If you love writing but you’ve had to put it on the backburner to focus on your career, freelancing is the perfect option after retirement. Freelance writers decide their own hours and have the freedom of working from home. To find freelance writing opportunities, check out Writers Market, Freelance Writing, and Writer Find. If you’re more interested in the technical side of writing, you should look into freelance editing and proofreading; check out First Editing.
Pay: $10-$20 an hour
If you love animals, why not make a career out of taking care of them? You probably already know plenty of people with pets; chances are those people will be traveling sometime soon and will need someone to take care of their furry friends. Taking dogs on walks, feeding cats tuna…you’d basically be living the dream. Added bonus: animals are known to lower blood pressure, too.
If you don’t know anyone with pets, check out Dog Vacay.
Pay: $8-$12 an hour
Rumor has it that age is less of a factor in government agencies – particularly the IRS , the Department of Veteran Affairs, and the Transportation Security Administration – and many of them offer seasonal and part-time work. Check out USA Jobs for more information.
Pay: $8-$15
Now that you’ve retired and you have more free time on your hands, it’s time to spend more time doing what you love. If you’re really good at baking, bag up your bread and sell it at your local farmer’s market. If you’re into knitting scarves and other crafty things, sell your designs online. Ever heard of Etsy? It’s a great place online to start. You get to be your own boss – you can work however often you want and decide on your own prices.
This is the perfect job for history buffs, museum lovers, and wine connoisseurs. Tour guide positions are typically seasonal and are most common among historical sites, museums, and wineries. It’s a great opportunity to share your knowledge while spending time doing what you love.
Pay: $8-$20 an hour
Temp jobs are great because – in case you weren’t already aware – they’re temporary. You basically get paid to fill in for employees out on maternity leave, bereavement, etc. Upload your resume to Kelly Services and they’ll find a temp job that matches your skills and experience.
Pay: $10-$30 an hour
With age comes wisdom, so what better way to spend your time after retirement than spreading your wealth of knowledge? Consulting – whether it’s marketing, financial, whatever you consider yourself an expert on – is a great way to keep doing what you love while being your own boss, making your own schedule, and deciding your own hourly rates.
Pay: $65-$125 an hour
Nonprofit work is perfect for retirees because there’s a greater demand for part-time workers. While the pay is typically low (hence “nonprofit”), the reward of helping others is the main motivator behind most nonprofit workers and volunteers. Check out Idealist to find local opportunities.
Pay: Varies based on organization and position
