20 Jobs for Older Workers

7. Clergy

• Median age: 51.2 years
• Total workers age 45 and older: 244,000
• Median salary: $63,720 per year

Clergy lead religious services, offer spiritual guidance and support members of their faith community. These roles may include conducting worship, providing counseling and helping people navigate life’s challenges. Many older adults find fulfillment and purpose in this work, which often values life experience and offers opportunities to make a meaningful difference.

8. Public transit bus drivers

Median age: 54.5 years

• Total workers age 45 and older: 189,000
• Median salary: $57,440 per year

According to the American Public Transportation Association, 96 percent of transportation agencies reported a shortage of bus drivers in 2022. If you’re exploring how to become a bus driver or comparing a bus driver job description across employers, check for commercial driver’s license requirements and if you can earn a license through paid training.

9. School bus drivers

• Median age: 56 years
• Total workers age 45 and older: 150,000
• Median salary: $47,040 per year

The school bus driver schedule helps explain why this occupation tends to favor older adults. Working a couple of hours in the morning and in the afternoon is a better fit for retirees than for most other types of workers.

10. Medical records specialists

• Median age: 49.7 years
• Total workers age 45 and older: 141,000
• Median salary: $50,250 per year

Medical records specialists compile, process and maintain patient health information in electronic systems. The role is well suited for analytical, detail-oriented older workers and often offers full-time, computer-based work in hospitals, clinics and doctors’ offices.

11. Executive secretaries and administrative assistants

• Median age: 49.1 years
• Total workers age 45 and older: 138,000
• Median salary: $47,460 per year

Executive secretaries and administrative assistants provide high-level support, manage schedules, prepare reports and coordinate meetings. These roles are common in health care, education and government, and often value experience and organizational skills developed over a career.

12. Specialized psychologists

• Median age: 49.7 years
• Total workers age 45 and older: 95,000
• Median salary: $109,840 per year

These psychologists work in areas outside of clinical psychology, counseling and school psychology. They are most often employed in government positions, particularly in federal, state and local agencies. Some examples include forensic, social and sports psychologists.

13. Facilities managers

• Median age: 50.7 years
• Total workers age 45 and older: 91,000
• Median salary: $104,690 per year

From handling renovations to hiring janitorial staff, facilities managers are responsible for keeping buildings ready for workers and their clients. The role requires good people skills and knowledge of how to keep a building’s infrastructure up to date.

14. Sewing machine operators

• Median age: 49.5 years
• Total workers age 45 and older: 69,000
• Median salary: $36,000 per year

This blue-collar job is more like a manufacturing role within the apparel industry. Most jobs in this field do not require a degree or certificate to get hired but rather on-the-job training or previous experience.

15. Construction/building inspectors

• Median age: 51.7
• Total workers age 45 and older: 67,000
• Median salary: $72,120 per year

While many construction jobs may be too physically demanding for some older workers, an inspector is a blue-collar role that they can comfortably fill. Most inspectors work for a city or town and are required to have a license or certification, but not typically a college degree.

16. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

• Median age: 54 years
• Total workers age 45 and older: 55,000
• Median salary: $36,660 per year

Flexible schedules and part-time shifts help make these jobs attractive to older adults. And years of personal experience driving in a city or region is a valuable skill these workers bring to the role.

17. Property appraisers/assessors

• Median age: 52.4 years
• Total workers age 45 and older: 54,000
• Median salary: $65,420 per year

If you like the real estate industry but aren’t comfortable with the responsibilities of being an agent or broker, a property appraiser is an interesting alternative. Most cities or states require you to complete a short training program and pass a licensing exam before you can begin working.

18. Judges

• Median age: 53.7 years
• Total workers age 45 and older: 47,000
• Median salary: $135,160 per year

Many judges are either elected or appointed to their positions, a condition that could give an edge to people with years of experience and larger professional networks. Many states, however, do have mandatory retirement ages (typically 70 years old) for some judge positions, according to the National Center for State Courts.

19. Tailors and dressmakers

• Median age: 51.7 years
• Total workers age 45 and older: 40,000
• Median salary: $40,860 per year

These days, you might be likely to find more people at a Taylor Swift concert than you are to find people employed as a tailor, but it’s still a fun, fulfilling job. Not every dress or suit ends up on a stage, but a good tailor or dressmaker can still make your outfit sparkle.

20. Firefighting supervisors

• Median age: 51.6 years
• Total workers age 45 and older: 39,000
• Median salary: $92,430 per year

While firefighters in general are an average of 37.4 years of age, their supervisors are significantly older, according to the BLS. Experience is a highly valuable skill in this high-stakes profession, it seems.