Best Part-Time Jobs for Retirees That Pay Well: 15 Flexible Options for 2026

Retirement doesn't necessarily mean never working again. For many people, retirement simply means getting to decide how much they work, when they work and what kind of work they do.

A part-time job can provide extra spending money, reduce the amount you need to withdraw from your retirement savings, keep your professional skills active, and provide something that money can't always buy: regular social interaction and a sense of purpose.

And part-time retirement work is increasingly common. Statistics Canada reported that in 2023, 10% of Canadians aged 55 and older who had previously retired were working. Of those working after retirement, 73% were working part-time and 33% were self-employed.

In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 38.3% of employed Americans age 65 and older worked part-time in 2024.

So what are the best jobs for retirees?

That depends on what you want from the job. Some retirees want maximum income. Others want minimum stress. Some want to work from home, while others are looking for a reason to get out of the house and meet people.

Here are 15 flexible options worth considering.

1. Consultant

Consulting can be one of the best ways to turn decades of professional experience into retirement income.

Former engineers, managers, accountants, executives, healthcare professionals, marketers, tradespeople and other specialists can provide advice to businesses without returning to a traditional full-time career.

Why It Works in Retirement

• You can often choose your projects.
• Many consulting assignments can be performed remotely.
• Your previous experience can be your biggest asset.
• You may be able to charge for expertise rather than hours.

Consulting can also be a good option for someone who wants to gradually transition out of a career rather than stop working on a particular day.

2. Tutor

If you've spent decades mastering a subject, why not teach it?

Tutors work with students in subjects such as mathematics, science, languages, writing, music and test preparation. Experienced professionals can also tutor adults who are learning new skills.

Online tutoring can eliminate commuting, while local tutoring allows you to build relationships within your community.

Good Fit For

Retirees who enjoy teaching, explaining concepts and working one-on-one with people.

3. Bookkeeper

Small businesses still need someone to keep their financial records organized. If you have experience with accounting, payroll, invoicing or administration, bookkeeping can be a natural retirement job.

Modern accounting software also means many bookkeeping tasks can be performed remotely.

One advantage of this type of work is the potential to develop a small group of recurring clients rather than constantly searching for new jobs.

4. Customer Service Representative

Customer service can be a good option if you want relatively predictable hours and don't mind interacting with people.

Some companies offer remote customer-service positions, while others require employees to work from a local office or call centre.

What to Look For

• Part-time schedules
• Remote or hybrid work
• Predictable shifts
• Benefits where available
• Work that doesn't require extensive physical activity

5. Tour Guide

Retirement can be the perfect time to turn your knowledge of your community, city or region into a job.

Tour guides can work for museums, historical sites, tourism companies, wineries, attractions or independent tour businesses.

It's also a job that combines work with social interaction and movement, which can be appealing if you don't want to spend retirement sitting at a desk.

6. Real Estate Professional

Real estate can offer flexibility and the opportunity to use strong communication, sales and relationship-building skills.

However, this isn't necessarily an easy side hustle. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction, and income can be irregular.

If you already have a network in your community and enjoy working with people, it may be worth investigating.

7. Seasonal Tax Preparer

Tax preparation can be particularly attractive to someone with an accounting, bookkeeping or financial background.

The seasonal nature can also fit a retirement lifestyle. You may work longer hours during tax season and then have much of the rest of the year available for travel, hobbies and family.

Keep in mind that tax-preparation rules, registration requirements and professional standards vary between Canada and the United States.

8. Freelance Writer or Editor

Businesses, nonprofits, publishers and websites need writers and editors for articles, newsletters, technical documentation, marketing material and other content.

Retirement can be a particularly good time to freelance because you can choose projects that interest you rather than accepting every assignment.

Your previous career can also give you a valuable specialty. A retired engineer, for example, may be able to command better opportunities writing technical material than competing as a general-purpose writer.

9. Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants provide administrative support such as scheduling, email management, research, customer communication and document preparation.

This can be a good fit for organized retirees who are comfortable using computers and communicating online.

You can work for one business or build a small group of clients.

10. Home Inspector

Home inspection can be an interesting second career for someone with experience in construction, engineering, maintenance, property management or the trades.

Inspections are generally scheduled by appointment, which can provide greater control over your calendar than a conventional job.

Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction, so investigate the rules where you plan to work before investing in training or equipment.

11. Driver or Delivery Worker

Driving jobs range from package and food delivery to shuttle services, courier work and other local transportation.

These jobs can provide flexibility, but don't overlook the cost of using your own vehicle.

If you are paid per trip or delivery, calculate the net income after fuel, maintenance, tires, insurance and vehicle depreciation. A job that pays $25 per hour isn't really a $25-per-hour job if you are spending a substantial portion of that amount operating your vehicle.

12. Retail Associate

Retail can be a surprisingly good retirement option, particularly if you choose a store related to something you enjoy.

Garden centres, bookstores, sporting-goods stores, hardware stores, specialty retailers and other businesses may provide opportunities for part-time work.

The biggest advantage may not be the pay. For some retirees, the social interaction and routine are just as valuable.

13. Pet Sitter or Dog Walker

If you love animals, pet care can turn something you already enjoy into a modest income stream.

Options include dog walking, house sitting, feeding pets while owners are away, overnight pet sitting and other services.

A Good Retirement Combination

Pet care can provide exercise, time outdoors and social interaction while allowing you to control how many clients you accept.

14. Adjunct Instructor or Adult Educator

Retirement doesn't mean your professional knowledge has to retire with you.

Colleges, universities, community organizations, private training companies and continuing-education programs may need instructors with real-world experience.

This can be particularly rewarding for retirees who enjoy mentoring younger people or helping adults develop new skills.

15. Handyman or Skilled Trade Services

Retirement can be an excellent time to turn practical skills into a small business.

Depending on local licensing requirements, retirees with experience in carpentry, painting, maintenance, landscaping, assembly or other trades may be able to take on smaller jobs without returning to full-time employment.

The key is knowing your limits. Choose jobs that are physically appropriate for you and avoid taking on projects that require more time, equipment or liability than you are comfortable handling.

Which Retirement Job Is Right for You?

The highest-paying job isn't necessarily the best retirement job.

A useful way to narrow your choices is to decide what you want the job to accomplish.

• Need maximum income? Consider consulting, professional services or specialized freelance work.
• Want to work from home? Consider tutoring, bookkeeping, writing or virtual assistance.
• Want more social interaction? Consider retail, teaching, tours or customer service.
• Want to stay active? Consider pet care, tours, delivery or suitable handyman work.
• Want a seasonal commitment? Consider tax preparation or tourism-related work.
• Want to use your existing career? Consulting, teaching and specialized freelance work may be the best fit.

Working in Retirement Doesn't Have to Mean "Going Back to Work"

One of the biggest advantages of retirement is control over your time.

You don't necessarily need to replace a 40-hour workweek with another 40-hour workweek.

Five hours of consulting on Tuesday, two afternoons of tutoring, a few dog-walking clients or several shifts at a local business may provide all the work you actually want.

In fact, Statistics Canada found that the large majority of Canadian retirees who were working part-time were doing so by choice. In 2025, 41.6% of employed Canadians aged 65 and older worked part-time, and 79.9% of those part-time workers cited personal preference as the reason.

Could Part-Time Work Help Your Retirement Plan?

Absolutely—but don't automatically assume that every dollar earned means one less dollar withdrawn from your investments.

The effect depends on your individual situation.

If you earn $20,000 from part-time work, you may be able to reduce withdrawals from your retirement accounts. But employment income may also increase your taxable income and affect government benefits or tax credits.

The important question is therefore: What is the after-tax benefit of working?

Canada: How Part-Time Work Can Affect CPP and OAS

Canadians can continue working while receiving CPP. If you are between 60 and 65 and receiving CPP while working, CPP contributions generally continue. At 65, you can choose whether to continue contributing, subject to the applicable rules.

OAS is different. Employment income can contribute to the income used to determine whether you owe the OAS recovery tax.

For the July 2027 to June 2028 recovery-tax period, the estimated minimum income threshold for the 2026 income year is $95,323 for people aged 65 to 74. The thresholds are adjusted periodically, so use the current government figures when making an actual retirement decision.

This is one reason that part-time work should be incorporated into your overall retirement plan rather than treated as completely separate from it.

United States: Don't Forget Taxes and Social Security

American retirees also need to consider how employment income interacts with their retirement income.

Depending on your age and circumstances, earned income can affect the taxation of Social Security benefits and, before full retirement age, the application of the Social Security earnings test.

The rules can be complicated, so don't make a retirement-work decision based solely on the hourly wage. Look at your entire tax and benefits picture.

Part-Time Work Can Be a Retirement Bridge

One of the most powerful uses of part-time work is as a bridge between leaving full-time employment and fully stopping work.

Imagine that you leave your career at 62 but don't want to begin drawing heavily from your retirement portfolio yet.

A few years of part-time income could potentially help cover some living expenses while you allow your investments to remain invested and delay certain government benefits.

Whether that strategy is beneficial depends on your investment returns, taxes, benefit rules, spending needs and personal circumstances.

But it is an option worth modelling.

How to Find a Good Retirement Job

Start with your existing skills and relationships. Your first retirement job doesn't necessarily need to come from a traditional job board.

Consider:

• Former employers and colleagues
• Professional associations
• Local businesses
• Community organizations
• Colleges and adult-education programs
• Local government and tourism organizations
• Friends and neighbours
• Online freelance marketplaces

Networking can be especially valuable for experienced professionals. Someone who already knows your work may be much more willing to hire you for a few hours a week than a stranger who sees a résumé online.

Don't Forget the Cost of Working

Before accepting a job, calculate the actual financial benefit.

Consider:

• Income tax
• CPP or Social Security contributions where applicable
• Transportation costs
• Vehicle depreciation
• Work clothing and equipment
• Professional licensing
• Childcare or other family expenses, if applicable
• Time that could otherwise be spent on travel or hobbies

A $30-per-hour job that costs you $8 per hour in transportation and other expenses is not really a $30-per-hour opportunity.

How Much Should You Work?

There is no magic number of hours.

The goal of retirement is not to maximize the amount of time you spend working. It is to create a life that works for you.

Try starting small. A few hours a week can tell you whether you enjoy the work without committing your retirement schedule to something you may eventually dislike.

You can always increase your hours later.

Related Articles

If you have a technical background, you may also enjoy our guide to Jobs for Retired Engineers.

Conclusion

The best part-time job for a retiree isn't necessarily the one with the highest hourly wage. It's the one that provides the right combination of income, flexibility, social interaction and personal satisfaction.

Consulting, tutoring, bookkeeping, teaching, writing, pet care, retail, driving and skilled services can all work—but the right choice depends on your skills and the kind of retirement you want.

And don't overlook the financial side. Part-time income can potentially reduce withdrawals from your investments, but taxes and government benefits can change the amount you actually keep.

Before deciding how much you want to work, model the income alongside your retirement savings, spending and government benefits.

The Retirementize retirement calculator can help you explore how different income and retirement scenarios affect your overall plan.

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