congress. For more than 20 years, BPC and BPC Action have consistently achieved results on complex issues, demonstrating that working together across the political spectrum is not only possible but essential.

About Gallup

Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 90 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of the world’s constituents than any other organization.