Best Remote Jobs for Seniors in 2024

The job market is tough enough without all those scams out there targeting senior citizens, trying to swindle them out of their hard-earned savings. Not to mention all the fancy tech requirements in many industries these days. That's why we've put together this blog post with the most common remote positions that let you work from home, on your own schedule, with minimal training.

At the end of the day, there's one work-from-home opportunity that takes the cake! You can get started with just a computer, your earning potential is completely uncapped, you get unlimited vacation days, and there's no boss involved. Any guesses?

Spoiler Alert: it's self-publishing! If you're curious to see how it works, you can attend our free webinar by clicking here. It's strictly informational and doesn't require any commitment on your part. You'll get a breakdown of the minimal tech that has helped thousands of everyday people take their retirement into their own hands.

How Seniors Can Make Money from Home

Seniors can make money from home in two ways: continuing to work for someone else or becoming their own boss.

Many seniors are looking for LESS work, and who can blame them? Retiring from a decades-long career of building up your expertise and knowledge can be exhausting and confusing. You know you want to move on, but how are you going to balance your dream retirement vision with the reality of rising grocery costs?

There are plenty of work-from-home and part-time jobs available these days that pay a decent chunk of change and don't require sacrificing family time or health. Scroll down for a complete list of side hustle jobs for seniors and where to apply for them!

Benefits of Remote Work for Seniors

Online work isn't for everyone, but these are some of the benefits that come from not being tied to any particular geographic location:

1. Work-Life Balance
   A cup of coffee with your favorite person is way more important than an email, and you earned your downtime! Now, you can actually enjoy it.
2. Reduced Physical Strain
   Many of us tend to take our health for granted, until something happens and reminds us of what we should have been grateful for all along. With remote work, you can listen to your body and work when it feels right.
3. No Cap to Income
   Depending on the remote opportunity, you can earn as much as you want, meaning a simple retirement or life of lavish luxury is at your fingertips.
4. Flexible Scheduling
   Most remote opportunities allow you to flex your time and work around your personal schedule, which means running errands and napping during the day are fair game!
5. Keeps Your Brain Sharp
   Getting used to remote work can be a bit of a learning curve, but taking on new tech skills and project management skills can do wonders for your brain. Besides, learning something new feels good.

Popular Remote Job Categories for Seniors

Alrighty, here's the list we promised! 13 legitimate work-from-home job opportunities for seniors (and we'll start with the best first).

1. Kindle Publishing

Out of all the work-from-home jobs, self-publishing on Kindle is the most lucrative and flexible. There's no such thing as a median annual wage or average salary because you would get paid in royalties instead. And once you publish a book, you can earn royalties on it forever.

Benefits Of Self-Publishing on Amazon

• There's no degree or experience required
• It's free to get started
• You have no boss to answer to
• You can take time away from work whenever you want
• You can continue earning royalties even when you're not working

Profitability Of Self-Publishing

Koorosh is a retired professor whose first book made $1,100 in a single month and then went on to double in sales for months after. How's that for extra money each month without working 100 hours?

Robyn is a proud grandma who felt a lot of self-doubt at the beginning of her self-publishing journey. After pushing through and overcoming these mental hurdles, she never looked back:

How To Get Started

If you're curious to see whether self-publishing is a good fit with your lifestyle and income expectations, you can decide for yourself after checking out our free Amazon webinar.

Full disclosure: We will talk about our course, which has already generated millions of dollars in royalties for our students around the world, but we'll also give you everything you need to pursue this path on your own if that's what you want to do!

2. Consulting Roles

If you have expertise in a particular subject or field, you can offer your services and provide support as a consultant. Remote consulting roles cover all industries and sectors from business strategy to technology or even human resources and health care. You'd assist clients in evaluating their needs, identifying solutions, and implementing strategies for growth. This median hourly pay can be anywhere from $50/hr to $100/hr+, and YOU get to set your wage.

3. Online Coaching

Seniors with a background in human resources or management can help others navigate their careers by becoming career coaches. In this remote position, you'd offer guidance to clients on various aspects of their careers and help them set and achieve their professional goals. Instead of a median hourly pay, you'll likely charge a retainer fee or lump sum.

4. Resume Writer

If you have a knack for writing and a keen eye for detail, consider offering resume writing services as a sole proprietor or contractor. As a resume writer, you'd collaborate with potential clients to create polished, professional resumes that showcase their skills and experiences, increasing their chances of landing the perfect job. You can charge by the hour or per completed resume.

5. Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants provide administrative support to businesses, entrepreneurs, or individuals. Specific tasks can include email management, scheduling appointments, and organizing files. Most of these positions will be paid a low hourly rate.

6. Freelance Writing and Editing

Remote writing and editing roles allow seniors with strong communication skills to create content for various industries. Many companies now hire freelance writers and editors to produce articles, blog posts, and marketing materials. You get to set your own rates and can work hourly or project based for both writing and editing jobs.

7. Graphic Design

Graphic designers create visual content for businesses, such as business logos, promotional materials, and website designs. Just like freelance writing and editing, you'll maintain control over the prices you set for your services. You can also offer packages at a premium rate.

8. Legal Assistant

Seniors with a legal background can work remotely as legal assistants. In this role, you'd provide administrative support to attorneys, such as drafting contracts, conducting legal research, and organizing case files. You'll likely be paid hourly for this work.

9. Pet Sitting

For animal lovers, pet sitting can be a rewarding remote job. Platforms like Rover allow you to offer pet-sitting services from your home or the pet owner’s place, creating a flexible working experience. Some pet sitters prefer an hourly rate, while others charge per stay.

10. Online Tutoring or Teaching

Educators can continue teaching or tutoring remotely using digital platforms. For example, teaching English online is a popular remote job for seniors, as it only requires a stable internet connection and a headset. This work is often paid by the hour.

11. Accounting and Bookkeeping Services

Seniors with experience in accounting or bookkeeping can provide their services remotely. Many businesses and individuals seek professionals who can manage their finances, prepare tax documents, and maintain financial records. Because this path requires specialized experience, you can often charge a higher hourly or project-based rate.

12. Translation Services

If you're bilingual or multilingual, you can consider working as a translator. Many companies require translation services to cater to a global audience. You can work as a freelance translator or join a translation agency. Some of the popular languages in demand include Spanish, French, German, Chinese, and Japanese.

You can specialize in a specific area, like legal, medical, or technical translation. The pay for translation services varies depending on your level of experience and the complexity of the project. You can earn anywhere from $20 to $50 per hour.

13. Customer Service Representative

As a customer service representative, you'll spend your days helping customers, verifying their information over the phone or through chat, and answering their questions. There is usually no degree requirement for these types of jobs, but you'll likely need a great deal of patience and conflict-resolution skills. The median hourly pay could range from minimum wage up to $20/hr.

Job Search Strategies to Find Remote Jobs for Seniors

There are tons of online job platforms to choose from these days. Most of them let you upload your resume or craft a new profile and then "Easy Apply" to job postings with just one click.

Here are some of the most common job boards on the market right now:

• LinkedIn Jobs
• FlexJobs
• Indeed
• ZipRecruiter
• AARP
• SimplyHired

When using these platforms, be sure to:

• Create a complete and up-to-date profile.
• Use relevant keywords to narrow down your job search.
• Set up job alerts to receive notifications about new opportunities.
• Verify that the job postings and sites you visit are legit before giving any personal information.

Pro Tip: Google has a free safe browsing tool to scan for malicious websites.

Navigating Technology

If you're a little rusty with tech, this section might help!

Top Software Skills for Part-Time Remote Jobs

Communication Tools: Most remote teams use messaging apps like Slack or Microsoft Teams. These tools enable real-time collaboration, task delegation, and communication among team members.

Video Conferencing: Remote work involves virtual meetings often conducted through video conference platforms like Zoom or Google Meet.

Project Management Software: Remote teams typically use project management tools like Asana or Trello to manage timelines, tasks, and milestones.

Pro Tip: Websites like Senior Planet from AARP offer free guides and courses to make tech more manageable.

Health Considerations for Working Remotely

Here are some tips to help you balance work-from-home jobs with your health:

Ergonomics and Comfort

• Invest in a high-quality chair with proper lumbar support and adjustable features.
• Position your computer monitor at eye level to minimize strain on your neck and shoulders.
• Use accessories like wrist rests and ergonomic keyboards designed to reduce the risk of repetitive stress injuries.
• Take regular breaks, change positions often, and stretch periodically throughout the day.

How Do You Get Hired as an Older Worker?

Long story short, you don't have to worry about getting hired as an older worker when you work for yourself.

When you publish your books through Amazon, you're hosting them on the Amazon store, but Amazon isn't your boss. You are. You maintain the right to remove your work at any point for any reason, and you never need permission to publish something new. You also have the advantage of decades of life experience and a strong work ethic to back up your books.

A Part-Time Job with Purpose: Publishing

Ready to decrease your working hours while bringing in an extra income? Publishing can do that. It's the only part-time job on the list that lets senior citizens maintain 100% control over their autonomy and work from home (or anywhere else in the world).

Wanna go sailing in Spain for three months and work from your boat? Bon voyage!

Wanna take a month off from work and take the RV down to Yosemite? Buckle up and drive safe!

Wanna change your work schedule based on how you feel? Done!

You get all the full-time benefits (and more) while working part-time, and your knowledge can go on to make a real difference in your readers' lives. Why not give it a try?

Pop on over to our free webinar to take the first step!