5 Rewarding and Flexible Jobs for Retirees
If you have decided to partially retire, but want to keep doing some kind of work, there are a number of options. If you were in a well paying, senior level professional position prior to retiring, you may find some of the recommended “jobs for retirees” to be rather underwhelming, and not worth the time investment for the paltry payment. However, there are opportunities that can be rewarding and/or lucrative.
Freelance consultant: If you have expertise in a particular field or work function, you can become a freelance consultant as your primary career choice, or as a part-time retirement career option. As a consultant, you can set your own rates and work with clients on a project-by-project basis. NOTE: Management Consulting Firms can charge anywhere from $175/hour to $600/hour and more. This pay scale can be prohibitive for start-up and smaller businesses. However, they may be quite willing to hire you at the lower end of that scale and this could prove to be a lucrative long-term option for you. With your background, you can offer large firm quality at a small firm price. Consulting is a great option for retirees who want to continue using their skills and expertise to help others, but who also want flexibility.
Teacher/Instructor/Tutor: There are a variety of teaching options, from public and private elementary/secondary school substitute teaching, to university adjunct faculty/lecturer, to tutor at any level. Breaking this down a little further, here are some options:
Substitute teacher: Substitute teachers can work in schools on a daily or weekly basis, short-term or long-term. Salaries vary by state. Schoolteachers are notoriously underpaid and no one gets rich working as a substitute teacher, but the pay is better than minimum wage. It can range from about $22/hour to as much as $45/hour. Higher pay may be accompanied by higher risk like teaching at inner city schools. There is also potential for additional compensation for relevant advanced degrees or second language fluency (most commonly, Spanish). In addition to the standard 8:00 - 5:00 school schedule, there are also after school programs and sports or arts related opportunities, so there may be school jobs that do not require being in a classroom.
Tutor: Tutoring is another great way to use your skills and experience to help others. You can tutor students in a variety of subjects, from math and science to English and History. The tutoring can be done in person or online, and the pay varies. Your ability to tutor advanced topics like calculus, physics, chemistry, foreign languages, etc., might enable you to command a higher rate. Tutors can earn anywhere from $50/hour to $100/hour and more.
Instructor: If you have a passion for teaching, becoming an instructor could be a good option for you. Numerous local community colleges, universities and adult schools offer classes ranging from Zumba to Anthropology (i.e., diverse topics). You may have the option to teach in person, or online. Another option for instructors is to develop online training courses. If you have a unique skill like AI or ChatGPT or software skills, you should strongly consider developing online training courses that you can sell. This takes time and research but, given the large volume of people pursuing this path, it is definitely viable.
Life/Career coach: Life coaches help people improve their lives in all areas, from relationships to finances to careers. They can work with individuals or groups. Career coaches typically assist individuals who are either in career transition or looking to grow professionally in their existing career. Career and life coaching may overlap and certifications are offered in both. There is considerable competition in this space and it seems to be a popular option. There are several certification programs, and some cost thousands of dollars, but a valid certificate will boost your credibility. Life and career coaches generally earn upwards of $50/hour, with some commanding a much higher hourly rate, closer to $100-$150. Note: “Professional Coaches” and Leadership Coaches typically earn much more than that, but there is a longer learning curve and more extensive experience requirements for these two coaching options.
Freelance Writer/Editor/Proofreader. Freelance writers typically work from home and set their own hours, which is a perfect fit for retirees. The types of writing opportunities are varied. Some options include blogs and articles, grant proposals, RFPs, PowerPoint Presentations, thesis papers, college applications and resumes. The people and companies seeking freelance writers also vary considerably and the pay they are willing to offer can often seem ridiculously low for the time required. If you have a talent for writing or editing, take time to explore what the opportunities look like, and find a few fellow writers who can guide you to the best sources for work. There is a lot of competition for writing jobs, so proceed with caution. If you can “crack the code” for obtaining writing gigs, the time requirement, flexibility and monetary reward can be ideal.
Virtual bookkeeper: Virtual “bookkeepers” provide bookkeeping and/or accounting services to businesses. While the term “bookkeeper” may be somewhat dated, it generally refers to an individual who does not possess a CPA license. However, bookkeeping work is a viable choice for a retired CPA. The nature of work will vary depending on the company to which you are providing services. It can range from keeping a spreadsheet / balance sheet to managing payments in tools like Quickbooks. Ideally, this would be a job for someone who has worked in finance or accounting, and understands budgets. Sometimes, though, individuals who are self employed or own small businesses, just need someone to help keep their business finances in order. They want someone honest who is good with numbers. Maybe that someone is you. A reasonable starting rate for this kind of work is upwards of $50/hour.
There are many other part-time job opportunities for retirees, but these are the top 5 we have identified that seem most relevant to almost any retiree. Which job is right for you? Only you know the answer.