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Teachers enjoy their jobs more than they did during the height of the pandemic, but student behavior, low salaries and administrative tasks are fueling burnout.

That’s according to new research from the global policy think tank , which surveyed K12 teachers about their pay, well-being and intentions to leave the profession.

When it comes to their well-being, teachers report higher levels of job-related stress and symptoms of depression than similar working adults, a trend that’s held steady over the last five years. Roughly 57% of teachers report feeling burnt out this school year.

When asked what’s driving their stress, teachers cited more than a dozen reasons ranging from student behavior to school culture. Here’s the complete list:

Sources of job-related stress

1. Managing student behavior: 52%
2. My salary is too low: 33%
3. I spend too many hours working outside of my contract hours: 32%
4. 91��Ƭistrative work outside of teaching: 32%
5. Supporting my students’ mental health and well-being: 25%
6. Feeling like the goals and expectations of the school are unattainable: 24%
7. Preparing students for state standardized tests: 22%
8. Lacking support from school administrators: 21%
9. The intrusion of political issues and opinions in teaching: 16%
10. Limited voice in decision-making at my school: 12%
11. Taking on extra work because of staff shortages: 10%
12. My job security: 3%
13. Working in an environment in which I feel physically unsafe: 3%

The good news for superintendents is that more teachers plan to continue teaching in 2026. Forty-four percent of teachers say they’ll teach until they’re eligible for retirement, while 23% plan to teach as long as they’re able.

A smaller share of teachers plan to leave when a more desirable opportunity arises (14%), until a life event occurs (5%) or “as soon as I can” (3%).

A steady trend

The RAND findings echo concerns that have surfaced repeatedly in District 91��Ƭistration’s reporting on teacher well-being. While teachers are more optimistic about staying in the profession than they were during the pandemic, many of the factors driving burnout have changed little.

In a 2025 Walton Family Foundation-Gallup survey, educators identified student behavior, growing workloads and inadequate compensation as major stressors. RAND’s latest survey points to the same challenges, with student behavior topping the list, followed by low salaries, work outside contract hours and administrative tasks.

District 91��Ƭistration has also reported on strategies districts are using to address the problem. In another Walton Family Foundation-Gallup survey, experts urged leaders to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens, strengthen behavioral supports for students and create more opportunities for teachers to influence school decisions.

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District 91��Ƭistration uses artificial intelligence to support research and drafting, with all content reviewed and verified by the author.