While many workers dream of the day they’ll no longer have to come to the office, about half of retirees have considered “unretiring” because they miss the intellectual stimulation from working, according to a survey from F&G Annuities & Life. Other retirees return to work because they need the extra income a part-time job or side hustle can provide. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities for retirees who want to work — but on their own terms. Here are 12 great gigs for retirees.
RetirementJobs.com lists jobs in retail, caregiving, tax preparation, driving and more at age-friendly employers. At ReadySetHire.com, you can enter a job title and location to find positions that suit your experience and interests. AARP is also a good source of flexible positions for retirees. As you launch your search, consider these opportunities.
12 gigs for retirees
1. Substitute teacher
Grade schools and high schools nationwide are looking for people to substitute teach, and depending on your state, you may not need a teaching certification. Check the websites of the school districts in your area to see whether they are hiring substitutes.
Pay varies by district. For example, the Fairfax County Public School system, in Virginia, pays substitute teachers $21 to $31 per hour, and the county pays teachers of homebound students $50 per hour. Find state-by-state requirements at the website for the National Education Association.
2. Tutor
If you have a special skill — whether it’s the ability to play an instrument, paint like Picasso or explain calculus in a way anyone can understand — you could earn $10 to $75 per hour tutoring individual kids or college students. Advertise your services on school, campus and community bulletin boards or on tutoring websites such as Wyzant.com and Tutor.com.
3. Adjunct professor
A side hustle as an adjunct professor can add several thousand dollars to your annual household income. Reach out to colleges and universities in your area to find out whether they offer adjunct positions. It’s best to contact the head of the department that interests you to inquire about becoming an adjunct. You can also contact the admissions department for any job postings in your area of specialty.
Some institutions require adjunct professors to have a master’s degree, while others require a college degree and/or professional experience. The nationwide average hourly pay rate for an adjunct professor is $68, according to ZipRecruiter.
4. Patient advocate
If you’ve spent time helping your aging parents navigate their health care, you may be able to turn those skills into a second career. Some patient advocacy positions pay anywhere from $40,189 to $53,512 per year and involve working with 10 to 20 clients, according to Salary.com. You can learn more about what patient advocates do at www.patientadvocators.com and https://aphadvocates.org. If you have the necessary skills, health care organizations can help you find advocacy positions.
5. Tour guide
You could pick up a little extra cash by becoming a tour guide at a nearby historic or cultural site or another local attraction. Prerequisites vary widely, from no requirements to passing a test administered by your local jurisdiction to getting a license. You may make anywhere from about $15 to $40 an hour.
6. Youth sports official
Those who are physically fit and love kids (and sports) may thrive as an umpire, soccer referee or other youth sports official. Your local high school athletic office or municipal recreation department can point you toward the regional governing association of the sport you’re interested in refereeing. Some positions require a fee of up to $50 for a combination of exercises, lectures and rulebooks. Pay can range anywhere from $0 to $35 for youth games and up to $65 per game for high school varsity games.
More insights and ideas on gigs for retirees:
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7. Usher
If you enjoy sports, the theater, concerts or other live events — and you’re comfortable moving through crowds — working as an usher may be a good fit for you. Search “usher job” on Google to find openings, or search Indeed.com, Glassdoor.com and other job sites for opportunities. You may earn about $15 to $20 an hour as an usher.
8. Fitness instructor
Have you always been a gym rat? Fit your workouts into a gig as a fitness instructor. If you want a sanctioned job at a fitness facility, you’ll need certification from the American Council on Exercise or the American College of Sports Medicine. ACE oversees a self-study program to take the 150-question, proctored exam, given either virtually or in person. The average nationwide hourly pay rate for a fitness instructor is $25, according to ZipRecruiter.
9. Dog walker or pet sitter
Many companies are requiring employees to return to the office, which could increase demand for individuals who will take pets on a daily stroll. Hourly rates for dog walkers range from about $14 to more than $20, depending on where you live. You can also pet-sit for people while they’re on vacation. UrbanSitter says the average national rate for a pet sitter is just over $26 per hour, and you may earn more if you live in an urban center.
Advertise your services in veterinarians’ offices or on sites such as Craigslist, Facebook, Care.com and Rover.com, a website that matches pet sitters with pet owners.
10. Shopper
How about making money instead of spending money when you go to the grocery store? You can do it as a shopper for grocery-delivery service Instacart.
You have two options: Do the shopping as an in-store shopper and have someone else deliver the groceries, or do the shopping and the delivering as a full-service shopper. As a full-service shopper, you’re an independent contractor who must have access to a car. Instacart does not post salary levels, but ZipRecruiter says the average hourly wage in the U.S. for an Instacart shopper is $18.
11. Freelancer
Media, corporate and nonprofit websites often look for freelancers to write, edit or design content. FreelanceWriting.com and Freelance Writing Jobs provide a long list of opportunities culled from several top sites, along with advice and tips for freelance writers. Freelancer.com offers a wide variety of freelancing jobs in categories such as design and media as well as writing and content.
Photographers can earn extra cash by selling photos to stock-art sites such as Getty Images/iStock and Shutterstock. At both sites, you must apply to be a contributor by submitting samples of your photos, illustrations, videos or audio. If approved, you’ll earn royalties when paying clients download your files.
You can also browse listings on Linkedin and Indeed for freelance jobs. You may be able to find work as a researcher, project manager, assistant or consultant, to name a few possibilities of gigs for retirees.
12. Creative entrepreneur
You can profit from your creative talents. Love to bake? Sell your treats at a farmers market, flea market or local festivals. If art and design are more your speed, consider selling your creations online or at local craft shows. Sites such as Etsy.com and Zazzle.com feature products such as jewelry, posters, vintage clothing, greeting cards, T-shirts and even pet supplies.
Bob Niedt, Kathryn Pomroy and Alexandra Twin are contributing writers at Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine. For more on this and similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com.
©2025 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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