What are the best post retirement jobs for seniors? At sixty-four, I’m on my way as well! Believe it or not, there are lots of options out there besides being a greeter at Walmart (is that still a thing?).

With no real judgement towards AARP, they have a list of their top 25 jobs for retirees as follows:

  1. Full charge bookkeeper
  2. Bookkeeper
  3. Dental hygienist
  4. School bus driver
  5. Office manager
  6. Registered nurse
  7. Administrative assistant
  8. Secretary
  9. Licensed practical nurse
  10. Paralegal
  11. Nanny
  12. Home health aide
  13. Orderly
  14. Dental assistant
  15. Receptionist
  16. Office clerk
  17. Nurse assistant
  18. Security guard
  19. Merchandise displayer
  20. Customer service representative
  21. Pharmacy technician
  22. Housekeeper
  23. Retail sales worker
  24. Sales associate
  25. Cashier

While it is nice that any one of these might bring in extra income, some don’t make make much money, and others don’t really make sense.

For example, if you are not a nurse, do you want to study to be a nurse? If you are a retired nurse, do you want to continue being a nurse? If so, why did you retire?

Others on the list require you to be on your feet all day. Is that why you retired?

And some will pay no more than minimum wage. Is that what you’re worth?

The COVID Effect

Let’s face it, COVID-19 has changed everything in the way we do things. Some of the AARP suggestions above may not even matter any longer, given the fact that more and more people are staying home for work and school.

But, as a person who is retired, looking for a second career – something new to do, in which you don’t have to work full time if you don’t want to – what will that look like?

I’m not much for statistics, but according to a report from the Congressional Budget Office, the number of employed individuals between the ages of 55 and 79 increased by 11%.

In-Demand Jobs for Seniors

If you spend even a little time on Google looking for a post retirement gig, you probably saw various lists of “in-demand” jobs. The truth is, no one is looking for you. You can look for them, but moreover, I want you to consider the re-creation of you, so that you:

  • don’t have to work for minimum wage, and
  • you can do something interesting

Passion in the Pipeline

It might sound corny to “follow your passion”, but now is the best time to do it. What have you always thought you would like to do? (Okay, if you read this far even though your answer was “be a nurse” – so sorry if I offended you and thanks for reading on.)

My mission in life is not to merely survive, but to thrive, and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. – Maya Angelou

Here are a few things to consider:

  • What is your passion?
  • Is it important for you to give back?
  • What is the intersection between your passion and giving back to others?

You Don’t Have To Settle

You don’t have to start a non-profit in order to give back to your community.

I have an honest-to-goodness passion for digital marketing. I’ve worked in marketing for over a dozen years and spent all of them giving back to small businesses by sharing my knowledge and expertise freely with them. By the way, this blog is also my way of giving back by, again, sharing what I know and offering advice to help others be better marketers and make choices that will give them more money in their pockets.

So let’s explore a couple of options for you to consider… But remember to keep your mind open to what might work best for you, even if it’s not mentioned here.

Your New Business Ideas

Offer Online Tutoring: This can easily be done in your free time. Connect with your local school district to see if you can make a connection or consider using Facebook groups to get started.

Online Translator: Do you speak another language? Consider looking at online translating services. Generally, they will hire you to work for them as a freelancer.

Affiliate Marketer/Blogger: Most blog writers are also affiliate marketers (like me). If someone clicks on a link, you earn a commission. This can be extremely lucrative and provide you with great financial freedom once you get it started.

Virtual Assistant: There are a number of online sites where you can register to be a virtual assistant. What tasks you do for others is determined by you, as well as how much time you want to spend and your pricing.

Bookkeeper: This might seem like a chore to many of us, but if you like numbers and have a background in accounting or bookkeeping and want to keep the door open, you can do this part-time with ease.

The Bottom Line

If you decide to do something to earn extra money in retirement you should consider things that are interesting to you and that connect with other things that are meaningful to you, your family and your community.

My suggestion: If you like to write, even a little, consider looking into Wealthy Affiliate. You can explore for free to see if it is right for you. The supportive community has a lot of older folks like us, along with some very experienced, caring people who are joyful to offer help.

PS: This is my best gig ever – wish I would have started a long time ago! Wishing you tremendous success!