25 Best Jobs for Seniors/Retirees (Part-Time, at Home, etc)

Seniors in the U.S. often retire past their employer’s minimum retirement age or seek part-time work after retiring to supplement their income; there are plenty of job opportunities available for working seniors and retirees. Federal law prohibits employers from discriminating against workers aged 40 and up,^[1] so you can apply for any job you feel qualified for. Below, we detail some specific types of jobs commonly available to seniors, including information about general skill requirements and senior employment resources to get you started in your search.

The List

Below, we list jobs that are good for and commonly hire seniors or retirees. Included are a few companies that offer each type of position; however, opportunties aren’t limited to only these companies. Since the best job for you will depend on your experience and interests, our list is alphabetical.

Note that you may want to decide how many hours you want to work before filling out an application. Part-time hours are typically less than 34 hours per week; however, state and federal laws leave that determination to each employer.^[2]^[3]

Bank Teller

Skills/qualifications: Previous cash-handling experience
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Bank of America, U.S. Bank, and other banks/credit unions in your area

Call Center Representative

Skills/qualifications: Some employers require previous call center experience; remote positions may have equipment requirements like a quiet, dedicated workspace, a certain type of computer, or a headset
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person or remote
Potential employers: AAA, Amazon, Liveops, Citi, and Discover

Caregiver

Skills/qualifications: Employer may request some previous experience
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Care.com or self-employment

Cleaner

Skills/qualifications: None
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Merry Maids and ServiceMaster Clean

City or State Employee

Skills/qualifications: Depends on the position
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Check your local city and state job boards

Delivery Driver

Skills/qualifications: Vehicle required
Schedule: Part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Door Dash and Shipt

Our previous research lists the jobs that give you a car to drive, as well as insurance companies that offer delivery driver insurance.

E-Commerce

Skills/qualifications: None
Schedule: Part-time
Remote or in-person: Remote
Potential employers: You’ll run your own business on a platform like Shopify or Etsy (see our research on how to make a full-time income on Etsy)

Freelancer

Skills/qualifications: Previous experience required; you’ll use your existing skills to provide a service to your clients
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: Either
Potential employers: Freelancer.com is a free resource that helps connect freelancers with potential clients.

Grocery Stores

Skills/qualifications: Depends on the position; entry-level positions available
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Kroger, Publix, Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods

Hospitals/Medical Centers

Skills/qualifications: Skilled and unskilled workers can apply.
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Check your local hospital’s career webpage.

Life Coach

Skills/qualifications: Previous counseling experience, a Bachelor’s Degree, and communication skills are required for credibility; there are no license requirements.
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: Either
Potential employers: Self-employed

Local Coffee Houses, Restaurants, and Cafés

Skills/qualifications: None
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Locally-owned businesses or national chains like Starbucks and Olive Garden

Local Tourism Venues

Skills/qualifications: Vary by position; entry-level positions are available in areas like ticket sales or food service
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Local amusement parks, museums, and other tourist attractions in your area

Non-Profit Organizations

Skills/qualifications: Depends on the position
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Animal welfare groups, organizations that assist the developmentally disabled, and national nonprofits like the United Way

Pet Sitting

Skills/qualifications: Previous animal-handling experience
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Rover.com, Sittercity; you may also be able to start your own business

Professional Organizer

Skills/qualifications: Organizational skills
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Self-employment

Remote Customer Service

Skills/qualifications: Home office and high-speed internet
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: Remote
Potential employers: Airbnb, Credit Acceptance, and Harry & David

Retail

Skills/qualifications: Depends on the position; entry-level positions available
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Target, Walmart, H&M, and TJX

School District Jobs

Skills/qualifications: Depends on the position; entry-level food service and janitorial positions may be available
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Check your local school district website.

Staffing Services

Skills/qualifications: Depends on the position; office support/administrative positions are common, so experience in that area is useful
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Kelly, Randstad, and Office Team/Robert Half

Tax Preparation Services

Skills/qualifications: Depends on the employer; Liberty Tax offers a free tax school
Schedule: Full- or part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Liberty Tax and H&R Block

Teach an Adult Community Education Class

Skills/qualifications: Must be able to educate students about your specific skill
Schedule: Part-time
Remote or in-person: In-person
Potential employers: Contact your local school district for details about how to offer your enrichment class to the community.

Teach English Online

Skills/qualifications: Must be fluent in English; some employers may require you to be a native speaker. These positions also typically require a Bachelor’s degree in any subject.
Schedule: Part-time
Remote or in-person: Remote
Potential employers: VIPKid and Qkids

Teach Music Lessons Online or In-Person

Skills/qualifications: Proficient in an instrument and music theory; employers may require a Bachelor’s Degree in music
Schedule: Part-time
Remote or in-person: Either
Potential employers: Guitar Center, local music schools, or self-employment

Tutoring

Skills/qualifications: Minimum high school diploma or GED for elementary-age; increasing qualifications based on the age of the students
Schedule: Part-time
Remote or in-person: Either
Potential employers: Tutors.com is a free resource for tutors.

Employment Resources for Seniors

Since position availability depends on who is hiring in your area when you’re applying, you might want to use a job board gearted toward seniors to help you in your search. The U.S. Department of Labor offers an older worker program finder to assist unemployed seniors aged 55 and over in finding job skills training as a stepping stone to gainful employment. It provides a list of programs in your area once you enter your zip code.

WorkForce50.com also provides job listing for ages 50 and up by state. It includes a list of employers recognized for recruiting and hiring older workers, as well as job openings at these companies.

Additionally, AARP has a job board that highlights companies that pledge to hire the workers over the age of 50. You can search job opportunities by zip code.