5 Jobs in Demand for 2013

Working as a construction estimator is one of the growing job fields for seniors. — Getty Images

En español | Looking for a new job in the new year?

We examined a variety of reliable sources to see where jobs are plentiful for 50-plus workers. Here are five jobs you might want to consider. Pay ranges, which will vary based on factors such as experience and where you live, are primarily derived from U.S. Department of Labor data.

1. Crossing Guard

The nitty-gritty: Crossing guard? You bet. Crossing guards have one of the highest percentages of 65-plus workers — making up a sizeable 36.6 percent of the workforce, according to the numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many school crossing guards work part time or are seasonal workers. The job has plenty of perks: you get to be outdoors, work in your community and you get to see your neighbors and watch their kids grow up. In addition to schools, local governments and all sorts of construction companies employ crossing guards. Your chief chore is to stop vehicles by raising a hand-held stop paddle and then escorting people across the intersection. Depending on your employer, you may direct traffic at construction or accident sites, railroad crossings or when traffic lights are on the fritz. You may have to report kids' mischief to school authorities or speeders or problem drivers to the local police department. Sometimes you'll get bad weather and spend long hours on your feet and you need to be careful as you are the first to enter an intersection. You can apply for these jobs through the school district or police department.

Median pay: $12.44 per hour. The range is $11.58 per hour for elementary and secondary schools and $12.43 for local government. Highways, street and bridge construction jobs pay $17.94 per hour.

Qualifications: On the job training is standard. If you work for a school, you'll need a clean background check and a spotless criminal record. You will usually be required to pass drug and alcohol tests.

Next page: Hospice chaplins earn on average $23 per hour. »