Teacher Burnout Statistics

Teacher Burnout Statistics

Burnout is a feeling of exhaustion or a lack of energy that can seriously impact a professional’s role in performing their duties. Burnout can be either physical or mental/ emotional.

A rising number of teachers have cited burnout as a major factor in their decision to quit the profession. This report lays out the statistics related to the current teacher burnout crisis.

Teacher burnout statistics

  • Between February 2020 – May 2022, it was estimated that over 300,000 public school teachers and other staff quit due to burnout
  • 55% of female teachers have reported that they are burned out
  • This is at a much higher rate than the 44% of male teachers who have reported they are burned out
  • 35% of US educators regard their job as highly stressful
  • Nearly 50% of K-12 teachers experience high levels of stress on a daily basis
  • 61% of teachers reported experiencing job-related stress multiple days per week
  • 64% of teachers reported feeling “emotionally and physically exhausted” at the end of every workday
  • Over 30% of K-12 teachers are choosing the option of early retirement from teaching
  • The percentage taking early retirement has increased by 55% over the past 30 years
  • Up to 30% of new teachers are quitting their job within 5 years of teaching
  • Teachers in the US are quitting at twice the rate teachers are quitting in other countries (8% vs 4%)
  • 80% felt negativity or cynicism related to the teaching profession
  • 59% said that they felt mentally distanced from their job

Teacher workload statistics

  • 46% of teachers work more than 50 hours a week
  • 38% work 40 to 45 hours a week
  • 55% of the teachers intend to leave the profession due to excessive workload
  • In 2023, 4 in 5 teachers (81%) claim that their workload has increased
  • Teachers have reported as many as 27 hours of additional work without an increase in pay
  • 34% of teachers reported feeling some feelings of anxiety around their work and managing students
  • 57% of schools have admitted giving teachers more work due to unfilled positions
  • 66% of teachers have voiced their concerns about the lack of substitute teachers in schools
Number Of HoursPercentage Of Teachers
35 hours12%
40 to 45 hours38%
More than 50 hours50%

Teacher work-life balance statistics

  • Only 8% of the teachers said that they have a social life and have time to enjoy
  • 57% of the teachers reported that they do not have any social life or personal life
  • 32% of teachers reported sleeping less than 6 hours a day
  • 31% of teachers don’t sleep enough during the work week and catch up at the weekend
Teachers And Their Social LifePercentage Of Teachers
Go out regularly8%
Balance between work and home life35%
Little time for life57%

Impact of burnout on the health of teachers

  • 3 in every 4 teachers have reported physical health issues
  • 37% of the teachers reported that they have regular headaches or stomach aches
  • Almost 2 in 3 teachers show signs of burnout
Physical problems from teachersPercentage
Regular headaches or chest pains37%
No physical issues22%
Heart palpitations or chest pain16%
Dizziness15%
Shortness of breath10%

Teacher burnout versus other professions

  • There is a 24% burnout gap between K-12 and other industries on average
  • Female teachers, in particular, are especially burned out. The burnout rate recorded for female teachers is 55%. On the contrary, the burnout rate of male teachers in the k-12 industry is reported to be 44%
  • 55% of the teachers said that they are ready to leave the profession due to excessive burnout
IndustryFemaleMale
All industries34%26%
K-12 workers47%38%
K-12 teachers55%44%