The Best Careers for Seniors

If you’re considering a return to the workforce, we’ve compiled a list of the best careers for seniors and aging adults. The working population is aging—and many seniors today are choosing to work in their retirement.

Second careers for senior citizens and aging adults come with a number of incredible benefits. From improving your social well-being to enhancing your mental capacity and providing yourself with a better quality of life, having a career is both rewarding and empowering.

Plus, having a career as a senior or aging adult can provide you with new confidence about your financial future. Many find that seniors today are concerned about their financial futures and opt to pursue either part-time or full-time careers in their golden years. One report from the TransAmerica Center for Retirement Studies found that 48 percent of workers cited retirement fears as outliving their savings or investments, reductions or elimination of Social Security, and declining health that requires long-term care.

If you’re like many seniors and interested in pursuing a full-time or part-time career as you age, our list breaks down the best careers for seniors by interest, aptitude, and demand. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the best second careers for seniors and aging adults.

Many seniors may miss working in their professional field after decades of hard work and dedication. Perhaps you had a flourishing career and you dream of sharing that knowledge with the next generation. If you don’t want to commit to a full-time job, finding a second career for seniors related to a prior career is possible.

Professional Consultant

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $76,371 per year

Skills Required: Business Analysis, Project Management, Data Analysis, Client Interaction

Time Commitment: Varies

Do you have a wealth of knowledge in your field from decades of hard work and determination? Do you enjoy supporting businesses and employees with personalized recommendations? Chances are if you’ve been in the corporate world during your career, transitioning to a consulting role is a perfect opportunity to look for new careers for senior professionals.

Companies typically hire consultants to provide advice and guidance on specific issues. If you have the specialized skills and knowledge, the pay can be great. If you decide to be a self-employed consultant and take on clients that you wish, then you’ll enjoy flexibility when it comes to your hours and your schedule.

Adjunct Professor

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $67.58 per hour

Skills Required: Communication skills, organizational skills, interpersonal skills, computer skills, student evaluation, student engagement, lesson plan development

Time Commitment: Varies depending on how many courses you are hired to teach per semester

Do you have a passion for teaching, or perhaps you were once a teacher? Pursuing a career as an adjunct professor can be an incredible way to teach part-time and share your expertise and passions with young, impressionable students.

Adjunct professors typically teach entry-level classes for undergraduate students. Your responsibilities will align with most professorial duties: You’ll have to prepare lesson plans, maintain a class syllabus, grade tests and assignments, advise your students on how to better engage with the material, and collaborate with other faculty members in your department.

Most adjunct professor roles require a master’s degree or higher to teach. However, at some local community colleges, a bachelor’s degree may be enough. Take a look at available job postings to determine your eligibility.

As a senior looking for a new career, you likely already have decades of experience, expertise, and skills that are both highly needed and very valuable to today’s modern workforce. Consider this list of great second careers for seniors.

Bookkeeper

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $19.81 per hour

Skills Required: Accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, bookkeeping, computer skills

Time Commitment: Full-time or varies

If you had a career in accounting or another financial service prior to your retirement, becoming a bookkeeper is a great career that’s highly in demand. Bookkeepers maintain the financial records of companies—a much-needed and important role.

As a bookkeeper, you’ll primarily handle incoming payments and expenses, process payroll and invoices, create reports, and audit any records to ensure consistency and efficacy. You’ll need to be very comfortable with accounting software programs as well as a good old-fashioned spreadsheet. Depending on the size of the company, the time commitment and the technology required often vary.

Trainer or Educator in the Trades

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: Ranges, approximately $25/hour

Skills Required: Knowledge of your individual trade (electrician, plumbing, etc.)

Time Commitment: Varies

Trade jobs are always in high demand—and if you spent most of your adult life as an electrician, plumber, boilermaker, or repairman, you may be well-suited to pursue a second career as a trainer or educator of the trade.

Becoming a trainer or an educator in a specific trade is one of the best careers for seniors over 60: You’ll be able to share your knowledge of your craft and inspire the next generation. You might try connecting with your local trade school to see if they have any available openings for educators or trainers.

Medical Biller

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $17.77 per hour

Skills Required: Accounts receivable, analysis, communication, computer literacy, customer service, document review, EHR systems, EMR systems, CPT coding

Time Commitment: Full-time

A highly in-demand job is becoming a medical biller. This is a clerical position where you’ll be responsible for managing patients’ payment balances and overseeing insurance claims. Although it can be a bit technical, if you have any background in the healthcare industry or in a medical profession, you’ll understand the complexities of the job quickly.

Most medical billers work in health care practices, such as clinics, hospitals, dentist offices, or specialist centers. To effectively do the job, you’ll need to be organized, helpful, and efficient. But the most important part is helping patients understand the complicated health insurance system and making sure that they feel supported and understood throughout the process.

Many seniors looking for work in their retirement are excited about the opportunity to engage socially or within their greater community. Consider this list of good careers for senior citizens who would enjoy sharing their knowledge while interacting with and benefiting their community.

Tour Guide

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $24.28 per hour

Skills Required: Communication skills, customer service, public speaking

Time Commitment: Flexible

Do you love your local city and would like to share your knowledge of it with others? Depending on where you live, becoming a tour guide can be a fabulous option to stay connected with your community, meet people from all over the world, and share your knowledge of history, geography, local attractions, and much more!

If you live near an art museum and have a love of art, then signing up as a tour guide may be a great option. If you live near outdoor tourist attractions, such as a national park, having a background in geology or geography can be helpful.

Tutor

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $24.89 per hour

Skills Required: Classroom experience, classroom management, communication skills, specialized knowledge in particular fields of study (math, science, language, etc.)

Time Commitment: Varies

Becoming a tutor as a senior can be a highly rewarding career opportunity. You’ll help students improve their learning and expand their knowledge outside of the classroom environment, walking them through challenging subjects, helping them with homework assignments, and preparing them for tests or exams.

Most tutors tend to specialize in a particular field of study—such as math, science, or English—so you’ll have the in-depth background knowledge to adequately support the student’s growth and learning. If you’re a retired teacher or enjoyed a career in education prior to retirement, becoming a tutor can be a fantastic option. Plus, if you decide to be self-employed, you can set your own hours and schedule.

Professional Coach

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $32.95 per hour

Skills Required: Knowledge of specific industry, interpersonal skills, computer skills, communications skills

Time Commitment: Flexible

If you had a long and storied professional career, consider turning your knowledge and expertise into your new career as a professional coach. Professional development and coaching is a burgeoning industry—and one that many successful professionals find themselves pursuing.

As a coach, you’ll work closely with clients to navigate their challenges, identify their weaknesses and blind spots, and achieve their goals. You’ll offer advice, introduce your clients to relevant people that might be able to support them, provide unique resources and strategies, and mentor your clients throughout the process of working together.

There are so many opportunities to turn cherished activities or hobbies into good second careers for seniors. As you consider some of your favorite hobbies or travel activities, make note of any potential careers for seniors that you could pursue.

Travel Blogger

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $14.70 per hour

Skills Required: Communication skills, photography skills, computer skills

Time Commitment: Flexible

If you have a lifelong love of travel, photography, or writing about your experiences in the world, becoming a blogger is the perfect career for seniors. You can set up an online blog via WordPress, Squarespace, or Tumblr—and then it’s up to you to brainstorm the best topics, conduct research (either online or in-person), write blogs, and post them online.

You can also contribute to other blogs online by reaching out with a “pitch email” and explaining your background, your writing interest, and what makes you a great candidate for contributing content. To become a successful blogger, you’ll need strong writing skills, a knack for photography, and a passion for finding your own unique voice and tone.

Musician

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $35.69 per hour

Skills Required: Performing arts, musical skills

Time Commitment: Flexible

Many seniors take up their hobbies and turn them into a full-time gig—and if you’re a lifelong musician, consider monetizing your musical talent and turning it into a career perfect for seniors. If you’ve always wanted to be in the spotlight, your senior years could be the perfect opportunity. Start by putting together a “set” of songs you’d feel comfortable playing in front of a crowd—whether they be original or covers—and then seek out local venues where you could perform.

Additionally, if you’re a lifelong musician with a deep knowledge of music education, you can try your hand at offering private or group lessons in your community. Music lessons are constantly high in demand, particularly for children and teenagers who are interested in pursuing music—or simply play as a hobby but want a bit of extra instruction. Talk with your local music store about offering lessons or posting a flier.

Artist

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $16.95 per hour

Skills Required: Art direction, communication skills, customer services, organizational skills

Time Commitment: Flexible

Have you always been a creative person? Maybe you’ve spent your life with a hobby of drawing, painting, ceramics, or homemade jewelry—and maybe now’s the perfect time to start selling your wares and making some extra earnings from your craft.

Making money from crafts and art can be slow at first. Try posting your art or market crafts on Etsy, joining your local farmer’s market, or seeking out an arts and crafts fair that features local artists. To truly skyrocket your business, print business cards, set up social media accounts, and maybe even design a website (or have your grandchild help you out!) so you can spread awareness of your work and make online sales.

If you’re looking for a part-time career for seniors, rest assured: There are numerous careers for seniors over 50 that don’t require an intensive, 40-hour per week demand.

Rideshare Driver

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $16.32 per hour

Skills Required: Driving, customer service, communication skills

Time Commitment: Flexible

The quintessential career for seniors in the gig economy is becoming a rideshare driver—and for good reason. As a driver for Lyft, Uber, or even a food delivery service such as DoorDash, GrubHub, or UberEats, you’ll set your own schedule, work at your own pace, and make money when you feel like it.

If you live in an urban area, you’ll find constant demand for this type of work. If you live in a more rural area, it may be a bit more challenging to find consistent rides. The tasks required of a driver using a ride-share application include being a safe, professional driver, keeping your vehicle clean, and making casual conversation with your passengers. If you enjoy interacting with people and spending time exploring your city, becoming a driver can be a fantastic role. Plus, you can work as much or as little as you want.

Administrative Assistant

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $17.23 per hour

Skills Required: Accounting, administrative experience, clerical experience, communication, computer skills, data entry, customer service

Time Commitment: Varies

Another great career for seniors over 50 is becoming an administrative assistant. Administrative assistants are responsible for a variety of clerical and administrative projects—from answering telephones and emails to assisting staff members or scheduling appointments. Most businesses have some form of administrative assistant to ensure the daily operations go smoothly.

If you’re exceptionally organized, professional, and efficient, becoming an administrative assistant can be a fulfilling career. Plus, you can find an assistant role at a company or small business that you support—and you can make a difference in their daily operations and long-term success.

Virtual Assistant

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $15.79 per hour

Skills Required: Taking calls, bookkeeping, customer support, social media, proofreading and editing, scheduling

Time Commitment: Flexible

In today’s modern world, millions of small business owners hire virtual assistants to keep their daily operations running in tip-top shape. One of the top benefits of pursuing a career as a virtual assistant is the ability to do it all from the comfort of your own home. All you need is a computer, a cell phone, and a flexible schedule—so you can help your clients when they need an extra pair of hands.

Some virtual assistants work as independent contractors, while others may partner with a company or a staffing agency for a full-time position. Virtual assistants typically do similar work to administrative assistants: Managing schedules, taking calls, bookkeeping, supporting social media profiles, and even editing or proofreading emails or content.

Freelance Writer

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $23.27 per hour

Skills Required: Writing skills, communication skills, computer skills, research skills

Time Commitment: Flexible

If you have a love for language, consider your next career as a freelance writer. Freelance writers typically work as independent contractors and offer writing services to clients—often across a variety of genres. Writers can help companies and small businesses develop blog posts, marketing collateral, social media posts, internal communications, advertising copy, video scripts, and so much more.

One of the best reasons to pursue a career in freelance writing as a senior is the ability to set up your own schedule, work with clients you’re interested in, and support brands and companies. If you had a previous role where you specialized in content, communications, or writing initiatives, becoming a freelance writer is the perfect career for you.

For highly-active seniors looking for a second career, you may love finding a new occupation where you can prioritize exercise, activity, and fitness.

Dog Walker or Pet Sitter

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $13.15 per hour

Skills Required: Love for animals, knowledge of animal care, customer service, leadership

Time Commitment: Varies

One of the best careers for senior citizens is becoming a dog walker or a pet sitter. If you’re a lifelong animal lover with a passion for taking care of other living creatures, being a dog walker or a pet sitter can be the perfect career—especially if you’re an active senior. Dog sitting can vary greatly by the pet and its owner. Some owners prefer that their pet sitter stays overnight at the home to keep their animals company; others are fine with a daily check-in.

As a dog walker or pet sitter, you’ll need to have knowledge of animal care and enjoy playing with pets, cleaning up after them, and making sure they’re eating and drinking. Becoming a pet sitter can be a fantastic way to connect with fellow pet lovers while you spend time with animals.

If you don’t know where to begin, take a look at Rover, an online platform that allows you to set up a profile and gain clients.

Health Coaching

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $18.07 per hour

Skills Required: Communication skills, health coaching, motivational speaking

Time Commitment: Flexible

Do you have a love of food, wellness, and lifestyle? If so, then becoming a health coach is a great second career for seniors. Health coaches work closely with clients to provide support and help guide individuals toward optimal health—through individualized diet and lifestyle recommendations.

Health coaching is a relatively new practice, however, it’s grown immensely popular. As a health coach, you’ll help develop strategies uniquely designed to fit each client’s desires and goals, collaborate with other healthcare providers to support your client’s progress, and offer recommendations for optimal health, diet, nutrition, exercise, and more.

Fitness Instructor

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $22.37 per hour

Skills Required: Body mechanics, interpersonal skills, dancing, weight-lifting, group fitness, leadership

Time Commitment: Varies

If you’re an active senior who loves exercising and staying fit, becoming a fitness instructor is a good second career for seniors. Fitness instructors lead classes such as yoga, pilates, cycling, strength training, Zumba, barre, and much more. Perhaps you’ve been an athlete your entire life and you’re looking to apply some of your knowledge to your next career—or maybe you love helping others look and feel their best.

Most fitness instructors are responsible for developing lesson plans or schedules, leading 1:1 training or group classes, teaching proper form, and helping your clients reach their dream goals. For most fitness instructors, there’s absolutely nothing more important than having a motivating, positive attitude to lift up those around you.

Nanny

Median Hourly Wage/Average Salary: $20.55 per hour

Skills Required: Babysitting, child care, experience with children, caregiving, first aid, infant care

Time Commitment: Flexible

If you love staying active and enjoy spending time with the youngest generation, consider taking up a career as a nanny. As a job that’s always in demand, being a nanny is a good career for senior citizens. You’ll help provide child care for working families who need an extra set of helping hands. Becoming a nanny is a flexible role—and your schedule and responsibilities will vary greatly depending on the family you work with.

A typical day as a nanny, in most situations, includes playing with the children, helping them with any homework assignments, preparing meals and snacks, and even helping with chores and housework. Being a nanny is a perfect role for someone with a deep love of children—or perhaps someone who had a role in early childhood education and loves shaping the minds of tomorrow’s leaders.

The benefits of having a career as a senior citizen are endless. Not only will you pad your pockets for any future costs that may arise, but you’ll also relish in the joys of life. Here are some of the benefits of having a career as a senior:

• Increased Cash Flow: Having a new source of income as a senior can be one of the primary benefits of pursuing a new career. One in five workers don’t anticipate ever being able to retire due to financial concerns—so pursuing a new career can be a great way to keep your financial health in good shape.
• Greater Social Well-Being: Having a career as a senior can help you stay active, engaged, and connected to your community. One study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health discovered that delaying retirement for just one year after the age of 65 can lower a senior’s risk of death by as much as 11 percent. What this means is that staying active with a career has a powerful impact on the rest of your life—and if you’re able to pursue a career that excites you and nourishes your spirit, it’s a win-win.
• Improved Mental Capacity: Staying mentally active is one of the most popular reasons that seniors choose to stay employed. Remaining in the workforce can serve to keep your mind sharp, encourage you to learn new skills and knowledge, and even get you out of the house and around others.
• Better Quality of Life: A new generation of working retirees are excited about creating a better quality of life—thanks to an empowering career. 83 percent of retirees said that working helped them feel younger, according to a study by Merrill Lynch. For many seniors, pursuing a new career in retirement can help boost their quality of life and provide new experiences.
• Health Insurance: When you turn 65 years old, you’ll become eligible for Medicare—however, many seniors have complicated healthcare needs that aren’t covered by Medicare. If you pursue a full-time job, you’ll have access to different health insurance benefits. This can potentially help you save money and gain access to the prescriptions, preventative care, and treatment that you need to stay healthy and live your life to the fullest.
• Heightened Social Activity: Loneliness is a common and often overwhelming challenge for many seniors—which is one of the reasons that careers for seniors and aging adults are so important. With a career that encourages you to get out of the house and interact with new people, you’ll gain powerful social connections and build deep relationships in your community.
• Increase Your Savings: No matter what your financial situation is, having a steady source of income well into your 60s and 70s can be an empowering experience. If you’re already in a solid financial spot, you can use this money to build your retirement savings and strengthen your investments. Or, perhaps, you want to use these extra earnings to enjoy fun activities—such as traveling or seeing the world.

As you start your search for a second career as a senior, you may face age discrimination or other challenges—but don’t be dissuaded. There are millions of companies and businesses that understand the inherent value that senior workers offer.

In fact, an AARP survey discovered that younger workers viewed their older colleagues as valuable teachers with unique perspectives. And as a senior in the workplace, you’ll bring a one-of-a-kind perspective that enhances business growth and so much more.

Unfortunately, although there are many distinct advantages to hiring seniors in today’s modern workplace, age discrimination can still occur. More than 60 percent of workers over age 45 say they’ve experienced age discrimination during their careers.

As you begin to search for jobs, remember and recognize the unique strengths that you can bring to a company—and don’t be afraid to be honest about the decades of experience you have, the expertise you bring, and the impact you can make.

To start your search seeking a second career, here are our favorite tips:

Network!

As a senior who has been in the workforce previously, use your connections and network to find available roles. By letting your friends and family members know that you’re interested in getting back into the workforce, you'll start to open new doors. Since you’re already retired, your network might not know that you’re interested in a new career—so be open and honest about it and see what comes through.

Create a resume.

One of the most important parts of the job search is creating an updated resume. As a senior, it’s best to focus on the last 10 to 15 years only—due to the ever-evolving world, jobs or extracurriculars from more than 15 years ago are often not considered relevant. Plus, jobs from decades and decades ago show your age, which may be something that you’ll want to conceal until later in the process.

Don’t date the year you graduated.

Unless you graduated or earned a degree in the recent past, leave the date of your college or graduate school graduation off your resume. Recruiters may pass over you on account of your age—so it’s best to leave this information off your resume.

Share your knowledge of technology.

As a senior entering the workforce, you’ll want to express your confidence using technology. If you’re applying for jobs that require a strong grasp of technology or computer literacy, highlight your skills on your resume and underscore your confidence.

If you feel that your computer or technology expertise could be strengthened, that’s totally fine. Now might be a good time to connect with your local library or an organization in your community that offers technical literacy programs—so you can boost your skills in advance of your new job and feel fully prepared.

Be strategic with your resume.

The hiring process has changed dramatically with the rise of technology. Keep in mind that, in most cases, your resume will be screened by computer software before it will be read by an actual hiring manager.

To make sure you pass the filtering process, make sure your cover letter and resume include keywords from relevant job postings. If there’s a certain word or phrase that’s repeated in the job listings you’re interested in, make sure you incorporate that into your resume and cover letter.

Share your mentoring skills.

One way to appeal to potential employers is to position yourself as an experienced mentor. Because so many younger workers value the life experience and the expertise of older colleagues, being a mentor can be a valuable, strategic way to market yourself.

As you look over your resume, have you successfully mentored or partnered with younger colleagues? Have you supported them in certain ways over their careers that would be enticing to potential employers?

Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse!

Just like any interview, prepare in advance—and consider the possibility that the person conducting your interview could be younger than you. Potential employers can’t ask about age during an interview, but they might question you about how you’d feel if you had to report to a younger manager. It’s definitely worth considering that question prior to your interview and collecting your thoughts in advance.

Finally, as you prepare to go through the interview process, remember to be yourself. You bring a unique skill set and perspective to the job that most young hires simply can’t—so feel confident in yourself and your abilities as you walk into your interview.

No matter what your reasons are for pursuing a career as a senior or aging adult, rest assured that there are plenty of options available to meet your goals and support your lifestyle.

Our content is created for educational purposes only. This material is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for tax, legal, or investment advice. Everdays encourages individuals to seek advice from their own investment or tax advisor or legal counsel.