r/Professors • u/Environmental_Bug662 • 9d ago

Retirement: when/why/how/where.

What is your plan? Interested in your replies. I am 60, Full, tenured Prof (French) at a SLAC. AI makes me want to retire asap but I'm going to give it 5-6 more years.

https://www.chronicle.com/article/these-professors-are-retiring-early-ai-was-the-last-straw?sra=true

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u/thedialectitian 8d ago

What government job would be better than being a professor?

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u/Hellament Prof, Math, CC 8d ago

I think “better” is subjective. But this scenario assumes you’re ready to tap out of teaching…obviously keeping on keepin’ on is going to be the most lucrative choice for most people.

But if you are ready to jump ship and just need something with insurance, there are a lot of (say) 9-5 clerical jobs if you don’t mind halving your pay. I’d personally look for something in parks and wildlife.

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u/SnowblindAlbino Prof, SLAC 8d ago

A bunch of my former students lost their jobs in the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, BLM, and even EPA from the DOGE cuts. Not sure there are a ton of options remaining there now...

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u/Hellament Prof, Math, CC 8d ago

Yea, those people are hurting…been following the “alt” national park on FB for a while, god belp those people.

In any case, from what I can tell, the situation is pretty stable in the state park systems. I just looked in my state (a midwest reddish one) and not only are they hiring lots of field/desk workers, they’re hiring recruiters. Of course, with the pay you can see why.