6 Part-Time Jobs To Consider If You Love Work But Don’t Want To Retire
Written by
Vance Cariaga
Edited by
Angela Corry
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The Cambridge Dictionary defines retirement as the “act of leaving your job and stopping working, usually because you are old.” But that definition could use an update. Roughly one-fifth of self-described “retirees” still work full- or part-time, according to a 2024 survey from T. Rowe Price, while another 7% are looking for employment.
Nearly half (48%) of those working in retirement said they do it for financial reasons. A similar percentage (45%) choose to work for “social and emotional benefits.”
If you want to keep working part-time after retirement, there are some things you should be aware of to maximize your earnings — especially if you collect Social Security. About 40% of Social Security beneficiaries must pay federal income taxes on their benefits, according to the Social Security Administration. This typically happens when you have provisional income in addition to your benefits, which might include wages, interest, investment returns, and dividends.
For single filers who haven’t yet reached full retirement age, benefits aren’t taxed if your provisional income is less than $25,000. That rises to $32,000 if you’re married and filing a joint return. Depending on your income, up to 85% of your benefits could be taxable.
Another thing to consider is the SSA’s earnings test, which reduces your benefits before you reach full retirement age. If you are under FRA for the entire year, the SSA deducts $1 from your benefit payment for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2025, the limit for recipients not reaching FRA is $23,400.
Here are six part-time jobs to consider if you’re retired but still want to work.
Administrative Assistant
- Average wage: $21.29 per hour
As the title suggests, this job requires assisting administrative personnel by answering calls, scheduling appointments, coordinating meetings, maintaining calendars, preparing documents and handling other tasks. The job is not physically demanding and many businesses hire part-time help for the role.
Customer Service Agent
- Average wage: $18.16 per hour
This job mainly involves answering customer queries and helping them resolve problems. You’ll need the patience (and desire) to deal with customers who might be frustrated or angry, but the hours are often flexible and there are plenty of remote work opportunities.
Insurance Claims Investigator
- Average wage: $34.63 per hour
Insurance claims investigators often work outside the office and are responsible for “inspecting properties on which insurance claims have been made,” such as damaged automobiles and buildings, according to the BLS. This is considered an “age-friendly” job that offers flexible schedules and is not too physically demanding.
Real Estate Agent
- Average wage: $25.02 per hour
As the AARP noted, it typically takes up to six months to complete the coursework and licensing requirements to become a real estate agent. But once you have a license, you often have the flexibility to work your own hours — and earn some good pay.
Tutor
- Average wage: $21.55 per hour
Tutors help students and others with their coursework and usually work flexible hours. Math and English tutors are in highest demand, according to the AARP, but you should also be able to find work teaching foreign languages, science and other subjects. You can look for tutor positions on sites such as Preply, Varsity Tutors and Tutor.com.
Web Designer
- Average wage: $38.81 per hour
This job is best for retirees with some kind of previous experience in web design, although there are online courses available if you are starting from scratch. According to Indeed, duties typically include coding webpages, meeting with clients to review website templates and running tests to preview layouts and website features.
Average wages are based on an AARP analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.
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