6 Great Part-Time Jobs for Retirees
Reaching retirement age doesn’t equate to actual retirement for more and more Americans these days.
Reaching retirement age doesn’t equate to actual retirement for more and more Americans these days. According to AARP, 17.9% of people age 65 and older are still working. That’s up from 10.8% in 1985. Many work out of economic necessity, to be sure, while others remain in the labor force to stay active or to meet new people.
Working part-time is a compromise that can help satisfy any and all of those needs without sacrificing the real perk of retirement: free time to travel, spoil the grandkids, pursue hobbies or just relax. Keeping this lifestyle in mind, we identified some of the best part-time jobs for retirees. Each occupation offers flexibility, decent pay and few, if any, requirements for education and experience.
Data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay ranges reflect the hourly rates in the 25th and the 75th percentile of workers. Happy part-time-job hunting!
1. Crossing Guard
The duties: Stopping traffic on a dime. Must enjoy herding pedestrians and hanging out on street corners.
The pay: $9.28–$14.58 per hour
The perks: Keeping kids safe, getting paid to play in the middle of the street. And did we mention the neon vests?
Where the jobs are: Local-government offices and elementary/secondary schools are the natural places to look for crossing-guard gigs. The vast majority are part-time jobs with split shifts. Construction outfits that work on highways, streets and bridges also hire part-time workers to direct traffic.
2. Pet Sitter
The duties: From feeding and walking pets to poop-scooping, provide care for animals while owners are away. Could be midday home visits while owners are at work or potentially multi-night stays at the owners’ homes when they’re out of town. Whisperers wanted.
The pay: $8.48–$11.59 per hour
The perks: Pets are purported to help lower blood pressure. About 35% of pet sitters work part-time; 28% are self-employed.
Where the jobs are: You can hang a pet-sitter shingle just about anywhere, but the most demand is in large metro areas such as Chicago, L.A. and New York. Big-city residents are more likely to pamper their pets. Look for small pet-walking businesses in search of walkers, market yourself directly to owners at dog parks and pet stores, or try a service, such as DogVacay.com, that connects owners to pet sitters.
3. Bartender
The duties: Mix drinks, check IDs and chat up patrons. A crowded bar and exotic orders (Moscow Mule, anyone?) will keep you on your toes—and on your feet.
The pay: $8.34–$11.22 per hour
The perks: One word: tips. Better bartenders pocket bigger gratuities. Being quick with a joke and deft with a cocktail shaker can pad income for part-timers, who make up 40% of the industry.
Where the jobs are: Bars, nightclubs and full-service restaurants are by far the biggest employers, but hotels offer bartenders better pay—$12.59 per hour, on average. Most shifts are on nights and weekends.
4. Chauffeur
The duties: Whisk passengers around town in your preferred ride, be it a shuttle van, Town Car or limo. Valid license and keen sense of direction essential.
The pay: $9.01–$13.98 per hour
The perks: Climate control and adjustable seats. Plus, dazzle your friends with your knowledge of back roads and speed traps.
Where the jobs are: New York and Las Vegas are the top two cities for drivers, but the best-paying city is Washington, D.C. Hourly wages in the nation’s capital average $16.87. About 16% of drivers work part-time.
5. Amusement Park Attendant
The duties: Take tickets, operate rides and keep kids in line—literally.
The pay: $8.29–$10.28 per hour
The perks: Put smiles on children’s faces when you’re on the clock, then relive your childhood after quitting time on Tilt-a-Whirls and roller coasters.
Where the jobs are: It’s no surprise that California and Florida, home to Disneyland and Disney World, respectively, lead the employment pack for amusement-park attendants. Seasonal work and part-time hours are the norm in the industry.
6. Security Guard
The duties: Monitor alarms, make rounds, control access or even operate metal detectors. Vigilance is a must, as is the courage to face down the occasional troublemaker.
The pay: $9.42–$14.97 per hour
The perks: Work nights to keep your days free. Besides, who doesn’t love a man (or woman) in a uniform?
Where the jobs are: Security guards are everywhere, from office buildings and retail stores to museums and even schools. Part-time work is common, as are off-hours shifts. The majority of guards are employed by private security firms.
SLIDE SHOW: 6 Great Jobs for Retirees
SLIDE SHOW: 10 Great Work at Home Jobs
