The 10 Best Side Hustles For Retirees To Make Extra Money In Retirement

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Life is expensive. And it's likely much more expensive than many recent retirees ever expected when they were diligently socking away a portion of their income in a 401(k) or other interest-earning accounts. Like so many today, some retirees are looking to bring in more income in their golden years through a side hustle or other part-time job. According to a D.A. Davidson & Co. survey, more than 90% of retired Americans polled say while they don't have a side hustle to support their lifestyles, 60% wish they did. And while the average retirement age in the U.S. has been moving up in recent years, it's currently sitting at 62, according to data from a MassMutual survey.

There are a couple of great reasons to consider a side hustle as a more mature adult even if you aren't short on cash. Many people look forward to retirement for years only to find themselves bored or lonely when they no longer go to a jobsite or log onto a computer everyday. Not being part of a team that is actively solving problems or seeking solutions can leave an empty spot in someone's life that's hard to fill with crossword puzzles or pickleball matches. A MassMutual survey found that 49% of retirees say they missed their colleagues after retiring, and more than half (some 56%) of pre-retirees reported they will likely feel the same way once they stop working full-time. Maybe it's because people often just feel better when they have a reason to get up, put on street clothes and leave the house at least a few times a week. Think you might be ready to launch a side gig or part-time job? Here are some of the best side hustles for retirees to make extra money.

For those who love pets and could use a reason to get out and take a stroll more frequently, a dog walking job may be just the thing to bring in some extra weekly cash and get some exercise. Retirees — and anyone else — can launch a successful dog walking or pet sitting side gig (or both) by using an online platform. Some popular apps to do just that include Rover and Wag!. Data from Rover suggests that part-time dog sitters and walkers can earn $1,000 or more a month, depending on the location and frequency of the jobs they accept. Wag!, a digital company founded in 2015 for on-demand walks using an app, allows people to sign up online (and submit to a background check) before being matched with potential clients.

One of the added perks of a dog walking side hustle is the ability to set your own hours. That means you can work when you want to and pass on jobs when it doesn't suit your schedule. Plus, once you build up a few loyal clients, you could consider going solo to cut out the middle man and reclaim some of the fees companies charge for matching customers with walkers. And while the company of some four-legged friends can certainly improve your mood and help to lower your stress levels, research continues to show the amazing benefits that walking regularly can have on the body. Those who walk anywhere from 15 minutes a day to six miles a week can potentially reduce cravings for sweets, lower their risk of developing some cancers, ease joint pain and even boost immune function, notes data from Harvard.

With more time on their hands, many artistic and crafty retirees have the ability to monetize some of their hobbies, which could be anything from painting landscapes to sewing to glass blowing or woodworking. And finding an audience for this handiwork is much easier these days thanks to online platforms such as Etsy and Amazon Handmade. For those who already have a following on Facebook, you can turn those friends into potential clients when you post your arts and crafts items on Facebook Marketplace and share a link.

For those who don't want to spend time photographing their work, selecting the right keywords and marketing themselves for sellers to find them online, there are, of course, still some old-school ways to showcase your creations to earn extra money. For those who prefer to get out and meet and greet potential customers, they can reserve space at community art shows and seasonal markets. To find out what's available in your area, take a look at online events calendars sponsored by chambers of commerce and other municipalities.

Here's a potential side gig for those who may be introverts or those with limited mobility, that can be easily accomplished from the comfort of a couch or recliner. Almost anyone with reliable internet access and a computer or smart phone can make a few bucks a day (or more) by taking online surveys. Some retirees might love the flexibility that this form of work allows. Retirees can consider legitimate sites such as Google Opinion Rewards, Gauge, Branded Surveys, Swagbucks, and SurveyJunkie as a small source of supplementary income.

There are a few things to note with this line of work. The companies who pay for you to take surveys don't always send your money in a direct deposit or through the mail with a paper check. Many of the survey businesses pay through gift cards from Target or Amazon, or via PayPal. Because not every company compensates workers in the same way, it's important to read through all of the fine print to make sure you are willing to accept the payment in the form they offer. Another point to consider with surveys is that you have to be OK with sharing some personal information about yourself. While many of the companies are legitimate, they use the demographic info you give them to determine which surveys you qualify to take.

Do you happen to have a spare guest room or a built-out basement with a separate entrance? Those with some extra space at home looking for a more passive way to earn extra money in retirement could hop on the trend known as house hacking. While the idea has been around for ages, this passive income hack spans everything from renting out one side of a duplex while you live on the other side, to renting out a room in your home or an in-law suite above the garage. In fact, a recent Airbnb survey found that hosts older than age 60 reported earning more than $8,000 a year on average, often just by utilizing spare rooms in their homes.

Going the short-term rental route can also be a way to make money without the long-term hassles of having someone renting a space from you month-to-month or year-to-year. Those who live in resort towns or near large sports stadiums could also make a pretty penny by renting out their homes for out-of-town visitors just a few times a year. Another Airbnb survey showed that seniors were the fastest-growing group of Airbnb hosts in the United States. Specifically, those age 60 and older were noted as the fastest-growing age demographic of hosts joining the short-term accommodations community. Interestingly, the report notes that women aged 60 and older were consistently rated as the best Airbnb hosts in America.

A great way to keep your brain sharp in your golden years could be to find work editing and proofreading, especially if that was something you did previously in your career. And while you could consider hiring out your services as a freelance contractor to a former employer, there are also tons of other ways to find this type of work with just a few clicks around the internet. For example, there are several online companies such as Proofed and EditorWorld, where qualified editors and proofreaders can potentially find work they are interested in.

Another way to look for paying jobs in this field is to go to an online job site such as Glassdoor or Indeed and create a profile for yourself. It only takes a few minutes and is pretty simple. Then, you can elect to receive email alerts when jobs that fit the description you want come up. For example, you can request to review only remote part-time and full-time jobs related to editing, copy editing and proofing. You can also let the site know the frequency that you want to receive the email alerts. If you are in a hurry to find work, you could choose to get the alerts once a day. If you are not in a rush, you could select once or twice a week. You get the idea.

Pro tip: To see the most jobs that match your interests, sign up for email alerts at several online career sites. Once you find what you're looking for you can always unsubscribe to the emails.

For those who love the thrill of finding treasures at thrift stores, estate sales and even swap meets — and have an eye for what people want to buy — creating a side income by buying items at rock bottom prices and then reselling the pieces at higher prices can be a proven strategy for a successful side hustle. Veteran resellers say you should find something you are passionate about selling, then check comparable sales on an auction site such as eBay to make sure there will potentially be buyers for what you are planning to list.

Once you decide on the types of items you want to resell — which can be anything from women's clothes and shoes to vintage toys or even WWII memorabilia — you'll need to take clear photos of the items, write out descriptions and decide on prices. There's a ton of help available for first-time resellers through online sites such as Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Poshmark, and Mercari, among others. Another good thing about starting your side hustle on well-known platforms is that they also offer a built-in customer base. Plus, many of those sites feature step-by-step guides for how to sell on their platforms, with some even using AI prompts to offer suggestions on pricing. For example, if you post a pair of used HOKA running shoes (in good condition) on Facebook Marketplace for $80 and other people are selling similar shoes for a lower price, you may receive a suggestion to lower your price to be more competitive. Ultimately, though, it is up to the individual seller to decide how much they charge for an item.

For those who have a penchant for nurturing others, serving as a caregiver to an adult or as a babysitter or nanny to younger children could be a rewarding and lucrative side hustle that offers flexibility in scheduling. According to the organization Professional Women in Healthcare, those who truly enjoy being with children, and also have experience, can offer babysitting services in their communities. You can start by letting people on your social networks, such as Facebook, know that you have availability to be a mother's helper or a part-time sitter. You can also ask those you have worked for previously in the field to offer a recommendation for you.

Additionally, many people who are primary caregivers for a loved one could often use a break to attend doctor's appointments or simply run errands. To help those individuals, you can sign up with companies such as care.com to become an eligible caregiver. Plus, some government programs, according to usa.gov, will pay family members or friends of those with disabilities to assist them with certain daily activities, including administering medicine, preparing meals, cleaning, and personal care, among other tasks. In some states, this practice is known as a consumer-directed personal assistance program. Because each state has different rules, requirements, and pay rates, those who are interested can check with the office of Medicaid in their home state for more details.

Retirees with customer service experience, and some excellent problem-solving skills, can often find part‑time virtual assistant work with a variety of employers across the United States. Virtual assistants can do everything from managing emails and calls, to booking appointments, to offering customer support, among other duties. One of the quickest ways to find these open positions is by visiting online job sites such as FlexJobs, Indeed, and Glassdoor to see what's available, how much the positions pay, and requirements for employment.

This is another part-time job where you can set up alerts with online career sites that will be delivered to your email inbox. And while it may seem hard to believe, there really is money to be made sitting at home and helping busy professionals with things they don't have time for. One retiree told The Street she works as a personal virtual assistant (PVA), and spends a few hours each day on the phone and online performing tasks such as ordering tickets and scheduling meetings. She was able to bring in an additional $22,000 in a year as a PVA, according to The Street.

For retirees with an outgoing personality and a reliable vehicle who don't mind getting out on the open road — or sometimes being stuck in traffic — becoming a ride share or delivery driver could be just the position to help you earn some extra money every week. Ride share companies Uber and Lyft are examples of businesses that offer workers flexible schedules for picking up and driving people to and from various destinations.

Who should you drive for? And who pays the most? That depends on where you live and a number of other factors. According to RideShareGuy, Uber drivers can make between $15 and $25 an hour, depending on location, tips, etc. Those driving for Uber in bigger cities, such as New York or Boston, can often earn even more per hour, again depending on factors such as fees and tips. Data from Indeed shows that the average hourly wage of an Uber driver in the United States clocks in at $20.21. The average hourly rate for Lyft drivers was slightly higher based on Indeed salary data, coming in at $24.41 an hour.

For those with a passion for showing properties and a knack for dealing with people, becoming a licensed broker or real estate agent in retirement could be a great way to earn extra income while helping others find the homes of their dreams. And while the real estate market in the United States has seen better years, you can tune in to HGTV on any given day to see 10 new episodes of the series "House Hunters" to know that properties are still being listed and sold every single day.

So how much can you expect to make in real estate right now? According to salary.com, the average annual salary for a real estate agent working in the U.S. in August 2025 ranged from $46,521to $60,573, with a median annual salary of $47,62. The hourly rate for agents? That would be an average of $23 per hour, notes salary.com. The median age of a real estate agent is 55, according to the National Association of Realtors, who also reported that an average realtor worked about 35 hours a week in 2023. And while course work and passing an exam are required to sell houses, among other certifications, a college degree is not.