12 Great Jobs for Retirees

Today many retirees are moving back into the workforce. Is this because they need money to counteract inflation? In some cases, yes, but many of those going back to work look for ways to fill their lives, feel valued again, and have a sense of purpose.

Many people have a mistaken belief that retirement is all about travel and rest. They don't realize that you can only do that for a while and then run out of things to do. What are you going to do to fill your time if you retire and spend the next 20-30 years. If you are healthy and able, that is a lot of years to fill. 

My dad was one of these people. After working hard for over 40 years, he and my mom retired. For almost 10 years, they traveled to all the places that they wanted to. They have traveled to virtually every continent on cruises. They have traveled around the United States on car trips. The problem is, you can travel every day. What do you do in your downtime. For my dad, after he finished his never-ending "honey-do" list, he was getting bored. So at 78 years old, he went to work at Home Depot. He has done everything from building grills and wheelbarrows to watering plants in the garden area. 

If you're a retiree looking for another job to help shore up your bank accounts or buy something extra, or just to be around people, these options might work for you. Remember that you can change your entire direction if you want to leverage what you learned working and become a consultant. Not everyone wants to work that hard. These twelve great jobs for retirees will make you want to get started now.

1. Photographer – You can become a photographer in a few ways. Many companies that need someone to take school pictures offer equipment and training for people. But you can learn to become an adequate photographer on your own today by taking a class through LinkedIn Learning, Udemy.com, or even locally. 

2. Temp Event Staff – In your local area, there are probably events requiring people to handle many setup, teardown, and organization such as parking. You can sign up for these types of jobs through various temp agencies in your town or go directly to the venue that puts on the events to ask. My parents have done this several times, including the Superbowl that occurred in their hometown a few years ago. 

3. Substitute Teaching – Even if you have never taught or have a degree, you can become a substitute teacher in some locations. They make from $50 and up per day and are in high demand. A good sub can work full-time in a large district. This is an excellent opportunity to share your experience with another generation. 

4. Child Care Provider – Another way to be around kids and make some money in a job for retirees is to work at a daycare center or start your own daycare in your home. If you work at a center, you're likely to make minimum wage, but you can often arrange to work only a couple days a week in the room you want to work in, such as the infant room.

5. Freelancer – Another way to work is to become a freelancer. You can work online as a virtual assistant, content writer, graphic designer, and other positions as a freelance contractor for various business types. There are many sites, such as www.upwork.com and www.fiverr.com, where you pick up work on your own time. 

6. Drivers and Delivery Drivers – Rideshares and personalized delivery are prevalent right now. They give you an excellent opportunity to make money in your retirement, working only on the days you want to work. Sign up with Instacart.com, Uber.com, Lyft.com, and others to find out more.

7. Life Coach / Consultant – There is a massive opportunity for you to use the experience you already have to help others. You can become a business consultant if you have that experience. You can become a life coach assisting others in succeeding at something you did. If you have extensive business experience, you can become a business coach. 

8. Pet Sitter and House Sitter – Do you love pets, and you want to choose your own hours? You can start this as a side business if you want flexibility. You can also find plenty of jobs run by others who need help and make about $18 to $20 an hour. One of my friends who owned a dog training business continues to board small dogs in her home instead of her clients having to board them at a kennel. Her tagline for her business is "where your dogs get to hang out with me on my couch". 

9. Author / Writer / Blogger – If you've ever dreamed of becoming a writer, there is more opportunity than ever today. You can write your book and publish it on Amazon. Their Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing is free. You can publish straight to Kindle, and with just a little bit more work Amazon will also publish your books in print. You can also write for the internet as a blogger or for clients who need website content.

10. ESL Teacher – Companies like VIPKid.com allow those with teaching experience of any kind to sign up and teach English to children all over the world. Teachers make about 20 dollars per hour. You do need a college degree.

11. Real Estate Sales / Property Management – There are many opportunities in real estate, from sales to property management. You can even manage other people's rentals; it's up to you what you want to do.

12. Insurance Sales – It's relatively easy to get a license to sell life, health insurance, or liability insurance. Another area of insurance sales that you can use your personal experience in is Medicare sales. An added benefit, insurance companies pay residuals. Many retirees like getting involved in this second career, which is very helpful for building a better portfolio.

These great jobs for retirees are fantastic opportunities that you may not have considered. Before you run out and get a job, consider the lifestyle you want to live first. It'll help you make a good decision about the job.

Jeff Kikel is the President and Co-Founder of BKA Wealth Consulting and the CEO/Founder of T-Werx Coworking and Entrepreneur Center. Jeff is the author of 6 books on Finance and Entrepreneurship. Jeff is an in-demand speaker and is the Host of the Money Trekker podcast (www.moneytrekker.com).