How did teachers make a living for themselves? The purpose of this paper is to examine rural nineteenth century teachers’ livelihood, and more specifically how teachers survived engaging in livelihood diversification or multiple employment. Drawing inspiration from the new social history of livelihood, and using a wide variety of source materials from nineteenth century Sweden, I will show that far from specializing in teaching, teachers were often engaged in multiple occupations still around 1900. I will show how this common practice was discussed, and how teachers work ranged from the encouraged to activities frowned upon, and even included illegal activities. By doing so, I will be able to shed new light on teaching as a profession and occupational title during the nineteenth century, and contribute to the discussion regarding the social and economic position of teacher. By investigating teachers’ livelihood, I will also be able to examine the role of teachers’ multiple occupations in the expansion of mass schooling during the nineteenth century.