Percentage of public and private K–12 school teachers who left the profession between the 2020–21 and 2021–22 school years and who indicated that they would consider returning to the position of a K–12 teacher who rated various factors as “very or extremely important” in influencing their decision to return to the position of a K–12 teacher, by school type and selected teacher and school characteristics in 2020–21: School year 2021–22

School type and selected teacher and school characteristics in 2020–21	Ability to maintain teacher retirement benefits		State certification reciprocity (a state’s acceptance of teacher certifications from other states)		An easier and less costly way to renew/earn certification		Smaller class sizes or smaller student load		Availability of full–time teaching positions		Availability of part–time teaching positions		Forgiveness of student loans		Housing incentives (e.g., subsidies, rent assistance, low-interest loans, relocation assistance)		An increase in salary		Availability of suitable childcare options
All teacher leavers	30.4		20.5		21.9		28.6		24.5		15.3		15.8		10.8		34.6		14.1

All public school teacher leavers	31.6		21.0		22.3		28.7		24.1		14.4		16.7		9.9		34.7		13.4

Teacher age as of 2020–21
Less than 30 years	38.2		29.2		36.4		32.2		37.0		11.4		28.2		15.8	!	48.9		38.0
30–49 years	37.4		25.8		24.9		39.4		31.0		12.9		24.0		13.7		44.6		17.7
50–54 years	32.5		21.4		14.2		25.1		15.9		14.7	!	11.1	!	5.8	!	29.3		‡
55 years or more	22.0		12.4		16.6		16.0		13.8		17.1		5.8	!	4.5	!	19.8		‡

Sex¹
Male	32.8		22.6		25.1		29.5		23.3		11.1	!	14.4		14.8		34.7		10.8	!
Female	31.2		20.6		21.6		28.5		24.3		15.2		17.3		8.6		34.7		14.1

Race/ethnicity
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Asian, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Black or African American, non-Hispanic	30.6		24.7		25.4		30.6		27.0		‡		25.6		22.2	!	33.5		9.5	!
Hispanic, regardless of race	38.2		29.0	!	31.6	!	34.6		35.2		30.5	!	31.0	!	14.2	!	40.9		28.7	!
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
White, non-Hispanic	30.9		20.5		21.9		28.0		22.0		12.5		14.8		8.0		33.8		12.6
Two or more races, non-Hispanic	28.5	!	‡		27.5	!	‡		23.3	!	‡		22.6	!	22.6	!	52.7		‡

Base salary
Less than $40,000	29.1		20.4		25.7		21.3		21.0		13.8	!	17.4		14.6	!	38.6		19.1	!
$40,000–$54,999	35.8		24.4		29.9		34.3		31.9		12.8		25.3		14.1		46.1		22.7
$55,000–$69,999	25.8		21.0		19.1		27.5		19.5		12.2		12.7		8.5		27.1		8.5
$70,000 or more	32.2		17.5		14.9		26.1		20.0		18.1		9.8	!	4.3		26.4		4.7	!

Highest degree
Bachelor's degree or less	33.5		21.6		26.7		30.4		28.8		12.3		17.8		14.2		42.8		19.1
Master's degree	29.3		20.5		20.1		28.7		23.3		15.4		14.3		7.0		30.5		12.2
Higher than a master's degree²	36.2		21.6		21.9		25.5		18.1		14.4	!	23.2		12.2		34.9		7.1	!

Years of experience as a teacher at 2020–21 school
3 years or less	32.1		25.8		30.2		30.7		27.5		14.4		19.7		12.8		41.7		19.4
4–9 years	40.1		26.0		25.7		35.1		29.1		12.4		25.4		13.0		41.4		17.3
10–14 years	31.9		15.5	!	19.5	!	27.3	!	24.3	!	12.7	!	17.9	!	‡		37.5		‡
15 or more years	22.3		10.9		7.4		19.9		13.7	!	17.0		3.0	!	2.0	!	16.0		‡

Total years of teaching experience at any school
3 years or less	28.5	!	22.0	!	32.9		31.0	!	27.2	!	21.0	!	24.5	!	13.8		37.3		24.6	!
4–9 years	32.8		30.9		32.7		36.8		36.7		9.4		23.1		13.2		48.7		30.1
10–14 years	39.4		30.8		29.2		32.2		35.3		11.0	!	26.3		26.6		46.2		22.0
15 or more years	29.6		13.9		13.7		23.7		14.9		16.2		9.8		3.4		25.0		1.5	!

Main teaching assignment
Early Childhood or General Elementary	36.1		22.2		25.5		30.0		27.4		15.3		21.5		10.4		36.8		18.5
Special Education	30.2		25.1		17.4		26.8		17.4		11.8	!	13.8		9.9	!	31.8		14.7
Arts and Music	24.8		16.8	!	21.0		17.7	!	13.5	!	17.0	!	10.7	!	12.1	!	25.7		‡
English and Language Arts	21.1		12.4		14.1		19.1		16.7		8.7		12.3		6.6	!	22.1		9.4
English as a Second Language (ESL) or Bilingual Education	35.7	!	‡		‡		17.8	!	17.7	!	‡		‡		‡		36.8	!	‡
Foreign Languages	31.2	!	23.7	!	11.7	!	12.5	!	26.0	!	12.6	!	‡		‡		28.6	!	‡
Health Education	‡		‡		‡		56.7	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Mathematics and Computer Science	37.4		21.0	!	23.8	!	39.1		25.7	!	4.1	!	‡		‡		45.1		18.5	!
Natural Sciences	43.2		21.3	!	22.8	!	48.5		44.8		30.6	!	12.5	!	12.9	!	51.9		6.4	!
Social Sciences	23.3	!	‡		22.8	!	16.9	!	22.2	!	‡		‡		‡		30.9	!	‡
Career or Technical Education	20.9	!	‡		31.1	!	31.1	!	26.9	!	16.2	!	19.5	!	‡		40.2		‡
All Other	45.6	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		34.3	!	‡

Teaching status
Full time	34.1		22.6		24.6		31.1		26.2		14.1		18.1		11.0		38.1		14.3
Part time	19.6		13.9	!	11.5		17.5	!	14.4	!	15.8		10.4		4.8	!	19.3		9.4	!

Certification type³
Regular or standard state certificate or advanced professional certificate	31.2		19.6		19.9		27.4		22.1		12.1		16.0		9.6		33.2		12.6
Certificate issued after satisfying all requirements except the completion of a probationary period	30.0	!	‡		‡		‡		41.0	!	‡		10.2	!	‡		53.9	!	‡
Certificate that requires some additional coursework, student teaching, or passage of a test before regular certification can be obtained	45.6	!	41.1	!	45.3	!	47.9	!	41.7	!	42.0	!	33.3	!	‡		51.0	!	‡
Certificate issued to persons who must complete a certification program in order to continue teaching	‡		‡		44.9	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		49.7	!	‡
None of the above certifications in this state	21.3	!	12.9	!	31.1	!	27.7	!	30.3	!	29.8	!	20.1	!	11.9	!	34.3	!	‡

School classification
Traditional public	31.3		20.3		21.4		28.3		22.9		14.1		16.0		9.0		33.8		13.0
Charter school	34.9		30.7		33.7		33.6		39.2		18.1		25.9		20.6		45.9		18.1	!

Community type
City	32.2		20.7		20.9		35.7		22.2		14.2		17.5		11.9		37.0		9.0
Suburban	31.1		24.0		24.5		27.9		27.1		15.7		14.3		6.0		32.2		15.3
Town	25.5		14.7		18.4		21.7		18.1		12.7	!	14.8		7.7		31.0		18.7	!
Rural	34.5		19.5		22.3		23.3		24.7		13.1		20.5		14.6	!	37.8		14.1

School level⁴
Elementary	30.1		20.0		21.2		25.3		23.1		14.2		16.5		10.3		33.9		15.2
Middle	33.2		26.3		26.9		35.0		24.9		13.3		13.5		6.4		36.8		13.7	!
Secondary/high	34.6		21.8		25.1		26.3		29.2		18.7		17.5		13.5		37.0		13.7	!
Combined/other	27.8	!	14.3	!	12.0	!	37.9	!	14.6	!	6.4	!	21.3	!	5.5	!	29.3	!	4.6	!

Student enrollment
Less than 100	16.6	!	‡		‡		25.0	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		28.3	!	‡
100–199	44.1	!	‡		‡		36.0	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		37.9	!	‡
200–499	36.0		20.9		21.9		29.6		27.3		16.1		20.0		12.2		39.0		16.6
500–749	26.1		23.1		22.4		25.8		20.5		11.9		14.9		7.9	!	33.3		14.2
750–999	31.6		19.6	!	26.6	!	35.0		30.9		14.2	!	23.6	!	17.0	!	42.0		8.6
1,000 or more	31.0		21.2		20.5		27.2		20.6		10.6		10.7		7.2		26.4		5.6

Percent of K–12 students who were approved for free or reduced-price lunches⁵
0–34	31.1		21.1		20.6		28.3		25.0		15.6		14.7		7.7	!	32.1		13.0
35–49	19.4		15.9		14.8		14.7		17.5		11.0		10.5		4.7		18.6		11.9	!
50–74	25.1		19.1		20.6		24.8		18.2		13.9		11.4		11.3		33.7		13.9	!
75 or more	40.1		24.0		27.5		36.5		29.1		14.9		23.7		12.9		43.6		14.1

Region
Northeast	30.8		14.5		10.2		31.7		21.7		18.7	!	15.7	!	5.9	!	30.6		9.7	!
Midwest	23.6		13.0		24.2		28.1		23.7		11.8		14.9		‡		35.3		16.1	!
South	35.2		24.1		24.0		28.1		24.2		12.1		19.9		13.7		38.0		14.8
West	32.2		27.8		28.1		27.7		26.3		16.6		13.4		8.6		32.1		12.0

All private school teacher leavers	23.9		17.3		19.5		27.7		27.1		20.6		10.9	!	15.7		33.7		17.7

Teacher age as of 2020–21
Less than 30 years	29.4	!	29.7	!	28.1	!	50.5		26.9	!	39.2	!	34.7	!	31.5	!	55.1		39.2	!
30–49 years	28.8		16.3		24.4		28.9		44.0		15.9		9.3	!	20.6		50.6		27.8	!
50–54 years	‡		‡		‡		15.6	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		12.9	!	‡
55 years or more	16.9	!	15.0	!	13.9	!	17.6		11.8	!	19.1		‡		‡		9.5	!	‡

Sex¹
Male	39.7		22.3	!	21.4	!	24.9		37.3		25.7	!	‡		13.4	!	33.0		‡
Female	18.7		15.7		18.9		28.6		23.7		18.9		13.1	!	16.5		33.9		18.3

Race/ethnicity
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Asian, non-Hispanic	74.4	!	74.4	!	74.4	!	74.4	!	‡		74.4	!	‡		‡		‡		‡
Black or African American, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Hispanic, regardless of race	35.9		‡		23.4	!	44.6		43.1		‡		26.4	!	22.9	!	45.7		‡
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
White, non-Hispanic	20.5		13.7		15.8		23.5		24.5		18.5		6.9	!	13.0		32.3		15.9	!
Two or more races, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡

Base salary
Less than $40,000	17.5		17.3		21.4		24.9		25.0		22.5		13.6	!	14.6		36.8		21.5
$40,000–$54,999	23.6		16.2		16.8		32.7		24.0		16.8	!	8.7	!	16.0		25.7		8.9	!
$55,000–$69,999	‡		‡		‡		‡		53.9		‡		‡		‡		45.4	!	‡
$70,000 or more	46.1	!	‡		‡		37.2	!	16.2	!	25.8	!	‡		‡		18.2	!	‡

Highest degree
Bachelor's degree or less	17.7		16.5		21.0		25.9		20.6		19.3		10.5	!	17.0		31.7		12.0	!
Master's degree	33.7		16.5	!	16.4	!	34.5		28.6		27.3		‡		13.1	!	29.5		21.9	!
Higher than a master's degree²	‡		‡		‡		‡		52.7	!	‡		‡		‡		56.8	!	‡

Years of experience as a teacher at 2020–21 school
3 years or less	21.5		23.6		24.3		31.1		30.9		19.9	!	18.1	!	19.5	!	43.6		26.1	!
4–9 years	32.7	!	‡		18.2	!	27.0		40.8		24.4		6.9	!	16.6	!	46.9		23.7	!
10–14 years	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		18.0	!	‡
15 or more years	25.0	!	16.4	!	15.9	!	25.6	!	11.7	!	22.8	!	‡		‡		‡		‡

Total years of teaching experience at any school
3 years or less	26.3	!	26.8	!	28.5	!	39.0		33.7		31.7	!	29.1	!	27.3	!	51.5		33.1	!
4–9 years	24.1	!	21.7	!	29.2		35.2		47.0		15.7	!	10.7	!	24.1		58.4		31.2	!
10–14 years	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
15 or more years	21.5		12.8	!	11.9	!	21.5		11.2	!	17.6		‡		‡		10.0	!	‡

Main teaching assignment
Early Childhood or General Elementary	24.8		27.9	!	31.1		37.0		26.7		24.0	!	14.9	!	20.1	!	38.3		17.7	!
Special Education	51.0	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Arts and Music	‡		‡		17.5	!	‡		15.8	!	‡		‡		15.7	!	16.6	!	‡
English and Language Arts	27.0	!	‡		‡		39.6	!	18.3	!	‡		‡		‡		17.2	!	‡
English as a Second Language (ESL) or Bilingual Education	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Foreign Languages	26.5	!	‡		21.1	!	31.0	!	37.3	!	‡		12.8	!	‡		40.1	!	‡
Health Education	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Mathematics and Computer Science	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		44.9	!	‡
Natural Sciences	32.8	!	18.7	!	‡		43.1	!	57.5		32.5	!	‡		34.4	!	42.5	!	‡
Social Sciences	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Career or Technical Education	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
All Other	20.8	!	‡		‡		‡		10.1	!	‡		‡		‡		20.8	!	‡

Teaching status
Full time	24.2		19.1		20.4		29.9		30.5		21.5		14.2	!	15.5		37.7		19.4	!
Part time	23.4	!	13.9	!	17.8	!	23.3	!	20.1	!	18.6		‡		16.0	!	25.5	!	‡

School classification
Catholic	22.8		16.0	!	22.1	!	17.7		30.9		15.5	!	7.9	!	15.7	!	35.2		9.0	!
Other religious	20.3		14.9	!	17.6		29.0		23.5		22.4		12.8	!	14.7		32.6		18.1	!
Nonsectarian	31.3	!	23.7	!	20.4	!	35.6	!	30.0	!	22.0	!	‡		‡		33.2	!	26.7	!

Community type
City	23.5	!	21.3	!	21.4	!	27.6		30.3		14.2	!	8.3	!	15.7		35.7		19.3	!
Suburban	27.0		14.6	!	18.3	!	30.7		31.6		27.1		15.5	!	18.3	!	44.1		23.0	!
Town	22.4	!	25.6	!	27.6	!	37.0	!	20.3	!	18.8	!	‡		21.8	!	23.2	!	‡
Rural	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		19.7	!	‡		‡		‡		‡

School level⁴
Elementary/middle	18.9		21.4		23.2		25.7		21.1		17.8	!	11.1	!	17.3	!	33.9		11.0	!
Secondary/high	37.6		17.0	!	17.5	!	22.9	!	46.5		19.4	!	5.8	!	14.1	!	42.5		30.8	!
Combined/other	19.5		13.5		17.1		33.1		19.5		24.2		14.4	!	15.2		27.2	!	15.3	!

Student enrollment
Less than 100	21.0	!	24.1	!	24.6	!	25.7	!	29.8	!	23.5	!	16.2	!	18.7	!	39.1		30.6	!
100–199	32.0	!	14.6	!	13.8	!	14.9	!	31.2	!	‡		‡		11.0	!	35.9		‡
200–499	10.8	!	11.6	!	16.4	!	33.1	!	24.0		31.3	!	‡		12.8	!	31.5	!	‡
500–749	32.7	!	‡		24.0	!	27.0	!	22.4	!	18.8	!	11.5	!	‡		29.2	!	‡
750 or more	50.9	!	‡		‡		54.4		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡

Region
Northeast	39.0		‡		25.6	!	30.8	!	26.4	!	‡		‡		29.1	!	42.1		‡
Midwest	13.8	!	15.9	!	22.2		20.6	!	22.8	!	15.2	!	‡		13.5	!	23.2		9.4	!
South	24.3		14.8	!	15.8	!	30.3		25.9		23.2		14.3	!	14.3		34.3		19.0	!
West	21.2	!	19.8	!	19.9	!	26.7	!	33.2	!	20.6	!	‡		11.0	!	35.2	!	‡

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 percent and 50 percent (i.e., the standard error is at least 30 percent and less than 50 percent of the estimate).

‡ Reporting standards not met. Either there are too few cases for a reliable analysis, or the coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 50 percent or greater (i.e., the standard error is 50 percent or more of the estimate).

¹Teachers were asked whether they were male or female. Although this variable is labeled “sex,” the questionnaire did not use the terms either “gender” or “sex.”

²Higher than a master’s degree is defined as a teacher who completed any of the following: an educational specialist or professional diploma, a certificate of advanced graduate studies, or a doctorate or first-professional degree (e.g., Ph.D., Ed.D., M.D., J.D., D.D.S.).

³Certification categories refer to in-state requirements only.

⁴Elementary schools offer at least one grade of K through 4, and the number of elementary grades is higher than the number of middle grades. Middle schools offer at least one of grades 5 through 8, and the number of middle grades is greater than the number of elementary or secondary grades. Secondary/high schools are defined as schools that enroll students in more of grades 9 through 12 than in lower grades. Combined/other schools include all other combinations of grades, including K–12 schools. School level categories in the 2020–21 NTPS differ from those in previous survey administrations; caution should be exercised when comparing estimates by level over time.

⁵Schools that do not participate in the free or reduced-price lunch program are included with the "0–34" percent category.

NOTE: Data are weighted estimates of the population. In this table, “leavers” are teachers in the 2020–21 NTPS school year who were no longer teachers in the 2021–22 TFS school year and who indicated in 2021–22 that they would consider returning to the position of a K–12 teacher. In 2021–22, 47.2 percent of teachers who left the profession indicated that they would consider returning to the position of a K–12 teacher (46.2 percent for public school teachers and 52.8 percent for private school teachers). Respondents were asked to indicate how important various factors were in influencing their decision to return to the position of a K–12 teacher. Response options included “not at all important,” “slightly important,” “somewhat important,” “very important,” and “extremely important.”

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2020–21 National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS) and 2021–22 Teacher Follow-up Survey (TFS), "Former Teacher Data File," 2021–22.