Millions of Americans age 65-plus work either full or part-time.
The reasons for remaining in the workforce—or reentering it—can vary. For many, it’s a matter of necessi♌ty. For others, it’s an opportunity to stay active, challenged, and engaged in their communities.
Key Takeaways
- For many people, reaching age 65 means retirement. But for others, working later on in life is necessary to maintain their financial security or to stay active.
- Popular jobs for those over age 65 include accountant, event coordinator, and teacher's assistant.
- Other popular jobs include adjunct faculty, consultant, and working retail.
Popular Jobs If You’re 65-Plus
Most people who work past the age of 65 do so in bridge jobs that span the period between leaving a career and leaving the workforce altogether.
Thinking about working after retirement age? Here are six popular jobs for🐷 people age 65 and older.
Accounting/Bookkeeping
Accounting and bookkeeping clerks use specialized computer accounting software, spreadsh🍨eets, and databases to post financial transactions and produce financial reports, 🎃such as balance sheets and income statements.
Adjunct Faculty
Part-time faculty (adjuncts) account for a significant portion of the instructional faculty at nonprofit colleges and universities—and you don’t always need a Ph.D. to snag one of these teaching jobs. While the pay is generally low—perhaps only a few thousand dollars per course—many retirees find the work fulfilling. Plus, once you’ve taught a coursꩲe a couple of times, you won’t have to devote as many hours to class prep.
Event Coordinator/Planner
Even if you’ve never worked as an event planner, you may have planned (or helped plan) dozens of events over the years: birthday parties, weddings, anniversaries, and the like. You can put this experience to work to find a job or start your own business, tapping into your network of friends and family. Job growth between 2023 and 2033 is expected to be 7%, compared to an average of 4% growth across all occupations, and the median pay was $27.36 per hour in 2023, according to the U.S. 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Project-Based Consultant
Rather than filling a full-time position, many companies will findꦅ a consultant to help with a specific project. This can be an excellent way to put your decades of experience to work without committing to a full-time job. Depending on yourও skill set and experience, it’s possible to earn upward of $50 or even $100 an hour.
Retail Sales
Retail salespersons held almost 3.7 million jobs in the United States in 2023, according to BLS data—in general merchandise stores (19% of all retail salespersons), clothing stores (57%), building material and supplies dealers (34%), sporting goods, hobby, and musical instrument stores (47%), and automobile dealers (18%). Nearly 1 in 3 retail workers was employed part-time in 2023, and the median hourly wage was $16.19 for retail salespersons as of May 2023.
Tip
These jobs may have an added perk: employee discounts for the products your store se🐈lls.
Teacher’s Assistant
Teacher assistants (or aides) work under the supervision of a licensed teacher to give students extra attention and instruction. They may work with an entire class, in small groups or one-on-one in elementary, middle and high schools, preschools, and childcare centers. According to the BLS, the 2023 median pay was $35,550 per year. Many teach🐟er assistants work on a part-time basis, and in most school systems, you’🌌ll get your summers off.
What Are the Best Retirement Jobs?
The best 💦r👍etirement job for any individual will depend on their background, preferences, and needs.
In 2022, the National Bureau of Economic Research published a paper on the rise of age-friendly jobs, prompted by the gradual increase of workers over the age of 50. The most age-friendly occupations typically involved strong interpersonal skills ove🌠r physically strenuous elements. 𒆙These include: transportation and reservation agents, receptionists, sales workers, secretaries, labor relations managers, and proofreaders.
What Is the Best Income When Retired?
Retirement income can be composed of many different elements, depending on how much you have socked away prior to retiring. Some retirees will draw from their retirement savings and work a second job for additional income.
Retirees who have contributed to 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Social Security can withdraw benefits as early as age 62, though there's a financial incentive to wait to do so. Your benefit will be higher the longer you wait (up to age 70). You may also have saved up money through 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:tax-advantaged accounts or employer-sponsored savings programs, such as 澳洲幸运▨5开奖号码历史查询:Roth individual retirement accounts (IRAs), traditional IRAs, or 401(k) accounts. Many who work in public service may also be able to rely on pension payments. There is no single b🐷est type of income in retirement, as the most financially advantageou🅷s source depends on individual needs and circumstances.
What Percentage of Adults 65 and Older Are Employed?
If you are working after the age of 65, you’re far from alone. According to the Pew Research Center, 1 in 5 adults over the age of 65 are employed. And older adults aren’t just working more; they’re also earning more, averaging $22 per hour in 2022 compared to $13 per hour in 1987 (using 2022 dollars).
The Bottom Line
More people are working past retirement age for extra cash, to stay active and challenged, or some combination of reasons. Some switch to new jobs within the career field they worked in for years. Others try something that's entirely new.
While the jobs listed here are popular among the 6🍌5-plus crowd, there are, of course, many other options for older adults, including working as a tour guide, a patient advocate, or a tutor.