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If you’re looking for an opportunity to work remotely, there’s a good chance you can now find a job that fits your needs. According to a recent FlexJobs study of job postings on their website, there was an 11 percent increase in the number of remote jobs in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Older adults could benefit directly from this boom in remote work. Their skills and experience give them the ability to operate effectively and independently outside the office. And the flexibility of working from home offers an appealing pathway toward eventual retirement.
These 15 jobs are some of positions where the demand for remote workers is highest. Clicking on the job title will take you to a page on the AARP Job Board that shows postings for comparable positions. (Not all of these openings offer remote work opportunities.) Median pay data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Search for all available work from home jobs on the AARP Job Board.
1. Administrative Assistant
Who’s hiring: H&R Block, Lockheed Martin, UpKeepl
Average pay: $21.19 per hour
With many businesses switching to remote work during the pandemic, “virtual assistants” have seen an explosion in demand recently. In addition to the positions listed on the AARP Job Board, you can also find gig work as an administrative assistant through sites such as Upwork and FlexJobs, though some of these portals charge fees to use their services.
2. Consultant
Who’s hiring: Baylor Scott White Health, United Health Group
Average median pay: $45.81 per hour
In addition to offering remote work opportunities, consulting also can serve as a convenient way to transition into retirement. In addition to the positions posted on the AARP Job Board, you also might consider asking your current or former employers whether they might be interested is hiring you as a consultant for various projects.
3. Customer Service Representative
Who’s hiring: Dish Network, FedPoint, Love's Travel Stops & Country Store
Median pay: $18.16 per hour
If you’ve ever called a company for help with a product or service you purchased, then you understand what these jobs involve. You’ll need good people skills to help customers get the solutions they’re seeking. And the hours often are quite flexible to enable phone lines to be staffed across different time zones.
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4. Data Entry Clerk
Who’s hiring: McKees Rock PA, TowardJobs Staffing, xBrain
Average pay: $18.26 per hour
This job is a natural fit for remote work because the responsibilities mostly involve typing information from various documents into a company’s computer system. Accuracy and an eye for detail are essential to doing well in this field.
5. Digital Marketing Specialist
Who’s hiring: Sodexo, United Health Group
Average pay: $32.80 per hour
The internet is how many businesses find new customers now, and these specialists are the experts who make those connections happen. Job responsibilities include creating internet advertisements, direct emails, newsletters and other digital tools to keep clients interested in what the company has to offer.
6. Occupational Therapist
Who’s hiring: Baylor Scott White Health, Lehigh Valley Health Network Lehigh
Average pay: $44.80 per hour
When people who are recovering from injuries or managing disabilities need assistance learning to perform daily physical activities, occupational therapists lend a helping hand. Many types of health care moved online during the pandemic, and so did the work-from-home opportunities for occupational therapists. Many of these jobs do require state licenses.
7. Proofreader
Who’s hiring: Sodexo, TalentBurst
Average pay: $21.83 per hour
If you’re the type of person who notices spelling errors when you’re reading books or articles, this role could be a good fit for you. For example, Abuse Refuge Org, a nonprofit that aids survivors of physical, sexual, spousal, and other types of abuse, is seeking a proofreader who can make sure that their articles and social media posts include accurate information and are easy to read.
8. Registered Nurse
Who’s hiring: Central California Alliance for Health, McLaren Integrated HMO Group, VITAS Healthcare
Average pay: $39.05 per hour
Demand is almost always high for these professionals, with the BLS projecting there will be 194,500 jobs created in this field each year. And, in the era of telehealth, many of these nurses will be able to work from home.
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