Healthy Living

From socializing to earning extra spending money, there are many reasons to want to continue working after you retire from your professional career. But what are some great jobs for retirees? The answer depends on your goals, your personality, and your wage requirements. Read on to see the jobs most popular among the 55 and up crowd. Maybe one of these jobs for retired people will be a good opportunity for you.

Can you work after retirement?

Employment offers many benefits, including income opportunities, the chance to socialize with others, and a way to keep your skills or knowledge sharp. Whether you choose to work full-time or part-time is up to you. You’ll also want to be mindful of the types of jobs you can do. Some of the best jobs for retirees are very much physical in nature, while others won’t require you to leave your home or your bedroom.

Note that the money you make in retirement may actually pull you out of retirement status for the purpose of tax filings and Social Security benefits. Before you take any job, consider how it will affect your benefits payouts, including insurance. Some programs, such as Medicaid, have wage caps.

Best jobs after retirement

These careers are the right fit for you if you’ve retired, because you have more flexibility and free time than those at the height of their careers.

1. Retail worker

Stores and shops have many moving parts, and they depend on part-time workers to do many of them. From cashier to greeter to the person who rotates out the cheese, these positions are popular among older adults who just want to stay active and aren’t necessarily looking to advance in their careers.

One significant perk of retail is that you’ll meet people from all walks of life. Retirees who work in this sector have peers younger than them, too. If you want a way to mingle with those in various age groups while potentially receiving a discount on your purchases, consider retail for your next job position.

2. Driver

Do you want to start a business as an Uber driver or go to work for public transit? Whichever route you take, know this: drivers are in high demand. Plus, school and city bus drivers are often older than 50 years old. While this job may require more rigorous testing or certification as you age, this is a flexible career option with competitive pay and sometimes even benefits for part-timers. And it’s the flexibility that makes it one of the best part-time jobs for retirees.

3. Substitute teacher

The staffing crisis in public and private schools is well known, with many teachers retiring every year. As they leave their roles, there often aren’t enough new professionals to take their place, particularly in rural or other areas where it’s difficult to attract or find good talent.

If you’ve taught in the past, it may be time to dust off that teaching certificate and get approved to go into the classroom again as a substitute teacher. You’ll have much fewer responsibilities than a full-time teacher, and you can leave some of the more frustrating parts of the job to the schools. You may not even need prior teaching experience to qualify, though it depends on the school district and its requirements.

4. Tutor

Speaking of education, there are many more opportunities to help shape young minds than in a traditional classroom environment. As more parents choose to homeschool their children, you could be picked to run a homeschool pod or activities group to help busy parents as they educate their kids.

Even those with traditional public or private school goals can use a good tutor. Whether you choose to lead online sessions in algebra or art or you set up a learning table at the local library, tutoring can help you connect with the youngest generations. Plus, you get the chance to offer a valuable skill to those who really need it.

Here’s a bonus idea: Many online tutoring services have the billing, technology, and marketing tools ready to go. Simply sign up with them as a freelance provider and take on as many or as few students as you like. Virtual sessions ensure you can make money even if mobility becomes a problem, making it one of the more inclusive post-retirement jobs.

5. Pet sitter

As more employees return to the workplace after primarily working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, they’ll need help caring for their pets. If you love animals and just want to have a flexible job that works around your schedule, the pet sitter industry is one to consider.

You can opt to work through an agency or staffing firm, or you could advertise your own services. You’ll first want to familiarize yourself with the types of animals and breeds you want to work with, because not every animal may be a good fit.

Once you build a steady list of clients, you should find that they’ll keep coming back to you every time they need a hand with their furry, scaled, or feathered friend. If you love animals, consider this a top pick of the low-stress jobs after retirement.

6. Babysitter

If pets aren’t your passion and you miss the days of caring for kids, you could make an excellent childcare professional. While it’s likely you may want to apply to a daycare or childcare service and work under them, you could also go freelance in offering your services. It’s possible to partner with a community group or church and look after children during a service or event, too.

Like pet sitting, you'll need to figure out what days and hours you are available and the ages and conditions you would want to care for kids. Perhaps you are comfortable watching infants. Or maybe you prefer to care for older children when they get home from school. Just know that some states will require basic background checks and other legal requirements, but it’s all just part of building your childcare business.

7. Consultant

"Consultant" is one of the more ambiguous job titles. However, if you make your living by providing advice and guidance to others, you understand the importance of a good consultant. If you have professional experience in marketing, content, business, or another specialized field, you could offer consulting services as a way to make money with just the hours you set in advance.

Consulting sessions can command a high fee, often $100 per hour or more, depending on the industry. You may choose to consult with people in person or do online-only video sessions. For a steadier source of income, see if you can get consulting agreements as a monthly retainer. For example, you could provide 4-5 hours of advising per month for a flat fee. For those who don't really want to leave their careers but see retirement as the next inevitable life season, consulting may be one of the more profitable jobs for retirees.

Bottom line

Walks on the beach, gardening, and time with the grandkids are all great ways to spend your retirement years, but some people still feel the need to generate income and challenge themselves as they age. Working can fill both of these needs while also providing opportunities to interact with other people in myriad ways. You could help teach younger generations about specific subjects, make new friends, get better acquainted with your community, and so much more in one of the above roles.