9 Fun Part-Time Jobs for Retirees that Anyone Can Do
Have you ever noticed that finding fun jobs for retirees isn’t as easy as it should be? After all, we have decades of experience and a strong work ethic. Unfortunately, this isn’t always enough.
Here is our list of part-time jobs for retirees:
- Craftepreneur – Sell your handmade craft and make money from what you love to create.
- Blogger – Write about what you know and share your knowledge.
- Gardener – Use your green thumb to make extra cash.
- Seasonal Worker – Work in a national park, for example.
- Shop Assistant – Meet people and sell products.
- Freelance Writer – Love to write? Sell your words.
- Nonprofit Worker – Do something meaningful.
- Massage Therapist – Get certified and work in a spa or a cruise ship.
- Makeup Artist – Use your makeup skills to make money.
So, to help the women in our community who are looking for some extra work, I’ve compiled a list of 9 part-time jobs for seniors. I hope they help you to meet your financial goals!
Read 60 CREATIVE WAYS TO MAKE MONEY IN RETIREMENT.
Also read 3 UNEXPECTED BENEFITS OF WORKING IN RETIREMENT – IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT MONEY.
Jobs for Retirees Don’t Have to Be Boring!
Women over 60 are no strangers to hard work. Most of us have worked all our lives, whether it’s at a full-time job or caring for children or aging parents.
But as we approach retirement age, many older women are starting to think about the best part-time jobs for retirees – not only to make some extra money, but to find a sense of fulfillment and fun.
Some women are in a position where they don’t “have” to work for money. For them, finding a job in retirement may be more about staying involved and keeping their minds active and healthy.
For other women, finding work in retirement is more of a necessity. In either case, at our age, we are looking to do something that we genuinely enjoy.
Read 3 TYPES OF MINDSETS A MATURE WOMAN CAN EMBRACE WHEN PURSUING PROFESSIONAL REINVENTION.
If you aren’t sure what types of part time jobs would be most interesting to you, think back to what you loved to do as a child, or try to remember one of your favorite jobs from when you were younger.
Craftepreneur – Make Money from What You Love to Create
There’s a big market for handmade items such as soap, knitted stuffs, macramé, candles, and other personal crafts and artisan goods. If you have a hobby for making things with your hands, turn it into a small business on the side! People enjoy purchasing and gifting unique items that are handmade.
Read THE ART OF CONNECTING WITH YOUR CREATIVE MUSE AFTER 60.
You can easily set up a virtual shop on Etsy and sell your items online. The website is user-friendly, and they take you step by step to set up your store. This type of business opens the door to worldwide potential customers.
The website takes a small fee for their service and assures payments are safe and secure.
You can set up your own personal website through services like Shopify if you have some website-building skills (or you can pay someone to do it for you).
Also, you can check with your community for seasonal craft fairs and set up a small table with your crafts for sale.
Read SO, YOU’RE READY TO SELL YOUR CRAFTS ONLINE – HERE’S HOW TO MARKET THEM.
Also read MAKING MONEY FROM YOUR CRAFTS – HOW TO DECIDE WHAT TO MAKE AND SELL.
Blogger – Share Your Knowledge with the World and Gain
The Sixty and Me community started as my own personal “part-time retirement job” – but it’s grown into so much more. You can do this too – start your own website dedicated to sharing information and building a community related to something you care about and are an “expert” in.
Read HOW TO FIND YOUR WRITER’S VOICE AFTER 6 DECADES OF LIVING ABUNDANTLY.
Over time, as you build the audience for your site, you can earn money from advertising, selling merchandise, and selling products and services of affiliate businesses that you believe in.
For example, have you become an avid photographer over the years? Have you learned skills that you can now share with others who are interested in photography? You can build a website (or hire someone to build it and upkeep it) and share your photos and also write useful articles about photography techniques and gear.
Read 5 MINDFUL PHOTOGRAPHY IDEAS TO GET YOU IN A STATE OF FLOW.
In your articles, you can promote cameras and photography accessories that can generate revenue for you when readers click on the links.
The great thing about running your own website is that the whole world can be your audience.
Unsure where to start? Udemy have a number of wonderful courses that can teach you the basics of blogging.
Don’t think that it’s possible to start a content-based business after 60? This video has my own story.
Gardener – Turn Your Green Finger into Green Money
If you love to garden, there are many ways that you can turn the green things you grow into “green” money in your pocket. You could grow herbs and sell lavender pillows. Or perhaps you should consider drying the herbs and selling them in packets.
Read 6 HERBS TO PLANT ON YOUR BALCONY OR SMALL GARDEN.
You could also have a garden sale where you offer your locally grown plants and vegetables to other people in your town. As an added bonus, you may finally get to meet your neighbors from across the street.
Read CONTAINER GARDENING: 5 STEPS TO GROWING ORGANIC VEGETABLES IN SMALL SPACES.
If you have a big garden and are willing to do some marketing, you might even consider renting space at your local farmer’s market. People love to buy locally-grown fresh produce, and your garden could help meet this demand.
Do you like to grow beautiful flowers? Be it roses or wildflowers, you can create unique and personalized bouquets to sell.
Read WHEN GARDENING IS YOUR PASSION, GROW VEGGIES INDOORS!
Garden Kneeler and Seat from Amazon
Seasonal Worker – Make Every Time of Year the Best Time of Year
Have you ever wanted to live in a resort destination or beautiful wilderness area? What if you could get a part-time job that paid you to live and work in a dream location?
One of the advantages of being women over 60 is that we often have more freedom to relocate or live in multiple places throughout the year.
So, if you’re willing to pack up and move for a seasonal job, check out the website CoolWorks.com. They provide information on various seasonal jobs at places like summer camps, dude ranches, and vacation resorts.
Flexjobs have nearly 30k different listings for flexible work across 50 categories.
Over 55? Check out the Experienced Services Program and apply to work on specific project assignments in the National Parks. This is a fun program that provides you with an opportunity to use your valuable skills to support the National Park Service.
Read SENIORS GUIDE TO THE TOP 10 U.S. NATIONAL PARKS.
Jobs at national parks and other great destinations are wonderful ways you can make money while living in a beautiful place – and some of the jobs offer free housing!
Shop Assistant – It’s Not What You Remember from Your Teenage Years
If you love to spend time in a retail environment, restaurants, or cafes, perhaps you could get a part-time job working at one of your favorite shops or coffee establishments.
Places like Starbucks offer health benefits and free coffee. Working in a bustling coffee shop is a great way to meet people and feel connected to the daily activity of your community. Retail outlets offer some of the most reliable jobs for retirees.
Take advantage of the fact that retailers need some extra help every year during the upcoming weeks leading to the Holidays/Christmas season. You don’t have to make it a full-time job and you can also get discounts on your own holiday gift shopping.
Another way to earn a few extra dollars is to become a mystery shopper. Get paid to shop and review customer service experiences in your local shops. Read HOW TO BECOME A MYSTERY SHOPPER AFTER 60 to see if it’s right for you.
Freelance Writer – Turn Your Words Into Opportunities
If you have some skills as a writer – whether from your career or just as a hobby – you can make money in retirement by working as a freelance writer or editor.
In the interview below, I talked with a successful freelance writer who works online. We discussed advice for women over 60 who want to turn freelance writing into a source of income.
Writing is one of the best part-time jobs for retirees because you can do the work anywhere, on your own schedule, and you can work with clients all over the world. The sky’s the limit!
You can find freelance writing projects on Upwork (formerly oDesk).
Also, if you have the desire to write a novel or a memoir this may be the perfect time to do it. Places like Amazon make it easy to self-publish your work and sell it online.
Read 3 REASONS THAT YOU SHOULD WRITE YOUR LIFE STORY.
Also read 10 QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOU START WRITING A BOOK
Word processors like Scrivener and Living Writer can help you write, organize, and edit your writing projects. Unlike generic word processors, these are specialized in writing fiction and non-fiction novels.
Start Writing Your Book Today: A Step-by-Step Plan to Write Your Nonfiction Book from Amazon
Nonprofit Worker – You Might Not Make Much Cash, but, You’ll Make the World a Better Place
Many women over 60 want to do something “meaningful” with their lives in retirement. Idealist.org is a good source of part-time jobs for retirees, depending on your skill set and your location.
Non-profit jobs can be competitive, so you also might consider volunteering to get started. Then, once you have a foot in the door with the organization, you can transition to paid work.
Read 5 WAYS VOLUNTEERING MAKES ME BETTER.
Massage Therapist – Relax Your Way into a Great Part-Time Job
As the population gets older, there will likely be a growing demand for massage therapy services to help people relieve aches, pains, and stresses on the body. People of all ages are discovering the health benefits of regular massage – so why not “cash in” on this trend?
Being a massage therapist is another great part-time job for retirees because you can set your own hours and practice out of a shared space.
It often doesn’t require a lot of money to get certified as a massage therapist, and once you’re licensed, you can work in a variety of fun settings – whether it’s a local spa or a cruise ship! Check out the Massage Therapy License website for more information about qualifications and requirements to become certified.
Master Massage Newport Portable Massage Table from Amazon
Makeup Artist – A Beautiful Job, if You’re Willing to Learn
You’ve been putting on makeup all your life, so you might as well get paid for it! Becoming a cosmetologist is another great part-time job for seniors because you can work from home, meet new people and make a difference in helping women feel better about themselves.
As part of your training, you could also volunteer at a local retirement home, theater company, or cancer hospital. There are many ways to bring extra beauty into the world!
Also, makeup counters in big box stores always need people passionate about makeup to sell their products. Why not apply at the shops that specialize in makeup for older women?
Vlogging has become very popular in the past years. People set up YouTube channels teaching their knowledge through self-created videos. Makeup tutorial videos abound and are trendy with the young and old. Some specialize in makeup for women over 50.
Channels like HotandFlashy teach women all about makeup, style, and beauty. Why not create your own? Something to remember, it takes time and patience to grow a following and to start making money vlogging.
YouTube Starter Kit for Content Creators from Amazon
Want more ideas about how to get started finding a part-time job during retirement? Read our article that can help get you started on your new job search – from creating a resume to tapping into your network.
More Fun Part-Time Jobs for Retirees
Teaching/Tutoring – Teach What You Know
Retirees have a lifetime of knowledge and experience. Why not transfer all that knowledge to eager students? You can tutor in private one-on-one lessons or online groups.
For example, you can teach English conversation to International students who want to practice their English speaking skills with native English speakers. Camby is a website that lets you create a profile and start chatting with people from around the world with no teaching credentials necessary.
You can also take a TEFL or CELTA course to get certified to gain access to better paying teaching opportunities.
Read WANT TO TEACH ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE? TEFL, CELTA, AND DELTA EXPLAINED.
Pet Sitting/Dog Walking – Spend Time with Furry Friends and Make Money
Love animals? Can’t have any pets where you live? Take care of other people’s pets while they are away. Dog walking will get you out of the house and get some exercise – so it’s a win-win.
Post on local Facebook pages or speak to your neighbors about your pet walking services. Websites like Rover and Wag let you create a profile and network with pet sitting and dog walking opportunities.
Driver – Use your Car to Make Some Extra Cash
Love driving? If you own a recent model car you can start using it to make money. Companies like Uber and Lyft connect drivers and clients who need to get places.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
What do you think makes a great part-time job for retirees? Do you have a dream job that you plan on pursuing in retirement?
