Continuing to work in your later years can help keep your mind sharp, stave off boredom, and help you stretch your retirement savings in today’s inflationary economy. New research from the University of Michigan revealed that two-thirds of people still working after the age of 50 said it boosts their physical or mental health or overall well-being. Roughly half (46%) said that working keeps their brain sharp. Having a sense of purpose was cited as another important reason to continue working later in life or re-join the workforce after retirement.
However, there can also be drawbacks to working past age 50, according to the study. One-third of those surveyed in the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging said their job had a negative effect on their physical health, while 29% said it took a toll on their mental health.
If this rings true for you, a career change might be in order. Likewise, if you’re returning to the workforce after retirement, you might be contemplating a different field. Consider these seven roles ripe for experienced newcomers.
Home Health Aide
Caregiving, including home health aide positions, ranked fifth in Talroo and Resume Now’s recent report, Top Frontline Industries by Demand and Wage Growth: Q1 2025. While caregivers earn an average hourly wage of just under $17, that number is rising, with an increase of 8% in the past year.
Medical Equipment Repair Technician
BusinessInsider.com recently spotlighted medical equipment repair as one of the hottest healthcare fields that don’t require a related four-year degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this industry is expected to grow at a rate of 18% through 2033, which is much faster than average. Medical equipment repair technicians earn a median annual salary of $62,630.
For retirees who came from other trades, such as IT or HVAC repair, this job could be a natural fit. If you are a do-it-yourself type who’s handy with appliances and tools, you might also find this to be a fulfilling career. You may even be able to secure a paid apprenticeship or on-the-job training to get started.
Real Estate Agent
If you derive a portion of your retirement income from real estate investing – or would like to – a second career as a real estate agent could be a good choice. Even if you don’t have aspirations to become a landlord, real estate jobs offer high income potential and flexible hours. You can leverage your networking connections for clients and referrals. If you have a knack for communications and want a job that allows you to socialize, you could find a home in the real estate industry. All 50 states have licensing requirements to buy and sell real estate, but if you’re looking for a career you can perform at any age, it can be worth it.
Career Coach
With half a lifetime of work experience under your belt, you might be well-equipped to guide others in finding their passion, tailoring their resume, and landing the perfect job.
Loren Greiff launched her career coaching business, PortfolioRocket, in 2020, shortly after being put on a performance improvement plan (PIP) at an executive search firm. She explained that she used the word “Yippee” in an email to a struggling client.
“I was told it was unprofessional… but knew there was more to it,” Greiff said. Her mission-based firm seeks to “end career victimization in order to elevate, accelerate, and celebrate one executive over 40 at a time.”
Whether you seek to help older executives or mentor newcomers in various industries, if you come from a background in recruiting or HR – or just have the aptitude and people skills to guide others in finding their passion — a job as a career coach could be the right fit.
Computer User Support Specialist
As computer technology continues evolving, many seniors feel they will be left behind. The need for computer user support specialists is greater than ever. While some tech support functions are already being automated by AI, many tasks still require human intervention to deliver a higher level of customer service. If you have empathy, computer skills, and patience to help users troubleshoot and solve their computer issues, this is a good job to consider. Plus, you may be able to work remotely.
If you’ve previously worked in IT, stepping down to a flexible user support (help desk) role can provide fulfillment and extra cash. Computer user support specialist roles start at just under $40,000, and those in the 90th percentile can earn more than $97,000, according to BLS data. In general, the information technology (IT) field is growing at a rate much faster than average.
Personal Financial Advisor or Financial Planner
If you have a background in finance, investing, bookkeeping, or accounting, and an entrepreneurial spirit to launch your own firm, consider becoming a financial advisor. Depending on the specific field, you could earn a median salary of $48,730 up to $169,910 or more according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Certified Financial Planners must complete coursework on financial planning through a CFP board registered program and hold a Bachelor’s degree. But your college degree doesn’t have to be related to the field. Finance, like career coaching and real estate, is another industry where you can set your own hours and potentially work from home.
Substitute Teacher or Adjunct Faculty
If you retired from teaching and miss the most fulfilling moments, you might consider substitute teaching in retirement. The 90th percentile in the field earn just over $30 an hour, but the appeal lies in the flexibility to say “yes” or “no” whenever you’re called to work.
If you’re looking for more steady teaching hours and have extensive knowledge to share in a specific field, consider becoming an adjunct professor. For instance, Paul Dillon retired as a consultant at an accounting firm in 2006 and immediately began seeking his second career. Dillon Consulting was originally founded to provide project management and business development to companies in the service industry. But the company evolved to help U.S. military veterans who want to start their own business.
From there, Dillon said, he took the knowledge he learned about veterans in the workforce and “created a highly unique graduate level course on veterans’ issues.”
He teaches at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. Dillon may not have sought to become an adjunct professor, but it’s helped him fulfill an important mission and purpose in his later years.
How to Land Your Dream Job
Dillon didn’t imagine becoming an adjunct professor when he launched his second career at 61. In your search for your next vocation, it’s important to be open to the possibilities that present themselves. “Keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities that might come along. If it looks like a good horse, get on and ride it,” Dillon said.
Often, these opportunities come from your network, so don’t be afraid to reach out to people you know. “The traditional job search is dead, and it has been for some time,” Greiff said. “We’re in the peak of ‘The Relationship Economy.’”
In addition to leveraging your network, Greiff emphasized “future-facing skills” like AI and adaptability as assets that set candidates apart.
Keith Spencer, Certified Professional Resume Writer and career expert at Resume Now, offered advice for those looking to change fields. “Start by looking closely at the job description and identifying the core skills it requires. Then think about how your past work aligns with those needs. Leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving often apply across industries.”
He continued, “You do not need direct experience in a new field to be qualified for it. You just need to clearly explain how your skills translate and provide some relevant examples of the results you’re able to achieve.”
Greiff agreed that experience isn’t as important as what you can accomplish for a company in today’s market, especially if you’re seeking an upper-level or high-paying role. Make sure your resume and cover letter show “why and how your experience springboards into specific relevance to drive fast-moving impact in the future,” she said.
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