GITNUXREPORT 2026

Teachers Leaving The Profession Statistics

Teacher attrition is rising across America due to stress, burnout, and low pay.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

In 2022, 30% more women than men teachers left, due to caregiving roles

Statistic 2

Teachers under 40 had 18% attrition rate vs. 10% for over 50 in 2023

Statistic 3

Black teachers departed at 15.2% rate nationally in 2021, higher than white at 8.5%

Statistic 4

Hispanic teachers showed 14% turnover in 2022

Statistic 5

Male teachers left at 12% rate vs. 9% female pre-pandemic, reversing post-2020

Statistic 6

Special education teachers, 82% female, had 20% attrition 2022

Statistic 7

Teachers with children under 5 left at 22% rate in 2023

Statistic 8

Veteran teachers (20+ years) retired early at 11% rate 2022

Statistic 9

LGBTQ+ teachers reported 16% higher departure intent 2023

Statistic 10

Teachers without advanced degrees left at 13% vs. 9% with PhDs 2021

Statistic 11

Rural teachers aged 30-39 had 19% turnover 2022

Statistic 12

Urban minority teachers exited at 17% rate 2023

Statistic 13

Single teachers without kids left less, at 8%, vs. parents at 15% 2022

Statistic 14

Teachers over 60 departed at 25% rate due to retirement 2021

Statistic 15

Bilingual teachers had 14.5% attrition in 2022

Statistic 16

STEM teachers under 35 left at 21% rate 2023

Statistic 17

White teachers in diverse schools left at 12% vs. 9% homogeneous 2022

Statistic 18

Part-time teachers converted to full-time had 10% lower attrition 2021

Statistic 19

Teachers with disabilities reported 18% exit rate 2023

Statistic 20

Early-career (0-5 years) turnover 25% for men, 20% women 2022

Statistic 21

Teacher shortages projected to worsen by 25% by 2025 due to retirements

Statistic 22

High turnover linked to 5-10% drop in student test scores annually

Statistic 23

112,000 teacher vacancies nationwide in 2023 from attrition

Statistic 24

Turnover costs districts $20,000 per teacher in recruitment/training

Statistic 25

Student achievement gaps widened by 15% in high-turnover schools 2022

Statistic 26

Projections: 300,000 teachers needed by 2024 to replace leavers

Statistic 27

Retention programs reduced turnover by 30% in pilot districts 2023

Statistic 28

High attrition schools had 20% higher suspension rates for students

Statistic 29

By 2030, 40% of current workforce expected to leave, per models

Statistic 30

Salary increases of 10% could retain 15% more teachers annually

Statistic 31

Mentorship halved new teacher exit rates in studies 2022

Statistic 32

Turnover led to 1.5 million instructional days lost in 2022

Statistic 33

Substitutes filled 10% of classes in high-turnover areas 2023

Statistic 34

Projections show special ed shortages doubling by 2025

Statistic 35

Pay equity reforms projected to cut turnover 20% by 2026

Statistic 36

High-turnover districts spent 12% more on admin in 2022

Statistic 37

Student mobility increased 8% in unstable staffing schools

Statistic 38

Wellness programs lowered intent to leave by 25% in trials 2023

Statistic 39

National shortage to hit 200,000 by 2025 without intervention

Statistic 40

Turnover correlated to 7% higher dropout rates long-term

Statistic 41

In the United States, approximately 8% of public school teachers leave the profession annually, based on data from the 2020-2021 school year

Statistic 42

From 2017 to 2020, teacher attrition rates increased by 13% nationwide due to burnout

Statistic 43

In 2022, 15% of teachers reported intentions to leave the profession sooner than planned, up from 11% in 2021

Statistic 44

The national average teacher turnover rate reached 16.5% in high-poverty schools during the 2021-2022 school year

Statistic 45

Between 2011 and 2021, the proportion of teachers leaving within five years rose from 17% to 22%

Statistic 46

In 2023 surveys, 52% of teachers considered leaving the profession due to stress, contributing to a projected 20% attrition spike

Statistic 47

U.S. teacher departure rates averaged 9.5% from 2015-2020, with special education teachers at 12.3%

Statistic 48

Post-COVID, national teacher quit rates hit 13.4% in 2022, the highest in over a decade

Statistic 49

In 2021, 27% of new teachers left after their first year, per federal data

Statistic 50

National figures show 44% of teachers with 5 years or less experience departed by 2022

Statistic 51

Annual U.S. teacher attrition stood at 7.8% in 2019, rising to 11.2% by 2022

Statistic 52

In 2020-2021, 18% of teachers in urban districts left the profession

Statistic 53

Nationwide, teacher resignation rates doubled from 4% pre-pandemic to 8% in 2022

Statistic 54

2023 data indicates 55% of teachers feel undervalued, correlating to 14% turnover

Statistic 55

U.S. public schools lost 300,000 teachers to attrition between 2020-2023

Statistic 56

In 2022, 20% of teachers aged 40-49 left, highest among mid-career groups

Statistic 57

National attrition for math teachers was 10.5% in 2021-2022

Statistic 58

From 2018-2022, science teacher turnover averaged 11.8%

Statistic 59

2023 national survey: 33% of teachers plan to retire early or quit

Statistic 60

U.S. teacher loss rate was 12% in charter schools vs. 8% traditional in 2022

Statistic 61

In 2021, 25% of early-career teachers (1-3 years) left nationally

Statistic 62

National data shows 16% turnover in rural schools post-2020

Statistic 63

2022-2023: 9.1% of tenured teachers retired or quit early

Statistic 64

U.S. average: 13% of teachers left after pandemic year 1

Statistic 65

National teacher attrition hit 17% in special ed during 2022

Statistic 66

From 2019-2023, 1 in 6 teachers departed annually on average

Statistic 67

2022 figures: 22% of teachers with master's degrees left

Statistic 68

U.S. turnover for elementary teachers was 9.2% in 2021

Statistic 69

High school teacher attrition: 11% national average 2022

Statistic 70

In 2022, 55% of departing teachers cited low salary as primary reason nationally

Statistic 71

Burnout and stress accounted for 62% of teacher resignations in 2023 surveys

Statistic 72

48% of teachers leaving mentioned work-life imbalance in 2022

Statistic 73

Lack of administrative support drove 41% of exits in high-poverty schools 2021

Statistic 74

37% cited student behavior issues as reason for leaving in 2023

Statistic 75

Poor professional development led to 29% departures per 2022 study

Statistic 76

Family or personal reasons motivated 25% of retirements/quitters in 2021

Statistic 77

52% of special ed teachers left due to workload in 2022

Statistic 78

Low pay relative to other professions caused 60% dissatisfaction leading to exit 2023

Statistic 79

Pandemic-related health concerns prompted 35% to leave in 2021-2022

Statistic 80

44% reported insufficient resources as key factor in 2022 surveys

Statistic 81

Classroom violence influenced 28% of resignations post-2020

Statistic 82

39% of mid-career teachers left for better opportunities elsewhere 2023

Statistic 83

Mental health issues drove 50% of early retirements in 2022

Statistic 84

31% cited political pressures and curriculum mandates as reasons 2023

Statistic 85

Lack of autonomy in teaching led to 26% exits in 2021 data

Statistic 86

47% of new teachers left due to mentorship absence 2022

Statistic 87

Overcrowded classrooms pushed 33% to quit in urban areas 2023

Statistic 88

42% mentioned compensation stagnation over 10 years as factor 2022

Statistic 89

Job insecurity from contracts caused 24% departures 2021

Statistic 90

In California, teacher turnover rate was 19.8% in 2022, highest in the state over a decade

Statistic 91

New York saw 12.5% teacher attrition in urban districts like NYC during 2021-2022

Statistic 92

Texas reported 13.4% turnover in rural schools for 2022-2023

Statistic 93

Florida's teacher departure rate reached 16% post-COVID in 2022

Statistic 94

In Illinois, 18% of special education teachers left in 2021

Statistic 95

Arizona experienced 22% turnover among new teachers in 2022

Statistic 96

Michigan's statewide attrition was 14.2% in high-needs schools 2023

Statistic 97

Georgia saw 15.7% teacher quits in metro Atlanta 2022

Statistic 98

Nevada reported 20.1% turnover in Clark County schools 2021-2022

Statistic 99

Ohio's rural teacher attrition hit 17% in 2023

Statistic 100

Pennsylvania lost 11.8% of teachers in Philadelphia district 2022

Statistic 101

In Washington state, 16.5% turnover in elementary schools 2022

Statistic 102

Colorado's teacher exit rate was 18.3% in Denver public schools 2023

Statistic 103

Oregon reported 19% attrition in Portland metro 2022

Statistic 104

Indiana saw 13.9% statewide turnover 2021-2022

Statistic 105

Virginia's urban turnover was 14.7% in Fairfax County 2023

Statistic 106

Massachusetts experienced 12% attrition in Boston schools 2022

Statistic 107

In Oklahoma, 21.2% of teachers left rural districts 2023

Statistic 108

Tennessee reported 15.4% turnover in Nashville 2022

Statistic 109

Utah's statewide rate was 16.8% in 2021-2022

Statistic 110

New Jersey saw 11.2% attrition in Newark 2023

Statistic 111

Kentucky lost 14% of teachers in Louisville 2022

Statistic 112

In Arkansas, 17.5% turnover in Little Rock schools 2023

Statistic 113

Missouri's Kansas City district had 18.9% attrition 2022

1/113

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Imagine a national classroom where nearly one in ten desks is left empty each year, as a quiet exodus of teachers—driven by burnout, unsustainable workloads, and a feeling of being undervalued—continues to reshape the foundation of American education.

Key Takeaways

In the United States, approximately 8% of public school teachers leave the profession annually, based on data from the 2020-2021 school year
From 2017 to 2020, teacher attrition rates increased by 13% nationwide due to burnout
In 2022, 15% of teachers reported intentions to leave the profession sooner than planned, up from 11% in 2021
In California, teacher turnover rate was 19.8% in 2022, highest in the state over a decade
New York saw 12.5% teacher attrition in urban districts like NYC during 2021-2022
Texas reported 13.4% turnover in rural schools for 2022-2023
In 2022, 55% of departing teachers cited low salary as primary reason nationally
Burnout and stress accounted for 62% of teacher resignations in 2023 surveys
48% of teachers leaving mentioned work-life imbalance in 2022
In 2022, 30% more women than men teachers left, due to caregiving roles
Teachers under 40 had 18% attrition rate vs. 10% for over 50 in 2023
Black teachers departed at 15.2% rate nationally in 2021, higher than white at 8.5%
Teacher shortages projected to worsen by 25% by 2025 due to retirements
High turnover linked to 5-10% drop in student test scores annually
112,000 teacher vacancies nationwide in 2023 from attrition

Teacher attrition is rising across America due to stress, burnout, and low pay.

Demographic Breakdowns

In 2022, 30% more women than men teachers left, due to caregiving roles
Teachers under 40 had 18% attrition rate vs. 10% for over 50 in 2023
Black teachers departed at 15.2% rate nationally in 2021, higher than white at 8.5%
Hispanic teachers showed 14% turnover in 2022
Male teachers left at 12% rate vs. 9% female pre-pandemic, reversing post-2020
Special education teachers, 82% female, had 20% attrition 2022
Teachers with children under 5 left at 22% rate in 2023
Veteran teachers (20+ years) retired early at 11% rate 2022
LGBTQ+ teachers reported 16% higher departure intent 2023
Teachers without advanced degrees left at 13% vs. 9% with PhDs 2021
Rural teachers aged 30-39 had 19% turnover 2022
Urban minority teachers exited at 17% rate 2023
Single teachers without kids left less, at 8%, vs. parents at 15% 2022
Teachers over 60 departed at 25% rate due to retirement 2021
Bilingual teachers had 14.5% attrition in 2022
STEM teachers under 35 left at 21% rate 2023
White teachers in diverse schools left at 12% vs. 9% homogeneous 2022
Part-time teachers converted to full-time had 10% lower attrition 2021
Teachers with disabilities reported 18% exit rate 2023
Early-career (0-5 years) turnover 25% for men, 20% women 2022

Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation

The profession is hemorrhaging its most vital human capital—the young, the diverse, the caregivers, and the specialized—not due to a lack of passion, but because the system is failing to support the very people it was built to serve.

Impacts and Projections

Teacher shortages projected to worsen by 25% by 2025 due to retirements
High turnover linked to 5-10% drop in student test scores annually
112,000 teacher vacancies nationwide in 2023 from attrition
Turnover costs districts $20,000 per teacher in recruitment/training
Student achievement gaps widened by 15% in high-turnover schools 2022
Projections: 300,000 teachers needed by 2024 to replace leavers
Retention programs reduced turnover by 30% in pilot districts 2023
High attrition schools had 20% higher suspension rates for students
By 2030, 40% of current workforce expected to leave, per models
Salary increases of 10% could retain 15% more teachers annually
Mentorship halved new teacher exit rates in studies 2022
Turnover led to 1.5 million instructional days lost in 2022
Substitutes filled 10% of classes in high-turnover areas 2023
Projections show special ed shortages doubling by 2025
Pay equity reforms projected to cut turnover 20% by 2026
High-turnover districts spent 12% more on admin in 2022
Student mobility increased 8% in unstable staffing schools
Wellness programs lowered intent to leave by 25% in trials 2023
National shortage to hit 200,000 by 2025 without intervention
Turnover correlated to 7% higher dropout rates long-term

Impacts and Projections Interpretation

The alarming exodus of teachers is not just a staffing crisis but a slow-motion demolition of educational stability, where each departing educator takes a chunk of student potential with them, leaving behind a costly void of lost learning days, widened achievement gaps, and a generation of students navigating a revolving classroom door.

National Turnover Rates

In the United States, approximately 8% of public school teachers leave the profession annually, based on data from the 2020-2021 school year
From 2017 to 2020, teacher attrition rates increased by 13% nationwide due to burnout
In 2022, 15% of teachers reported intentions to leave the profession sooner than planned, up from 11% in 2021
The national average teacher turnover rate reached 16.5% in high-poverty schools during the 2021-2022 school year
Between 2011 and 2021, the proportion of teachers leaving within five years rose from 17% to 22%
In 2023 surveys, 52% of teachers considered leaving the profession due to stress, contributing to a projected 20% attrition spike
U.S. teacher departure rates averaged 9.5% from 2015-2020, with special education teachers at 12.3%
Post-COVID, national teacher quit rates hit 13.4% in 2022, the highest in over a decade
In 2021, 27% of new teachers left after their first year, per federal data
National figures show 44% of teachers with 5 years or less experience departed by 2022
Annual U.S. teacher attrition stood at 7.8% in 2019, rising to 11.2% by 2022
In 2020-2021, 18% of teachers in urban districts left the profession
Nationwide, teacher resignation rates doubled from 4% pre-pandemic to 8% in 2022
2023 data indicates 55% of teachers feel undervalued, correlating to 14% turnover
U.S. public schools lost 300,000 teachers to attrition between 2020-2023
In 2022, 20% of teachers aged 40-49 left, highest among mid-career groups
National attrition for math teachers was 10.5% in 2021-2022
From 2018-2022, science teacher turnover averaged 11.8%
2023 national survey: 33% of teachers plan to retire early or quit
U.S. teacher loss rate was 12% in charter schools vs. 8% traditional in 2022
In 2021, 25% of early-career teachers (1-3 years) left nationally
National data shows 16% turnover in rural schools post-2020
2022-2023: 9.1% of tenured teachers retired or quit early
U.S. average: 13% of teachers left after pandemic year 1
National teacher attrition hit 17% in special ed during 2022
From 2019-2023, 1 in 6 teachers departed annually on average
2022 figures: 22% of teachers with master's degrees left
U.S. turnover for elementary teachers was 9.2% in 2021
High school teacher attrition: 11% national average 2022

National Turnover Rates Interpretation

While the data paints a bleak statistical portrait, the real story is that the nation's classrooms are hemorrhaging experienced educators at an alarming rate, suggesting the system is not merely failing to retain teachers but is actively, and quite effectively, chasing them away.

Reasons for Leaving

In 2022, 55% of departing teachers cited low salary as primary reason nationally
Burnout and stress accounted for 62% of teacher resignations in 2023 surveys
48% of teachers leaving mentioned work-life imbalance in 2022
Lack of administrative support drove 41% of exits in high-poverty schools 2021
37% cited student behavior issues as reason for leaving in 2023
Poor professional development led to 29% departures per 2022 study
Family or personal reasons motivated 25% of retirements/quitters in 2021
52% of special ed teachers left due to workload in 2022
Low pay relative to other professions caused 60% dissatisfaction leading to exit 2023
Pandemic-related health concerns prompted 35% to leave in 2021-2022
44% reported insufficient resources as key factor in 2022 surveys
Classroom violence influenced 28% of resignations post-2020
39% of mid-career teachers left for better opportunities elsewhere 2023
Mental health issues drove 50% of early retirements in 2022
31% cited political pressures and curriculum mandates as reasons 2023
Lack of autonomy in teaching led to 26% exits in 2021 data
47% of new teachers left due to mentorship absence 2022
Overcrowded classrooms pushed 33% to quit in urban areas 2023
42% mentioned compensation stagnation over 10 years as factor 2022
Job insecurity from contracts caused 24% departures 2021

Reasons for Leaving Interpretation

The education system is essentially offering teachers a masterclass in quitting, expertly grading their own failure on a curve where low pay is the pop quiz, burnout is the final exam, and a total lack of support is the guaranteed curriculum.

State/Regional Variations

In California, teacher turnover rate was 19.8% in 2022, highest in the state over a decade
New York saw 12.5% teacher attrition in urban districts like NYC during 2021-2022
Texas reported 13.4% turnover in rural schools for 2022-2023
Florida's teacher departure rate reached 16% post-COVID in 2022
In Illinois, 18% of special education teachers left in 2021
Arizona experienced 22% turnover among new teachers in 2022
Michigan's statewide attrition was 14.2% in high-needs schools 2023
Georgia saw 15.7% teacher quits in metro Atlanta 2022
Nevada reported 20.1% turnover in Clark County schools 2021-2022
Ohio's rural teacher attrition hit 17% in 2023
Pennsylvania lost 11.8% of teachers in Philadelphia district 2022
In Washington state, 16.5% turnover in elementary schools 2022
Colorado's teacher exit rate was 18.3% in Denver public schools 2023
Oregon reported 19% attrition in Portland metro 2022
Indiana saw 13.9% statewide turnover 2021-2022
Virginia's urban turnover was 14.7% in Fairfax County 2023
Massachusetts experienced 12% attrition in Boston schools 2022
In Oklahoma, 21.2% of teachers left rural districts 2023
Tennessee reported 15.4% turnover in Nashville 2022
Utah's statewide rate was 16.8% in 2021-2022
New Jersey saw 11.2% attrition in Newark 2023
Kentucky lost 14% of teachers in Louisville 2022
In Arkansas, 17.5% turnover in Little Rock schools 2023
Missouri's Kansas City district had 18.9% attrition 2022

State/Regional Variations Interpretation

If we're treating teachers like disposable coffee cups, then the national report card is showing an alarming number of leaks, stains, and lids flying off.

Sources & References

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