15 Great Part-Time Jobs for Seniors

Whether you are looking to supplement your income or trying to stay busy, a part-time job is one of the best ways to make some money. There are many benefits associated with part-time work, such as having flexible hours, interacting with new people (depending on the job and your level of interest in that), as well as staying active and healthy. Most seniors tend to avoid part-time work mainly because it might seem difficult to find the right type of employment. But once you settle on the type of work you are looking for (i.e. retail, business, hospitality etc.), it becomes much easier to look for something related. To get you started, we’ve found 15 fun and easy part-time jobs that are great for seniors. 1. Pet Sitter/Dog-Walker If you love animals and are looking for part-time work, this might be the best option. You can earn extra money by looking after people’s pets and walking their dogs, while getting to hang out with some seriously cuddly animals. Best of all, you can set your own rates and hours and retain flexibility while helping people by taking care of their beloved pets. Apps such as Rover are a great way to start. You can also advertise within your local neighborhoods and network to find clients more conveniently. 2. Blogger/Freelance Writer If you like to write, have subject matter expertise in lots of different areas (or maybe in-depth knowledge of a field or industry), you should consider content writing and blogging. Although it might take some time to build rapport and get clients, freelance writing is a great way to keep yourself sharp, learn about interesting topics, and get paid to do it! With the added bonus of setting your own hours, it remains a solid income stream that can really help. You can start with various freelance sites such as Upwork, Constant Content, and nDash.Or you can even contact local marketing agencies in your area to see if they need help with content writing. 3. Consulting Consulting tends to be a great option for entrepreneurial or business-minded seniors looking to use their expertise in guiding others. Whether you choose to go solo or join a company, consulting provides an analytical route for you to help businesses succeed and mentor younger professionals early in their career. The best way to start - work with your local network, previous employers, and others around you to start advising their businesses on a part-time basis. 4. Bookkeeper If you have accounting experience and want to earn some extra money, part-time bookkeeping might be the right solution for you. All you need is software such as Quickbooks, a laptop or computer, and you can work remotely wherever you are. You can help businesses set up their accounting, light bookkeeping and also provide other financial services as an add-on...all while working on a schedule of your choosing. You can find new clients on freelance sites such as Fiverr and Upwork as a start, and build a network from there. Ready to start a virtual bookkeeping business? Here's a great resource! 5. Crafting If you have a unique interest such as sewing, woodworking, or art...why not try to turn it into a source of income? Whether you sell at local markets and fairs or start a shop on Etsy, crafting is a fun way to relieve stress, be creative, and earn money doing something you enjoy. Many seniors often begin habits such as knitting and quilting as well, and all of these are great products that people like to buy. Plus, you can do it on your own time and advertise your uniquely made products as one-of-a-kind -- some great marketing right there. 6. Gardening Gardening is a relaxing hobby that can also make you money. If you enjoy tending and keeping a garden, you can plant a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and fruits that you can later sell. Start small with something like herbs, and work your way up to more challenging gardening items. You can sell them either in your own home and advertise around the local community, or join local farmers markets and sell there. 7. Retail If you want to keep active and get some fun employment works, retail might be a good option for part-time work. Most places are very flexible, provide employee benefits such as discounts, and can prove to be interesting and fun. If you like clothing, consider working part-time at one of your favorite stores so you can snag a discount. Or, you can work part-time at one of the small businesses near you and provide some much-needed help while earning money. 8. Non-profit/Charity work Albeit it does not pay well, but it is rewarding. If you want to work for something that gives you a small side income and makes you feel like you’re doing good in the world, why not contact your local charities? Usually, charities are in need of help for tasks such as fundraising, event organization, and administrative/clerical work that you can help with, among other things. 9. Seasonal Work Not looking to settle down? Want to travel a bit and earn some extra money? Well, with seasonal work websites such as CoolWorks.com, you can have that! These seasonal jobs might be things like working at a summer camp, driving and many, many others. You can start searching by state or by job, and find amazing opportunities across the United States. 10. Virtual Assistant Everyone keeps saying that you’re really organized? Or maybe you just enjoy the thrill of having a perfectly scheduled calendar, reminders set up, and all your deadlines in one place. So, why not tap into that skillset and become someone’s virtual assistant? All you need is a computer and some basic knowledge of Microsoft Office to start helping others stay organized! 11. Event Staff If you like going to the theater or watching concerts and orchestras, why not become part of the event staff? Venues are always looking for employees with flexible hours to help usher audiences in, help to find seats, and keeping the venue organized. Plus, you get to watch shows for free while earning some extra money! 12. House-sitter Similar to pet sitting, this is another option if you have time and the inclination. You can offer to watch people’s houses, collect their mail, water their plants, and do anything else they might need while they are gone from the house. This is a great way to keep active, and make the most of your flexible hours while providing an invaluable service. 13. Translation/Interpretation If you speak another language, this could be a good way to put it to use while building your supplemental income. A lot of companies and local government entities need translation and interpretation skills for languages such as Spanish, and need someone flexible and reliable for this. You can contact local government offices such as city hall, and your local court to see if there are any availabilities for positions like these. 14. Museum Guide If you see yourself as a bit of a history buff, or maybe a science nerd, why not try your hand at being a museum guide? It is a great way to impart knowledge, learn more about the subjects you love, and support your favorite institutions in a meaningful way. Museum guides tend to be part-time, and you can set your own hours and lead tour groups throughout the museum. Or, you can stay at the front desk and help guide visitors and answer their queries. 15. Teach English There are lots of different teaching opportunities, and teaching English is just one of them. Lots of local communities around the area are looking for part-time help in teaching English, as are private companies. Some might offer remote teaching opportunities such as teaching students in other countries via the internet, or you can work with your local area to see if there are any opportunities for teaching to start with. Perhaps you can even travel and teach English abroad by working with companies such as Teach Abroad Programs. This is only a fraction of the different types of part-time jobs available to seniors. With some careful research and local outreach, you will soon find that there are lots of different ways for you to earn money in your retirement. #BONUS: Transcriber Another job that is easy, quick to pick up, and provides a great supplemental income is becoming a transcriber. There are lots of opportunities out there, and you can be an incredibly resourceful team member to a lot of different companies by helping them with video transcriptions, legal transcriptions, and other work. You can work with companies such as Transcribe Anywhere that can give you the right training to get started (for FREE!), as well as detailed tutorials on how to get started in this business and where to find clients.