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20 Jobs for Older Workers

These roles value experience, and many offer low-stress, fulfilling work after 50

Kenneth Terrell,

Updated December 05, 2025

AARP

En español

Updated December 05, 2025

Bill Goodbread, an 80-year-old Marine Corps veteran and bus driver for the Parkway School District, on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, in Chesterfield, Mo.

Brian Munoz

While you can be successful in a career at any age, some jobs draw a higher share of workers age 50 and older. They tend to offer flexible hours or opportunities for remote work or rely on experience that takes years to build.

AARP examined current U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data to identify 20 jobs for which the median worker’s age is at least 49. The list is ranked by the total number of workers age 45 and older in each field, from the most to least. All wage data is from the BLS. You can find job openings in these professions and other roles through AARP’s new collaboration with Indeed.

These 20 jobs are the most popular for older workers.

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1. Chief executives

Median age: 52.2 years
Total workers age 45 and older: 1,216,000
Median salary: $105,350 per year

CEOs aren’t limited to the Fortune 500. Many small and midsize organizations need seasoned leaders too, which explains why there are so many chief executives in the BLS tally. It’s no surprise that many businesses turn to older workers — and their lifelong experience — to fill this role.

2. Bookkeepers, accountants and auditing clerks

Median age: 50.1 years
Total workers age 45 and older: 720,000
Median salary: $49,210 per year

Among the jobs on this list, bookkeeper and accountant may be the roles that offer the most work-from-home opportunities. These positions also tend to offer contract positions and other kinds of flexibility.

3. Postsecondary teachers

Median age: 49 years
Total workers age 45 and older: 655,000
Median salary: $83,980 per year

Part-time college teaching, often listed as “adjunct professor” jobs, can be a flexible way to share your expertise. You can also find similar opportunities in technical and professional schools that offer career certificates. Keep in mind that most of these positions require advanced degrees or professional licenses.

4. Real estate brokers and sales agents

Median age: 49.6 years
Total workers age 45 and older: 605,000
Median salary: $58,960 per year

Only 6 percent of members of the National Association of Realtors say real estate was their first career, making these jobs a good fit for career switchers. “We see that there’s a very diverse background of members who are coming from other industries and starting in real estate,” the association tells AARP.

James “Stu” and Rachael Stewart with their four children (left to right) Zinaye, Zeyana, Javan, James “J5”.

Cassidy Araiza

5. Farmers, ranchers and agricultural managers

Median age: 55.8 years
Total workers age 45 and older: 591,000
Median salary: $87,980 per year

This profession has one of the highest average ages of all the jobs on this list. Across all industries, these careers also offer the highest levels of happiness and meaning, according to a Washington Post analysis of BLS data.

6. Property manager

Median age: 49.2 years
Total workers age 45 and older: 461,000
Median salary: $66,700 per year

Property managers oversee residential, commercial or community buildings, handling tasks like leasing, maintenance, budgeting and tenant relations. Many property managers work for real estate firms or homeowners’ associations or are self-employed.

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

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.

Kenneth Terrell covers employment, age discrimination, work and jobs, careers, and the federal government for AARP. He previously worked for the Education Writers Association and U.S. News & World Report, where he reported on government and politics, business, education, science and technology, and lifestyle news.

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