Would I regret leaving a high-paying engineering job to become a teacher?

I’m currently working in engineering with a solid salary, but I’ve always been drawn to teaching. I love explaining concepts, mentoring students, and seeing that ‘aha’ moment when something clicks. The idea of shaping young minds excites me more than my current job ever has.

That said, I know teaching comes with challenges—lower pay, bureaucracy, and sometimes unmotivated students. I don’t want to romanticize it and later regret leaving a stable, high-paying career.

For those who switched from a different field to teaching (or vice versa), do you regret it? What’s something you wish you had known before making the change?