7 Side Gigs Retirees Can Do Without Leaving Home — and How Much They Pay
Written by
Marc Guberti
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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You can get paid as a retiree without leaving the house. Several side gigs have flexible hours, support remote work and can be done from anywhere in the world, in case you want to travel.
Some side gigs have moderate pay, while others have the potential to climb up to six figures. These are some of the top side gigs for retirees.
Freelance Writer
You can get paid to write articles for multiple clients, allowing you to diversify your income. The pay scale for freelancers varies greatly, with some earning less than $1,000 per month and others bringing in more than $100,000 per year.
ZipRecruiter said that the average salary for a freelance writer is $23 per hour.
English Tutor
Retirees can tutor students via Zoom instead of driving to a physical location. Not everyone may feel comfortable tutoring on school subjects, but you can teach someone in your native language. Most U.S. retirees speak English, and they can guide students on how to master the language.
Some English tutors earn six-figure incomes by teaching kids on various platforms. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for English tutors is $28 per hour.
Video Editing
If you want to pick up a new skill that can make good money in retirement, you may want to consider video editing. Many YouTube channels need editors, and if you become a skilled editor, you can teach other people who want to become video editors.
ZipRecruiter reports the average salary for video editors is $32 per hour, but a six-figure income is possible in this field.
Online Coaching
Online coaching can be lucrative depending on how many clients you want to serve and your area of expertise. Retirees have accumulated years of experience that they can pass on to the next generation. Fitness, business and health are some of the areas where you can coach people if you have the expertise.
Per ZipRecruiter, the average online coach earns $31 per hour. You can promote your coaching services on an online platform or do some prospecting to build your client list.
Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants manage the day-to-day tasks of busy executives. If an executive likes your work, they may keep you on board for several years. Virtual assistants can become integral pieces of companies.
ZipRecruiter said the average virtual assistant earns $24 per hour.
Social Media Manager
Social media managers post online content for their clients. While some clients just want you to publish new posts, others will review engagement rates to ensure social media content is performing well.
The industry pays well. Some people make six figures, while others create social media management agencies to scale their services. The average social media manager earns $31 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter.
Proofreader
While you can make money writing content, the people and brands that write content need proofreaders. You can also work with self-published authors who need an extra set of eyes before publishing their work.
ZipRecruiter said that the average proofreader earns $28 per hour.
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