Retirement is evolving, and many older Americans aren’t ready to stop working entirely, especially with inflation, longer lifespans, and the desire for purpose being key factors for those in their 60s, 70s, and beyond.
That leaves a golden opportunity for retirees to cash in on their talents and add some valuable income to the household till, if they know where to look.
Make no mistake, U.S. retirees are doing just that.
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According to a recent study by D.A. Davidson & Co., 41% feel they cannot currently support their ideal retirement. Additionally, 92% of retired Americans say they don’t have a side gig to supplement their retirement savings, while 60% wish they were engaged in part-time work.
“The definition of, and classic timeline for, retirement is changing,” said Andrew Crowell, Financial Advisor and Vice Chairman of Wealth Management at D.A. Davidson.
“While many retirees might picture never working again, a side gig in retirement can be a fun and meaningful way to stay engaged in the community while supporting a more ideal retirement overall,” Crowell said.
Balancing part-time work, consulting, or passion projects can be both personally fulfilling and financially impactful in retirement.
“I tell my clients, ‘$1 is greater than $0, as even a small income stream can help reduce withdrawals from your retirement portfolio, stretch your savings further, and create more flexibility in your monthly budget,'” said Andy Smith, executive director, financial planning, at Edelman Financial Engines.
“Many retirees find that working only a few hours each week helps them stay active, engaged, and confident about their financial future.”
10 gigs worth pursuing
If you’re in retirement and are inclined to work part-time, some gigs are more worth pursuing than others.
These ten well-paying and highly satisfying freelance gigs can get you where you need to go in retirement, financially and lifestyle-wise, too.
1. Business and professional coaching
Retirees who come from the corporate realm, especially in executive positions, can leverage decades of leadership experience and mentor or coach current C-suite types (and wannabees) on how to climb the corporate ladder like a master.
Companies agree, and they’ll pay a pretty penny for insights on how teams should be run, how budgets should align with operational needs, and for general strategic advice.
“Coaching is a strong option for retirees where pay rates could range from $40-per hour to over $150 per hour, depending on their niche,” said Jason Leverant, president and COO of AtWork, a national staffing franchise. “The role allows them to tap into their specific experience, network, relationships, subject matter expertise, and more.”
Another great option in the professional coaching realm is mentoring or fractional leadership.
“Those types of roles could create significant income opportunities (from $1,500 to over $6,000 per month), but may have larger demands on time,” Leverant said. “Small businesses and start-ups are taking advantage of fractional leadership more than ever before because of the high value and lower investment levels.”
Pay: Business coaches can earn $100- $200 per hour, while some niche coaches can earn up to $1,000 per hour.
2. Data management/information technology consulting
Retirees with a robust grip on the technology side (especially in artificial intelligence) of business can charge premium rates for their digital management expertise, especially to smaller organizations that can’t afford an inside technology team.
Pay: Wages of $85 to $150 per hour, depending on services provided, are not uncommon for U.S. technology consultants. More specialized expertise in deeper knowledge areas like AI and quantitative computing can command up to $200 per hour.
3. Professional consulting
Niche-specific professionals (think human resources, finance and compliance, information technology, and marketing, among other management channels) can “rent out” their corporate knowledge to companies looking to keep pace in a chaotic U.S. and global economy.
That’s especially the case for organizations looking to roll out new special projects, manage audits, handle DEI initiatives, handle remote work operations, and run strategy sessions. Who better to teach the C-suite how to run the show than the retirees who’ve done so for 20 or 30 years?
“The beauty of having a side gig in retirement is that you’re not choosing between ‘full retirement’ and ‘back to work,'” said Carrie Loranger, founder at Click Digital Consulting in Mission Viejo, Cal. “Retirees should strongly consider building a knowledge-based business that leverages their decades of expertise.”
Loranger’s background is in marketing and communications, and she’s built multiple side businesses along the way. “The acquired knowledge led me to offer done-for-you marketing services, my 9-To-Thrive newsletter, and coaching people on building full-funnel businesses with multiple income streams,” she noted. “I work 15-20 hours a week, earn more than enough, and I’m energized by it instead of drained.”
Pay: Professional business consultants can earn between $50 and $150 per hour, depending on their area of expertise. For instance, consultants with vast knowledge of banking and finance will likely charge (and get) higher rates than those in some other corporate management areas.
4. Content publishing
Retirees with backgrounds in marketing, journalism, copywriting, or public relations can churn out cash as a content publisher.
While AI has eroded some opportunities in the freelance writing world, particularly in copywriting, blogging and SEO-themed article writing, specialists in content production in high-demand areas like finance, technology, legal, healthcare, cybersecurity, and corporate ghostwriting remain in high demand. That’s the case as media and B2B marketing channels seek to humanize content for consumers, particularly in the reporting, thought leadership, and trade publication sectors.
“I once had a client who wanted to write during her retirement,” said Jhanell Biggs, founder at New York City-based Moro, an integrated strategy firm. “She began freelancing for different online publications. With consistency and a few published articles each month, it is realistic to make $1,000 or more per month.”
Pay: Seasoned writers can earn between $20-$75 per hour, with content specialists in the B2B, finance, and technical realms earning the highest pay.
5. Bookkeeping/financial back-office service specialists
U.S. retirees with expertise in back-office areas such as accounting, controller, payroll, and compliance are a draw for companies, especially small businesses with low- or no-volume finance departments. There’s usually a high demand for good finance-savvy professionals, and the work is steady and reliable, and tailor-made for 10-15 hours per week, which should accommodate most retirees.
Interested retirees can also branch out into financial services roles and stack even more cash.
“In finance, retirees can also sell themselves as ‘Family CFO’ financial planners, as many households need help with basic budgeting, retirement planning, investment, and similar issues,” said Jan Hendrik von Ahlen, founder and managing director of JobLeads, a Hamburg, Germany-based career services firm.
“If you’re good with money and feel like you’ve planned your own retirement well, this can be a good option,” von Ahlen said.
Some retirees can also opt for a local small business concierge in specific areas, like bookkeeping. “Administration work is often hard for businesses to catch up on, and many are drowning in the most simple tasks,” von Ahlen noted.
Pay: Most back-office functions pay about $25 per hour, with higher-level specialists in bookkeeping and accounting earning up to $60 per hour.
6. Online selling specialists
There’s a wide range of opportunities and pay ranges in the online selling market (think eBay, Amazon FBA, and Etsy, for example), with top resellers earning five-figure annual fees and hobbyists clocking in at $25 or so per sale.
If a retiree truly gets what they put into the job, online sales is a great part-time job that can be done at home and is fun for people who enjoy bargain shopping and making a profit in the resale.
Pay: Top online sales earners can make $1,000-to-$3,000 per month on sites like Amazon FBA, while more serious and focused resellers can hit $5,000-per per month, although the hours are longer for retirees to climb the resale earnings ladder. Part-timers and hobbyists can expect to earn $25-$40 per hour for a few hours of online selling per week, if they’re diligent.
7. Teaching and tutoring specialists
At $20 or so per hour, tutors are on the lower end of the ‘best-paying retiree side gigs’ rankings, but the work fits an average retiree’s lifestyle.
Online or in-person tutoring offers fixed, predictable hours and meaningful work, and a high demand for talented former teachers in math, sciences, test prep, and college admissions, among other learning channels.
Pay: More general tutoring pays about $20 hourly, but specialists, particularly in high-demand areas like college admissions testing, can easily earn up to $80 per hour.
8. Home repair master
If a retiree is skilled at home repairs, fixing things, or completing tasks others tend to put off, they can generate local ads and post on social media, or register on handyman platforms like TaskRabbit. “The pay depends on the task and location, and each Tasker sets their own rates,” Biggs said.
Pay: $20-$150 per hour, based on the specific task.
9. Tour guide or experience host
Tour guides can be tailored to the needs of retirees who love lifestyle experiences like amusement parks, museums, historic cities and sites, boat tours, and field and mountain hiking.
“This is a great gig if you love being outside, talking to people, speaking a different language, and especially if you are based in a touristic place,” von Ahlen said. Helpful skills include storytelling, logistics, reviews, history, and foreign languages.
Pay: $25-$75 per guest and/or up to $2,000 per month for regular tours.
10. Be a landlord
If you have a good understanding of the real estate market, being a landlord is a great way to generate steady passive income.
“The market for monthly, furnished rentals is increasing rapidly as tenants seek flexible and affordable accommodations,” said Jeff Hurst, CEO of Furnished Finder, a furnished rental property platform.”
Landlords can go big by buying properties and renting them out, or take a more moderate route by renting out unused spaces in their own homes via platforms like Airbnb and Furnished Finder. There’s a strong market for both landlord options, as renting out space to short- or long-term tenants is becoming common among homeowners.
“For retirees, being a landlord is an opportunity to make some extra income, while providing a safe place for traveling professionals and families who need it,” Hurst said. “Travelers are seeking a variety of property types for their stay, from single room rentals to whole houses, creating opportunities for less traditional real estate investors to get into the market.”
While the U.S. overall continues to face a housing shortage, there is no shortage of rooms available. “Monthly rentals can be ideal for retirees with extra space in their homes to rent out, like a basement, garage apartment, or spare room,” Hurst added.
Pay: Depending on the size of the rental, rates can range from $100 per night to $3,000 per month (for longer rentals).
Where to find gig work
It’s much easier to land a side gig in the digital age than perhaps at any other time in history.
“Technology has enabled anyone, anywhere to access potential side-gigs,” Leverant said. “You no longer need to be a marketing genius to drum up business, and the multitude of platforms in every industry allow for someone with even limited tech skills to find a side gig quickly.”
For higher-end work like consulting or business coaching, interested retirees should leverage networking, former employers, alma mater contacts, professional organizations, and online career social media sites like LinkedIn.
“You can use sites like LinkedIn to not just apply to jobs, but to use as direct outreach to decision makers,” Loranger said. “Good writing can help you demonstrate your expertise.”
Direct job sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal can be helpful, too. “These are good places to start to build a portfolio and testimonials, but don’t stay forever,” Loranger said. “Rates are often lower than you deserve.”
Better platforms most people don’t know about include Catalant and Talmix. “These are pre-vetted consultant networks where you’re matched with high-quality clients,” Loranger noted. “FlexJobs and Contena, with vetted opportunities, are especially strong for writers and editors.”
Above all else, warm network introductions are still the fastest path. “Many consulting clients land within weeks through former colleagues.
Send 20 ‘catching up’ emails to old contacts, Loranger said, and be explicit that you’re available for project work.
Keep an eye on social security and taxes as a retirement freelancer
Working retirees, even if it’s a part-time gig, have tax and Social Security obligations to keep in mind.
“If you’re under full retirement age in 2026, you can earn $24,480 before losing $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above that,” Loranger said. “In the year you reach full retirement age, it’s $65,160 with $1 lost per $3 earned. Once you hit full retirement age, you have unlimited earnings with zero penalty.”
Loranger advises retirement side gig specialists structure their income to stay under the thresholds or to wait until full retirement age to ramp up significantly. “Many people don’t realize that benefits lost before full retirement age are recalculated later, so it’s not actually ‘lost’ forever, but cash flow matters now,” she noted.
There are self-employment tax reality issues, too.
“Gig workers pay 15.3% self-employment tax on net earnings over $400,” Loranger said. “That shocks people coming from W-2 jobs where employers paid half.”
On the upside, you can deduct 50% of self-employment tax, claim the 20% qualified business income deduction, and deduct business expenses like home office, software, and education.
“Try setting aside 25-30% of gross income for taxes quarterly,” Loranger advises. “Work with a CPA who understands self-employment. The tax savings from proper deductions easily pay for their fees.”
Take it slow, especially at first
The reason part-time work is called a side gig is that it’s not a 40-hour grind. That, after all, is what retirees left in the rear-view mirror, and there’s no need to resurrect that time-sucking reality again.
“Before accepting a gig, we advise clients to think about work-life balance and how the new gig may impact their overall retirement goals,” Biggs said. “They should ask themselves: Why do I want and need this gig? How does it add to or detract from my purpose? Will I learn new skills, or is it a means to an end?”
Additionally, retirees should start small by working 5-10 hours per week. “They should consider any physical or mental demands, as this gig should not feel like their old career,” Biggs added. “Most importantly, we recommend that they prioritize work that energizes them.”
