AARP Hearing Center
8-minute read
Naomi Elliott
Working while getting Social Security retirement benefits can be a balancing act. You want to earn enough from a job to help pay your expenses, but earning too much can cause your benefits to be reduced, at least in the short term.
That’s because the Social Security Administration (SSA) sets a cap on how much younger beneficiaries can earn annually before their payments are reduced. The earnings cap only applies to those who have claimed their benefit and have not yet reached their full retirement age (FRA) — which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or after.
More Ways to Benefit
- Related Benefit 1
- Related Benefit 2
- Related Benefit 3
- Related Benefit 4
- Related Benefit 5
Once you reach your FRA, the cap no longer applies and Social Security adjusts your benefit amount so that over time, you recoup what was withheld.
How the Social Security earnings test works
The earnings cap is adjusted annually to reflect national wage trends, and it differs depending on how close you are to your FRA.
In 2026, if you are receiving benefits and working — and you will not reach your FRA until 2027 or later — the earnings limit is $24,480. Beneficiaries lose $1 in benefits for every $2 they earn above that cap.
(For 2027, the cap is $25,560 for those who will not reach their FRA until 2028 or later.)
VIDEO: How Can You Keep Working While Collecting Social Security
Here is what you need to know about working and collecting Social Security simultaneously.
For a deeper explanation, see this AARP article on how the earnings test works. Let’s say you’re 65 and you earn $30,000 in 2026 working part-time while getting Social Security benefits. That income puts you $5,520 over the earnings cap, so your retirement benefits for the year would be reduced by $2,760.
The earnings test eases during the year in which you reach full retirement age. If you hit your FRA in 2026, you can earn up to $65,160 in wages; your benefit will be reduced $1 for every $3 earned over that limit. (For 2027, the earnings limit increases to $67,920; the benefit reduction for wages over the limit remains the same.)
The earnings cap goes away once you pass your FRA, and Social Security then increases your monthly payments so that over time, you recoup the benefit you lost to the withholding.
There is also one more thing to keep in mind when considering how working while receiving Social Security could affect your payments. Your retirement benefits are calculated based on the 35 years in which you earned the most at work. It’s possible you might make more money in your part-time retirement job than you did in one or more of the years used to determine your Social Security benefit. If that happens, the SSA will automatically adjust your benefits, and you might see an increase in your checks.
Popular part-time jobs for people on Social Security
Finding a part-time job that offers more control over your hours and income is one way to manage working’s effect on your Social Security benefits. The following 10 roles were selected based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on occupations that employ large numbers of workers age 65 and older and offer opportunities for part-time work. Wages are based on the most recent BLS data available. If you’re seeking part-time work, AARP and Indeed are collaborating on a job hub for older adults.
Crossing guard
Average wage: $19.54 per hour
Roughly 4 in 10 crossing guards are 65 or older, based on BLS figures. Because the role often requires people to work a couple of hours in the morning and a couple in the afternoon, the job is often a better match for retirees who want to stay active rather than people who want to complete their hours in a single shift.
You’ll most likely be working near schools or in downtown areas with foot traffic, such as those near arenas, convention centers and stadiums.
Customer service representative
Average wage: $21.53 per hour
These positions are sometimes referred to as call center jobs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you will have to go to an office to work. In fact, this field offers many remote positions, providing you with a laptop, headset and other equipment to work from home. With job scams on the rise, however, be careful when considering remote work opportunities. Most legitimate employers will not ask you to pay for equipment, training or background screenings.
Because many customer service lines operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, you could also have a wide range of schedule flexibility.
Driver
Average wage: $18.25 per hour
Rising gasoline prices have been a challenge for people who drive for rideshare services such as Lyft and Uber because fuel costs eat into their earnings. Still, working as a driver can be ideal for people who get Social Security benefits because you can start quickly and have control over how often you work.
To offset high gas prices, Uber announced in October that it is offering drivers discounts of up to 21 cents per gallon through the Shell rebate program and rebates of up to $1 per gallon through the Upside cashback app. Lyft offers drivers up to 32 cents per gallon back through Upside.
Event staffer
Average wage: $15.82 per hour
Whether you prefer an afternoon at the ballpark or an evening at the opera, working as an event staffer gives you the opportunity to earn money while soaking in the vibes of your favorite entertainment. While event staff positions vary, the ideal role for an older adult could be usher or ticket taker.
Some employers allow event staff to work just one or two shifts per week, meaning you could easily adjust your schedule to make sure you’re not going over the Social Security earnings cap.
Personal care aide
Average wage: $17.21 per hour
More than 195,000 people age 65 and older worked as personal care aides in 2025, according to the BLS. And the job opportunities in this field will continue to grow, with nearly 850,000 jobs projected to be added in the next nine years.
Unlike home health aides, personal care aides are not required to complete a state-approved training program, and they also don’t perform direct medical care such as taking vital signs or administering medications. Instead, personal care aides help people with daily activities such as meal prep, errands and light housekeeping. Most training for personal care aides takes place on the job.
Retail salesperson
Average wage: $17.10 per hour
Retail sales positions are very popular with retirees, with more than 261,000 people age 65 and older working in the field in 2026, BLS figures show. Flexible hours and social interaction with customers are a big part of the appeal, and employee discounts add extra juice for people on fixed incomes.
The pace can be demanding, and you’ll typically stand throughout your shift. Those factors contribute to high turnover in these positions. But, as an approachable way to earn money in addition to your Social Security benefit, working as a salesperson can be an appealing option.
Tour guide
Average pay: $18.33 per hour
According to Career Explorer professional development platform, the three states with the most tour guides are California, Florida and New York. But you don’t have to live near a beach or Broadway to find work in this varied field. Each of the nation’s 63 national parks employs tour guides, and opportunities are also available in tour services in most major cities.
A 2022 report from the National Bureau of Economic Research found tour guide roles to be among the 10 most age-friendly jobs available because these positions offer flexibility, autonomy and meaningful work.
Travel agent
Average wage: $24.11 per hour
While many people prefer to book their own travel online, there is still a successful niche for travel agents who help people plan luxury outings or trips for larger groups. If you have experience traveling yourself, a job as an agent could be a chance to turn your knowledge into extra income.
There are no formal education requirements or credentials to become a travel agent. But to get access to airline and hotel booking systems, you’ll typically have to start off working with a host agency. Depending on their preferences or needs, that role could mean working a fixed schedule as a training period. Once that training has been completed, you might have more schedule flexibility.
Tutor
Average pay: $20.84 per hour
Though many retired teachers earn money as tutors in retirement, you don’t need an education degree or previous experience to become a tutor later in life. What you do need is an understanding of which skills and subjects you’re best suited to teach and the patience to help learners improve their ability. For example, if you’re good at giving marketing presentations, you might also be able to help students make stronger points in their papers for English or history classes.
You can try finding tutoring jobs through local school districts or via online services such as Tutor.com and Varsity Tutors. Other platforms, such as Wyzant, let you set your own hourly tutoring rate.
Umpire or referee
Average pay: $19.57 per hour
This job can get stressful when the athletes or fans disagree with the calls the official makes. But demand for referees for both youth and adult recreational leagues is growing. The BLS projects that jobs for umpires and referees will grow by roughly 5 percent over the next decade, which is faster than average.
Referees typically work one or two shifts per week, each about four hours. Each league has its own requirements for the training required to become a referee or umpire.
AARP Membership
Join AARP for only $15 per year with automatic renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of benefits, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine.
More From AARP
Is AI Causing More Early Retirements?
New studies look at how the technology is affecting older workers
7 Smart Ways to Stand Out in a Job Search
In a tough market, here’s how to build your personal brand and get hired
I Thought I’d Be Fine When I Lost My Job at 66
But I wasn’t, and lengthy unemployment left me struggling with depression