When you’re retired, you have plenty of time to spend however you please, whether it’s taking long walks on the beach or sitting at home watching bad reality TV all day. If you want to spend your time doing something productive and financially rewarding, several part-time retirement jobs make great opportunities.
8 Good Part Time Retirement Jobs
Driver Job For Retirees
Driving a school bus, transporting patients between facilities, or driving people around town (and picking up tips) all require that you stay alert and aware of everything going on around you. Make sure your transportation services employer has a reliable schedule so you know exactly when your hours will be and what days they’ll occur. You don’t want to be thrown into any situation unprepared or stressed out about getting there in time.
Work in Services
Most part-time work is in industries that service other people: construction, healthcare, retail. But as retirees with more time on their hands—and fewer day-to-day responsibilities like school drop-offs or dinner planning—they have more choices than ever when it comes to making a living in retirement.
There are plenty of ways to make money in retirement without having to get up at 6 am five days a week. Here are some of our favorites.
If you live near Chicago and want to share your life experience and knowledge with young adults, consider becoming a tutor for one of the local universities’ extension programs. You can teach anything from math and science to history and art appreciation; all you need is a BA degree (or equivalent) and at least two years of teaching experience.
Love baking? Make your passion into a career by opening an online bakery that caters primarily to schools, churches, campsites, and businesses within your community. With bake sales on the rise among millennials who want healthier treats but don’t know how to cook, this could be the perfect niche business opportunity!
Work in Retail
The best part-time retirement jobs often require a good amount of customer service, which can be something seniors with no retail experience will find daunting.
But don’t worry—retail shops typically love hiring people just getting out of school who are eager to learn and have no bad habits yet (like chomping on the gum or checking their smartphones when they should be helping customers).
So ask your student job placement office about in-store work at clothing stores, bookstores, record shops, and other retail outlets that may need part-time help. Retail jobs are also great because they generally involve regular hours and lots of chances to interact with others.
Work as A Delivery Driver
One great option is working as a delivery driver, whether it be pizza or Chinese food, or flowers. You can use your drive time to make money in between dropping off and picking up packages.
There is also no real limit to how many hours you can work on any given day, so you can fit it into your schedule around other things. Plus, it’s generally easier than getting out of bed at 5 am to deliver newspapers on cold mornings!
Work in Food Service
Working in food service as a part-time retirement job is an easy way to earn money while keeping your days flexible. Not only can you pick your hours and work on your feet, but it’s also a good way to meet new people if you’re looking to make friends in your community.
Many restaurateurs and eatery owners say they like hiring seniors because they know they can be counted on and are less likely to miss work because of a sick child or another life event.
Plus, there are all sorts of jobs—from helping customers find what they want off of their menu to cooking meals in the back—that will keep you active and on your feet throughout the day.
Freelancer
Some retired people love having lots of extra time on their hands, but they still want to feel productive. If you’re one of those people, consider freelancing. When you work as a freelancer—whether it’s as a writer, designer, data entry specialist, or anything else—you get to choose your schedule and work from home.
That freedom can translate into financial security in retirement. With no fixed office hours, your expenses will be lower (no commuting costs) and there’s less chance that you’ll get laid off if the business is slow for one month or year.
Tour Guide
Are you a social butterfly with a strong memory and lively personality? Put those skills to use as a tour guide, sharing your hometown’s history with other visitors.
Not only can you make extra money through tours, but you also might pick up some tips to help your travels go more smoothly. Many major cities—including New York City, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Los Angeles—have programs that pair volunteer guides with people who are blind or have low vision.
If there isn’t such an opportunity in your area, start by volunteering at tourist attractions and work toward setting up private tours. Or check out these travel-related jobs that could be good matches
Coach Of Any Game
One of my favorite jobs has been coaching boys’ and girls’ youth soccer. This is a great way to exercise, stay in shape, and socialize with other parents. While I’m not going to recommend that you quit your day job (for reasons we’ll discuss shortly), having a part-time job like coaching can be an excellent option to make some extra money during retirement.
And if you’re lucky enough to play a sport well into your 50s, you could even go pro in your later years! Sure, it’s probably not something you’re thinking about right now, but let’s make sure we don’t close any doors that may turn out to be good options during retirement.
Conclusion
At 70, my husband and I are getting ready to retire. So are lots of other people. But instead of kicking back and coasting into our golden years, we’re gearing up to work part-time in retirement—and maybe you should too.
It’s no secret that many seniors struggle financially during their first few years of post-work life, with 20% living below their state’s poverty line.
The main culprit is medical expenses, which often go up when someone retires, but incomes don’t always keep pace. Working a part-time job can give you a little extra money so you can maintain your quality of life without having to dig into your savings (as much). And who knows? You might even enjoy it!