45+ Best Low-Stress Jobs After Retirement

You’ve worked hard all your life, so you deserve to relax and enjoy retirement. You’re probably already relaxing by spending more time with your family, traveling, or staying active. Still, you might also want to consider adding some low-stress jobs after retirement to your free time. 

These low-stress jobs allow you to keep your mind sharp, possibly relieve stress, and, most importantly, get paid! Once you retire from your demanding 9 to 5 job, you can find a post-retirement hustle you genuinely enjoy.

In this post, I’ll discuss the best low-stress jobs after retirement to make money.

Low-Stress Retirement Jobs From Home

If you’re looking for a low-stress job after retirement, working from home is a great option if you enjoy working in a quiet environment.

Below are some low-stress jobs that can help you have fun, relax after retirement, and make money.

1. Sell Crafts

If you’re crafty, consider selling your creations as a stress-free way to earn money during retirement. You can decide to sell your products at a local craft fair, farmers market, or online through sites like Etsy. 

If you can knit, make furniture, or create other tangible products from your hobbies, your skills are in high demand. The amount of money you make will depend on your ability to produce numerous high-quality products in demand.

2. Start an Online Business

There are many avenues where retirees can begin online businesses and get money stress free. Unlike the typical in-person job, starting your online business will allow you to work from home and set your schedule. 

You can venture into numerous online businesses, including website consulting, starting a blog, selling items online, or flipping websites. The amount of money you make as an online business owner will depend on the type of services or products you offer and the working hours that are comfortable for you.

3. Become a Virtual Assistant

Many business owners are looking for virtual assistants to outsource some extra work. You’ll be required to perform services such as answering emails, creating social media posts, or providing services over the internet such as administrative, technical, and creative support.

This is among the best low-stress jobs after retirement because you can make as much as a white-collar corporate job from the comfort of your house. On average, you can earn about $15 to $20 hourly working as a VA.

4. Translation

Retirees with native-level proficiency in two or more languages can make money by offering translation services. This is one of the best jobs for early retirement as it allows you to work part-time while being sufficiently rewarding. 

Freelance translation can earn you about $24 per hour, whereas a full-time position can help you make around $3,000 to $5,000 monthly. This is undoubtedly among the ideal low-stress jobs after retirement, especially if you can speak a highly sought-after language pair.

5. Transcription

Transcription involves typing outspoken words from an audio file with minimal errors. You can shine in this industry if you’re a retiree with native-level proficiency, writing or editing experience, and great typing speed.

You’ll get to work in a quiet environment and make an average wage of $18 to $25 per hour.

6. Blogging

Blogging isn’t exclusive to millennials. Many retirees can blog and share the experience they’ve gained throughout their lives. A successful full-time blogger’s average income is $30,000 to $50,000 annually. 

If you have a passion for storytelling or writing, search engine optimization skills, and basic graphic design skills, you can make good money from blogging as a retiree. You can monetize your blog using affiliate marketing or advertisements on your website once you have many engagements.

7. Social Media Manager

If you enjoy keeping up with the most recent trends, becoming a social media manager might be your calling.

There are no stressful tasks associated with the job. You can work from any location as well. However, you must have excellent communication skills and the capacity to monitor changes in the sector.

8. Data Entry Specialist

You don’t need special training to work as a data entry specialist once you retire. It’s among the best low-stress jobs after retirement that will only require you to extract and manipulate data from various sources on your computer. 

Data entry can be the perfect job for you if you have good grammar, fast-typing, and possess other basic computer skills. You must learn to review your work upon completion to improve your accuracy. Data entry specialists earn an average basic wage of about $17.27 an hour.

9. Author

You should consider being an author once you retire if you want a stress-free way of making money. You can get an agent, but this could end up piling more pressure on you. A fantastic alternative is to use Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.

You’ll get to publish books you’ve written and have access to the many clients using the platform. On average, you’ll get 70% of the total revenue generated. If you’ve just retired, begin writing a book on any topic you love or have expertise in, and you can make money without having to work with publishers.

Extra Reading: Get Paid to Read Books Aloud

10. Vlogging

Vlogging allows retired people to link up with people from all over the world, tell thrilling stories about their lives, and share useful information. You can easily do this from home with the right video recording setup and computer. You also get to choose your working hours.

You can use affiliate marketing and advertising to monetize your vlog. You’ll have an added advantage if you’re talented in making product review videos or creating exciting narratives around services or products.

11. Voice-over Artist

If you still have a great voice after retirement, don’t let it go to waste. Working as a voice-over artist is among the best low-stress jobs after retirement as it offers flexible hours, doesn’t require special training, and the pay is great.

You can get paid handsomely just to record your voice for advertisements, documentaries, audiobooks, TV shows, animation movies, and other entertainment forms. You can work from home part-time or go into a full-time career for better pay. 

As a voice-over artist in the U.S., you can expect to make about $34.40 an hour.

12. Focus Group Participant

Most paid focus groups are hosted online, in conference centers, or in hotels, and involve a small group of individuals.

You’ll get to discuss upcoming services, products, problems, trends, and many others. You’ll have a focus group moderator who will head the discussion while other participants take notes.

Once the session is over, you get compensated using gift cards or cash, depending on the length of time you contribute to the discussion.

You can become an online focus group participant through sites like Apex Focus Group. You can make as much as $150 per session on the platform.

Extra Reading: Apex Focus Group Review

13. Build Websites to Make Money

Building websites is another stress-free and creative way to make money while you enjoy your retirement. You may assume that you require advanced technical skills to get started in this line of work, but that isn’t necessarily the case. 

There are many platforms where you can build custom websites from scratch using a simple drag-and-drop interface that’s ideal for beginners. Website designers can make an average base wage of about $25.86 hourly.

14. Freelance Writer

Writing is a smart way that retirees can make money and earn as much as $0.25 per word. If you improve your skills, you can make as much as $0.5 per word. Some freelance writers earn four figures to six figures annually, and you can find jobs that pay as much as $1 per word.

Freelance writing is the best job for seniors because it’s slow-paced, offers flexible hours, and allows you to work from home. You’ll need an internet connection and a computer to start writing on various topics for your clients.

15. Proofreading

Proofreading involves reviewing a document and correcting grammatical, punctuational, or syntactic errors. This will require native-language proficiency and an excellent grammatical understanding of the language you want to proofread.

You can make as much as $5,000 monthly as a professional proofreader. To succeed in this industry, you must improve your skills and learn how to find and retain high-paying clients.

16. Tutoring

Teaching can be a great career once you retire if you have any teaching skills or experience you want to share with students.

This is a great way for retirees to give back to the community and impact the coming generations. The hours are flexible, and you can work from home.

There are many platforms like tutor.com where you can find tutoring opportunities and get paid up to $40 per hour. You’ll be required to have a strong academic background to get better-paying opportunities. 

Fun Jobs After Retirement

Who says working after retirement can’t be fun? Here are some fun, low-stress jobs after retirement you should consider:

17. Ski Resort Worker

Working at a ski resort is tailored to retirees who love water activities like swimming or surfing. You’ll have the opportunity to work in a beautiful place as a ski resort worker.

You may even receive a free lift pass on top of your hourly pay of between $11 to $12.25  an hour.

18. Work at a Golf Course

For many seniors, golf courses are low-stress jobs. And as a result, there are plenty of jobs, such as being a store attendant. You can interact with new people and earn some cash at the same time. You can earn anywhere from $8 to $18 hourly working as a golf shop attendant.

19. Professional Cuddler

Being a cuddler is a unique, stress-free retirement job opportunity that can help retirees make some money. If you’re a parent, you won’t have any hard time because all you’ll be required to do is hug and cuddle individuals looking for family comfort.

On average, you can earn about $40 per hour, and you get to decide whether to disclose your real identity to your clients. There are numerous websites where you can find professional cuddling jobs, such as Cuddlist, Spoonr, and Cuddle Comfort.

20. Tour Guide

As a tour guide, you’ll make good money showing visitors around your city and exchanging conversations about its culture and history. This is also a great way for retirees to remain in shape and connect with new people. 

If you’re looking for stress-free jobs after retirement near your home, begin by asking about local attractions and interesting places. This is also among the perfect retirement jobs for couples if you share an interest in tourism.

Succeeding in this line of work will require excellent communication skills and a talent for telling great stories. You can make around $15 per hour working as a tour guide.

21. Work on a Cruise Ship

Nothing beats working on a cruise ship as the ideal and fun job after retirement. On top of enjoying great pay, you’ll also get an opportunity to experience exotic places.

You should consider this line of work if you’ve always wanted to visit places like the Caribbean but never got the opportunity because of your demanding career.

As a retiree, you can make about $25k or as much as $150k annually, depending on your input.

22. Camp Host

Outdoorsy retired people can become excellent camp hosts and counselors.

Working as a camp host is ideal for retirees because it allows you to have an enjoyable time in nature. You can get this opportunity in amusement parks, county parks, water parks, and river banks, among other options.

To get started, you can try websites like Workamper. You can make as much as $12 hourly in camp hosting and enjoy other advantages like tips.

Flexible Jobs After Retirement

Many people retire from stressful jobs to enjoy their later years. However, you may need a way to make some money as you do so.

If you’re looking for a low-stress retirement job that offers flexible hours and pays well, here are some of the best options.

23. Bookstore Assistant

If you’re looking for one of the ideal low-stress jobs after retirement, you should consider becoming a bookstore assistant. Working as a bookstore assistant in a nearby bookstore can be a less stressful way of making money.

You’ll be tasked with organizing books, recommending clients, and helping them find what they’re looking for.

24. Dog Walking

Another low-stress job opportunity for retirees is dog walking, which can help you stay active and make money.

This is the perfect job for you if you love pets. It’s a great career option after retirement because you can select your working hours. You’ll be responsible for walking the dog to nearby lakes or parks on behalf of its owners.

Rover and WagWalking are some of the most popular platforms where you can find local dog walking opportunities. A dog walker earns around $20 to $30 an hour.

25. Pet Sitting

If you’re in the job market for a passive income side hustle after retirement, you should consider becoming a pet sitter. In some areas, you can make as much as $50 daily, which is great considering that you don’t have to do much work.

Your responsibilities will include feeding and taking the pets out to the bathroom. You can easily make $200 per day if you offer full-time pet-sitting services. To get started, consider creating a profile on Rover.

26. Become a House Sitter

You can make good money effortlessly by becoming a house sitter. Your work is to watch over a house whenever the owners are away. You may also get tasked with keeping the house safe and getting the mail.

This easy and stress-free job is perfect for retirees who like a quiet working environment and want to make money after they retire. You can make about $12.15 per hour as a house sitter.

27. Rideshare Driver

If you enjoy driving and don’t mind sharing your ride with other passengers, consider joining the gig economy and get paid as a rideshare driver. This is a stress-free job ideal for retirees because it offers flexible hours and it doesn’t require a lot of effort. 

Depending on your city, the pay can be as much as $25 per hour. To get started, you can sign up on popular rideshare services like Uber or Lyft. 

28. Plumber

Plumbing is a great career option for retirees because it’s not stressful, and the working hours are flexible. You also get to select your hourly rate, and if you have the relevant skills, you can make up to $30 per hour in some cities.

Try websites like Tradesman for plumbing opportunities.

29. Personal Shopper

Many people find it challenging to find a particular product from online or offline stores, and personal shoppers fill this niche. 

You should consider becoming a personal shopper after retirement if you can help people get the right products and offer excellent shopping advice or suggestions. You can make around $15 per hour as a beginner personal shopper.

This is an ideal job for seniors who want to interact with new people and have the freedom to choose their working hours. You can do this from your home or at an online store, local store, or retail store. 

The demand for these services is high, especially during holiday shopping or certain sale events. However, it might be difficult to find a job when demand is low.

30. Become a Handyman

If you have a DIY streak, consider working as a handyman when you retire. If you’re good at fixing various household things and enjoy the thrill of solving problems, this is the perfect stress-free job to make good money. 

Some homeowners may be unable to handle even the easiest of tasks due to tight schedules, and you can get paid for your time to help them out.

To begin working as a handyman, look for local jobs on apps like TaskRabbit or advertise your services on applications like NextDoor. Depending on the nature of the task, you can earn about $30 an hour for your services.

31. Delivery Driver

Another way that retirees can make money is by delivering different products to their client’s doorstep. 

Your pay will depend on various factors, but it’s quite easy to make $25 per hour delivering groceries for Instacart. On top of your hourly wage, you can also get tips from Instacart, which can even exceed your set pay. 

On average, you can deliver pizzas in your local area and get paid around $15 to $20 hourly in the U.S. There are numerous companies where you can find delivery jobs, including Uber Eats and DoorDash.

If you enjoy driving and want to make some money from your car, this is an excellent low-stress career opportunity for you to pursue after retirement.

32. Become a Photographer

Another low-stress job that retirees can get money from is becoming a photographer. This is because you’ll only have to work with a small group or on your own, which many retirees appreciate after a lifetime of stressful careers. 

You can offer services like taking portrait photographs of individuals and families and landscape or corporate photography. If you build your skills in photography, you can make really good money. Photographers, on average, make a base wage of about $17.46 per hour.

Low-Stress Jobs After Retirement Near Me

These retirement jobs are perfect if you want to retire from a stressful job and enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle. Here are some of the best jobs for seniors over 60 that offer great pay.

33. Gardening

Gardening is a low-stress job where retirees can get satisfaction and make money. You can earn top dollar from your garden if you sharpen your gardening skills. There are many free online courses and tutorials on gardening that you can use to improve your production.

As a gardener, you can make about $15 per hour.

34. Hairdresser or Stylist

If you’re a retiree with the skills needed to work as a hairdresser or stylist, this can be a stress-free job that can help you make good money. However, you need to be up-to-date with hair styling trends and use your imagination to get ahead in the industry. 

The average wage for hairstyling is $50 per session, but you can make as much as $5,000 a month.

35. Massage Therapist

Massages are deeply rejuvenating for all parties involved, including the masseuse. You can get paid to work as a masseuse after retirement. Once you get a certification, you can charge rates above the industry standard and make as much as $30 to $50 per massage session, which is usually an hour long.

36. Become a Painter

Painting can be the perfect low-stress job for you after retirement. Considering that the job can be lucrative at times, you should explore this if you have basic painting skills. You can make more than $250 per room, which you can accomplish fairly fast if you’re consistent and gain significant painting experience.

37. Animal Shelter Worker

Animal Shelter workers are undoubtedly the unsung heroes of our modern society because they help care for animals that get abused or abandoned by their owners. If you adore animals, you should consider becoming an animal shelter worker after retiring.

As an animal shelter worker, you will bathe and feed the animals to keep them healthy and clean. This line of work pays about $15 per hour.

High Paying Low-stress Jobs After Retirement

If you’re looking for a high-paying retirement job, consider these options.

38. Interior Designer

If you enjoy decorating your home, maybe you should become an interior designer once you retire. It’s an ideal low-stress career option because of the flexible hours, quiet working space, and great pay in some areas.

To get started, you can use your home as a portfolio. You can make about $17.31 an hour as an interior designer.

39. Real Estate Agent

Working as a real estate agent can be the ideal job for you after retirement if you want to make money without putting in a lot of effort.

You need to understand your industry, and familiarizing yourself with properties should be the first step. You also need to have great communication and sales skills.

Real estate agents can make a six-figure income easily, but the average wage is about $40k to $50k yearly.

40. Invest in Real Estate

Investing in real estate is a lucrative low-stress job opportunity you can explore once you retire.

You can make about 10 to 15% profit on the money that you invest. If you invest strategically and systematically, you can easily make more than this.

41. Private Investigator

If you’re retiring with a sharp mind and investigative skills, you should consider becoming a private investigator. You can work for a private investigation firm and get an hourly rate of about $30 to $35. 

If you want to make more money, you can work as an independent private investigator and get paid up to $300 per hour.

42. Mediator

Mediator Jobs come in two different types, namely general and court-connected mediators. Both are considered low-stress jobs that retirees can get engaged in because of their work freedom and flexibility.

You’ll be responsible for mediating conflict between two parties and helping them resolve their problems.

Professional Jobs for Retirees

Retiring from a stressful job can be a relief. But for some, the thought of not working at all is daunting.

If you’re in good health and enjoy staying active, here are some professional jobs that can help supplement your income after retirement and give you a sense of purpose.

43. Consultant

Offering consolidation services is among the highest-paying freelance career opportunities that are perfect for retired people who are great at giving expert advice.

Top-rated consultants earn as much as $150 per hour, but the average hourly wage across the industry is about $10 per hour.

44. Tax Preparation

Preparing and submitting taxes can be challenging for some people, especially income tax. If you can prepare tax files consider doing this for money after retirement, especially if you have a finance background. 

You can make about $15 hourly as a beginner and up to $50 hourly once you get higher-paying clients after improving your skills.

45. Park Ranger

If you’re retired and are looking to have an adventure in the wild, you should consider becoming a park ranger.

The usual salary for a full-time park ranger in the U.S. is anything from $30k to $70k yearly. You can earn $15 an hour if you do this part-time job.

46. Sports Coach

If you’re retired and still athletic, there’s no better job opportunity than becoming a sports coach. On top of being a low-stress job, you can earn about $15 per hour working as a junior or elementary school sports teacher. 

If you want higher pay, consider working at professional clubs or universities where you can earn a six-figure salary.

47. Librarian

Libraries offer a conducive and stress-free environment that most people in retirement are sure to appreciate working in. You will be responsible for simple tasks such as checking books in and out and organizing and maintaining the library, among others.

If you enjoy reading, this provides an excellent opportunity to grow your knowledge while helping others do the same.

48. Bookkeeper

If you’ve had previous experience with bookkeeping, taxes, or accounting, it could be a good option for you to make extra money from home as a bookkeeper. 

Whether you’re bookkeeping for small businesses in your area or working from home as a freelancer, it’s a great way to earn money. Depending on how many clients you take on and your experience level, you can earn $20 to $30 an hour.

Final Thoughts

If you’re retiring from a stressful job, you’ll want to find a new career that’s more relaxed and enjoyable. This guide highlights some of the best low-stress jobs after retirement that offer good pay and low-stress levels. 

These fun jobs can help you stay active and engaged in your community even after leaving your ordinary job. Higher stress levels can lower your quality of life even more in old age. A low-stress jobs is a great option to consider if you’re looking for something fun to do and make money after retirement.