Survey: 18% of teachers cite excessive workload as key reason for dissatisfaction

Teacher Tapp, a teacher survey application, has revealed in a recent survey that excessive workload is a frequently cited reason for teacher dissatisfaction. Middle and high school teachers reportedly name it more often than their elementary counterparts.

As of 2025, K–12 teachers have emerged as the most burned-out profession in the United States. According to Devlin Peck, 44% report feeling burnout "often or always," with over half planning to leave the profession earlier than anticipated. Compensation remains the primary cause of teacher attrition, along with increased workloads, staff shortages, safety concerns, and deteriorating student behavior. Since the pandemic's onset, the U.S. has seen a loss of over 500,000 educators, with nearly 90% of National Education Association (NEA) members reporting an increase in educator departures.

According to MyPayMySay, the issue of teacher burnout extends beyond mere fatigue to profound exhaustion that persists despite rest. Many educators feel overwhelmed by tasks extending beyond school hours, such as lesson planning, grading, and parent communications. To address this challenge, the article suggests setting firm boundaries like avoiding grading after 7:00 p.m., disabling work email notifications outside school hours, and clearly communicating availability to parents. Additionally, leveraging artificial intelligence tools can help automate repetitive tasks, allowing teachers more time to focus on their well-being and personal lives.

As per HUE's description of Teacher Tapp, it is a free daily survey app where educators can share their experiences and perspectives. This platform generates valuable data to guide education policy and practice by having teachers respond to three brief questions each day.