Best Jobs for Retirees in 2026: 15 Part-Time Roles That Pay Well

Retirement does not mean the same thing it used to. In 2025, 19.1% of Americans age 65 and older were in the labor force — up from 12.9% in 2000 — and 38% of adults 65 and older worked part time in 2024, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited by AARP. Among people who expect to retire at 70 or later, 53% say they will keep working in retirement, according to a 2025 Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies report. Some need the money: AARP found 7% of retirees 50 and older had "un-retired" in a recent six-month period, and 48% of them said they needed the income. Others want the structure, the social contact, or the sense of purpose. Either way, the right part-time job matters — and in 2026, employers are actively recruiting older workers for roles built around flexible schedules.

Retired couple working part-time in a retail shop in 2026

Best Jobs for Retirees: The Short Answer

The best part-time jobs for retirees in 2026 include administrative assistant ($22.82/hr), customer service representative ($20.59/hr), school bus driver ($23.26/hr), home health aide, receptionist ($17.90/hr), and data entry clerk ($20.22/hr) — all roles that generally do not require a college degree, according to AARP's 2026 list with Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data. Higher-paying options include registered nurse (median $46.39/hr), web designer ($45.85/hr), and insurance claims investigator ($36.92/hr). The best roles match your schedule and your body: predictable hours, low physical strain, and work you can do without relearning a career.

15 Part-Time Jobs for Retirees (No Degree Needed)

AARP's 2026 list of part-time jobs for retirees that do not require a college degree is the best starting point — only 34% of people 55 and older hold a bachelor's degree, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, so degree-free roles matter. Average wages below are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, via AARP:

Administrative assistant — $22.82/hr. Part-time office support, often two or three days a week at hybrid workplaces. Highlight Microsoft Office skills; AARP offers a free refresher through its Skills Builder for Work.
School bus driver — $23.26/hr. Split shifts with a long break midday, and districts often pay for the commercial license training. Bus driver employment was still 9.5% below 2019 levels as of August 2025, so districts are hiring hard.
Customer service representative — $20.59/hr. The most commonly advertised part-time role for older workers, with many remote options. Note that AI tools are increasingly used in this field.
Data entry clerk — $20.22/hr. Quiet, predictable, and often remote — a good fit if you type accurately and like routine.
Receptionist — $17.90/hr. Many employers split the role among several part-timers working one or two days a week.
Home health aide — $16.78/hr. Physically and emotionally demanding, but home care agencies are desperate for steady, reliable people, and hours range from a few a week to full-time live-in care.
Retail sales associate. Home Depot has recruited workers over 50 since partnering with AARP in 2004, and CVS Health runs a "Talent Is Ageless" program for pharmacy support and retail staff 50 and older. Short shifts, part-time schedules, and employee discounts are the draw.
Pet groomer — $16.28/hr. A low-stress option if you like animals and do not mind the physical side of the work.
Real estate agent — $28.35/hr. Commission-based, so income varies — but the schedule is yours and the work rewards local knowledge and people skills.
Security guard, bookkeeper, cashier, housekeeper, office clerk, merchandise displayer. All on AARP's list of predictable-hours roles, with steady part-time demand.

Higher-paying options that reward existing skills include registered nurse (median $46.39/hr, with a 5% job outlook for 2024–2034), dental hygienist, paralegal, licensed practical nurse, web designer ($45.85/hr), and insurance claims investigator ($36.92/hr), which the National Bureau of Economic Research calls an "age-friendly" job — not too physically demanding, with flexible schedules. If you want to browse part-time openings for older workers, AARP and Indeed run a joint job hub for workers 50 and older.

Where Retirees Are Actually Getting Hired

The employers doing the hiring cluster in a few predictable places. Retail is the easiest start — Home Depot and CVS have run age-friendly hiring programs for two decades. Classrooms are calling retired teachers back as substitutes; our substitute teacher guide shows pay of $85 to $225 a day. Home care agencies need steady hands. School districts need bus drivers. And Amazon built a warehouse program around RVers — seasonal workers who travel in recreational vehicles. AARP relaunched its corporate outreach in March 2026 as the Employer Alliance, and more than 160 companies signed on in the first several months, each committing to at least one concrete step toward hiring and keeping older employees.

Older woman school bus driver smiling in 2026

5 Things to Check Before You Take a Retirement Job

1. How it affects your Social Security. If you claim benefits before full retirement age and earn above the annual limit, part of your benefit is temporarily withheld. Check the current earnings limit before accepting a role.

2. Employee or contractor? Independent-contract work changes your taxes and gives you no benefits. Serious listings state the arrangement clearly — and the schedule in hours per week.

3. The physical demands, stated plainly. A good listing says how much standing, lifting, or driving the job involves. If it does not, ask before you apply.

4. Whether the pay is realistic. Compare any listing's number against the Bureau of Labor Statistics median for that occupation. A posting promising far above the median is a red flag.

5. Your rights. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects workers 40 and over at employers with 20 or more employees — a listing cannot lawfully set an upper age limit. If a posting says "recent graduates only" or "digital native," that is a warning sign, not a requirement.

How to Apply as an Older Worker

Age-friendly employers exist, but your application still has to compete. Trim your resume to the last 10 to 15 years of work — a 40-year history invites age bias and buries your best experience. Put your most recent, most relevant roles first, and use a modern format. Our 2026 resume guide covers the format that works now. On LinkedIn, a current photo and a headline that names your target role ("Part-time Administrative Assistant | 20 years office experience") beat a blank profile every time — see our LinkedIn optimization guide. And use the channels built for you: the AARP–Indeed job hub lists part-time and remote roles from employers that have committed to hiring older workers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best jobs for retirees in 2026?

Administrative assistant ($22.82/hr), school bus driver ($23.26/hr), customer service representative ($20.59/hr), data entry clerk ($20.22/hr), and receptionist ($17.90/hr) top AARP's 2026 list of part-time, no-degree roles for retirees, using Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data.

Can retirees work part-time without losing Social Security?

Yes, but if you claim benefits before full retirement age and earn above the annual earnings limit, some benefits are temporarily withheld. Once you reach full retirement age, there is no earnings limit.

Do I need a degree for a good retirement job?

No. Most of the best part-time roles for retirees — admin assistant, school bus driver, customer service, data entry, receptionist — do not require a college degree. Only 34% of people 55 and older hold a bachelor's degree.

Which companies hire older workers?

Home Depot has recruited workers over 50 since 2004, CVS Health runs its Talent Is Ageless program, and more than 160 companies joined AARP's Employer Alliance in 2026. School districts, home care agencies, and seasonal retailers are also hiring older workers now.

How much can a retiree earn working part-time?

Typical part-time roles pay $17 to $28 an hour; at 20 hours a week, that is roughly $17,000 to $29,000 a year. Skilled roles such as registered nurse ($46.39/hr) or web designer ($45.85/hr) pay considerably more.

Is it legal for a job posting to set an age limit?

No. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects workers 40 and over at employers with 20 or more employees, and a listing cannot lawfully set an upper age limit.

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