As you grow older, there’s a big milestone to look forward to: retirement. Once you reach retirement, your life frees up and you’re able to enjoy pursuits and hobbies as much as you’d like. Yet for many seniors, retirement doesn’t always provide the stimulation you need – or the financial freedom you’d hope. That’s why increasingly more seniors are picking up part-time work even after they’ve officially retired. According to a 2019 poll, one in four people over the age of 65 continue working or are actively looking for work. Whether you’re interested in working to make a bit of money or to stay active later in life, a part-time job can be the perfect fit.
And seniors can find all kinds of part-time jobs to suit any interest or professional background. No matter what kind of skills you have, there’s something you can do. The following are five great part-time jobs seniors can try.
1. Consultant
Average Pay: $73,074 per year. Consultants can set their own rates, so hourly and annual pay varies widely.
Did you become an expert in a particular industry or field over your many years of work experience? You can work as a consultant part-time, offering your expert advice and recommendations to other businesses and companies.
Just about every industry relies on consultants to network, get feedback, and make informed decisions. You can be a consultant in the tech industry, education industry, or even for non-profit organizations. You’ll get paid hourly, and you can really utilize your knowledge and years of wisdom.
2. Virtual Assistant
Average Pay: $15.85 per hour. If you have specialized skills, like bookkeeping, marketing, or coding, you may be able to make more.
If you want a job that doesn’t require you to commute and sit in an office, you can become a virtual assistant. As a virtual assistant, you’ll work on your computer at home, wherever you’re comfortable. You’ll work as many hours as you’d like, and you don’t even need a degree or special kind of work experience.
Anyone can become a virtual assistant. You simply need to be able to use programs like Microsoft Office and Slack, which will allow you to perform basic assistant tasks from anywhere in the world. It’s a great part-time option for seniors who are organized and detail-driven.
3. Bookkeeper
Average Pay: $17.49 per hour.
If you previously worked in a finance or accounting role, you’d be perfectly suited to work part-time as a bookkeeper. Though this role does require some specialized knowledge and skill, anyone who’s worked in these industries – or has experience as a bookkeeper – can get the job done.
Bookkeepers aren’t always needed full-time, which is ideal for seniors. As long as you’re familiar with software like QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel, you can help various clients or employees handle their finances.
4. Blogger
Average Pay: About $15 per hour. This can vary if you set your own rate or take on clients whose pay changes per word or per article.
One of the most flexible jobs seniors can take on is blogging. Bloggers are able to work from home, writing from anywhere in the world. You can work with one client or a number of clients, focusing on just one area of expertise or many different topics.
And whether you’re an experienced writer or not, anyone can start blogging. You simply need to have some knowledge in a particular area. You can build a profile or portfolio by writing about your areas of expertise, whether that’s gardening or education or finance.
5. Tutor
Average Pay: $17.62 per hour. However, you may be able to earn more if you work with students online, or if you work with students who are in college.
Whether you’ve worked as a teacher or have experience in a particular academic subject, you can find work as a tutor. Tutors help students of all ages, from elementary school to college and graduate school, with homework, projects, and academic concepts.
And tutoring is very flexible. You can drive to and from a tutoring center, meet students at a local library, or even tutor long-distance via the Internet. You’ll primarily work after school hours, and you can choose to take on as many students as you’d like. Certain subjects may pay more, so you can determine what you’d like to teach most.
Find a Job That Suits Your Age and Experience
Just because you’ve retired doesn’t mean you have to give up working. There are plenty of reasons seniors enjoy part-time jobs. A part-time job can help you stay mentally sharp and allow you to capitalize on your skills and experience. And it’s also a fantastic way to make some money without returning to full-time work.
To find a part-time job, you’ll want to search online. Job boards are the perfect way to look for, find, and easily apply for part-time jobs in your area. You can also search for jobs that allow you to work online or from home. All you have to do to find them is search.