or university. I was mosty attracted to the lifestyle (more autonomy, summer breaks, etc.).

Then I found out that almost all of the decent paying (e.g., tenure track) positions in the education field typically require a heavy publish-or-perish component that usually comes with pressure to get grant money, etc. (teaching is very much a secondary aspect of the job descrption). This pressure can be as stressful as anything someone might experience in the corporate world.

Moreover, I found out that most teach-only positions (whether at major universities or junior/community colleges) are adjunct, which typically pay peanuts (and usually no benefits). In fact, on an hourly basis, a lot of these people make less money than minimum wage workers (when you count time spent outside of the classroom for lecture prep, grading, etc.).

Put another way, "teach only" at a college or university level pretty much only works as a side hustle, if you're already more or less financially independent, have a signficant other breadwinner, or have some other motivation other than as a primary means for providing for a family.

When that reality was explained to me, it quickly shattered my dream of teaching college for a living.