5 Part-Time Jobs That Are Great for Teachers

These roles can boost your income and retirement security

Kenneth Terrell,

AARP

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Published March 19, 2026

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Key takeaways

Research shows that nearly 60 percent of teachers take on additional jobs to boost income.
Part-time roles can provide flexibility and supplemental earnings and, in some states, help teachers earn Social Security credits.
Several part-time jobs match up well with teachers’ skills.

For many educators, moonlighting is a way of life. Whether retired or still working, many teachers look for part-time work to boost their income. Nearly 60 percent of teachers report earnings outside of their primary job, boosting their income by several thousand dollars a year, according to 2023 research from the Annenberg Institute at Brown University.

For many teachers, the benefit of working outside of school can carry over into retirement. Public school systems in all of 13 states (plus the District of Columbia) and parts of five other states do not participate in the Social Security system, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, meaning their teachers do not pay the Social Security taxes that would qualify them for retirement benefits. By working additional part-time jobs, those teachers can eventually qualify for Social Security, supplementing their future pensions with extra retirement income.

The following five jobs, listed alphabetically, are good part-time roles for both current and retired teachers. Wage information is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unless otherwise noted. If you’re looking for a part-time job or other job-search assistance, AARP and Indeed are collaborating to provide a job board for older adults.

Personal trainer

Average wage: $22.40 per hour

What it’s like: If you worked as a physical education teacher or coached in your school’s athletic program, working as a personal trainer could be a natural fit.

Many personal trainers are hired by gyms or other athletic facilities to provide one-on-one workout sessions and programs for their members. You'll work directly with clients to help them meet their individual fitness goals, including weight loss, flexibility, strength building and athletic improvement for sports. Some personal trainers can also provide guidance on nutrition.

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Trainers at gyms typically receive an hourly wage plus a commission from their sessions. Other personal trainers work on a contract basis, with sessions at a partner gym, their own facility or clients’ homes. The hours are very flexible, with some clients wanting to work out before heading into the office while others prefer to wind their day down at the gym.

Qualifications: In most cases, clients and gyms will insist that the personal trainers they employ have one or more certifications from groups such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the American Council on Exercise (ACE Fitness), the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), the National Personal Training Association (NPTA) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Requirements vary based on certification, but you should generally expect to study (self-guided or with an instructor) for at least three months.

Once you’ve completed your studies, you’ll need to pass an exam. In total, you can expect to spend $225-$1,500 for a personal trainer credential, including courses, exams and instruction.

If you’ve taken yoga, Pilates, tai chi or similar types of fitness programs, you might consider completing training to become an instructor. Talk with instructors about their path from the mat to the microphone.

Substitute teacher

Average wage: $20.95 per hour

What’s it like: You already have experience in the classroom, so how different is it to be a substitute? People who became substitutes after turning 50 told AARP that they’ve learned to be prepared for the unexpected. Lesson plans may not always be available. Even when they are, you may not have the password or other keys to access materials that the full-time teacher didn’t need to write down.

In addition to being prepared to handle a classroom, you also may need to improvise ideas to help students learn, whether that’s through educational games, grade-level reading or something else.

As a substitute, you can agree to accept day-to-day assignments when teachers call in sick or are otherwise unavailable. You also may be offered longer-term weekly or monthly assignments to cover for teachers who need to take extended leave or to fill roles while the school hires a full-time teacher.

Qualifications: If you’re going to be a sub in the state in which you worked as a teacher, you probably already satisfy the requirements for the role. Still, you will likely have to complete the school district’s substitute teacher registration process. This process will get you into their online platform for offering assignments to substitutes.

Transcriptionist

Average wage: $19.27 per hour (according to Payscale)

What it’s like: Most transcriptionist jobs are remote, so this role offers lots of schedule flexibility. While many businesses now use artificial intelligence tools to convert conversations from their meetings into text, some — for purposes of privacy, security and accuracy — still employ people to handle that task.

In most cases, you’ll receive audio files digitally, with a deadline for when your employer needs the finished text. Companies that offer transcription work include GoTranscript, Rev and TranscribeMe.

Qualifications: Certifications are not required to become a general transcriptionist, but some employers will require you to pass an exam, particularly those working in the legal and medical fields.

Tutor

Average wage: $19.27 per hour

What it’s like: If you relish the opportunity to work with students one-on-one, tutoring could be a natural fit for you. Demand is heaviest for tutors to help students prepare for college admissions exams such as the SAT and ACT, but teachers with expertise in particular subjects can also find students eager for individual assistance.

If you’re a retired teacher, you may be able to get informal referrals from former colleagues for students seeking help. There also online platforms that help tutors and students connect, including Preply, Tutor.com and Wyzant, and companies that hire tutors to work with clients, such as Varsity Tutors, Kaplan and The Princeton Review.

Whether your clients are nearby or across the country, most tutoring sessions today are conducted through videoconferencing, so along with flexible hours, this role means you’ll likely be able to work remotely.

Qualifications: Having worked as a teacher, you probably already have the credentials to become a tutor. A bachelor’s degree in education, along with your classroom experience, in classroom teaching, will be selling points for employers and individual clients. Degrees in other disciplines — science, math, English — can unlock additional opportunities.

Virtual assistant

Average wage: $25.77 per hour (according to Indeed)

What it’s like: If being able to work remotely is a priority, this could be the role for you. Instead of hiring full-time administrative assistants, many businesses — large and small — now hire part-time or gig workers to help them schedule meetings, manage email, handle tasks like data entry or bookkeeping, and meet other administrative needs.

Unlike when you were teaching, you typically won’t be the one in charge of planning and guiding the discussions. But many of the same skills can be applied in work as a virtual assistant. Your eye for accuracy in grading assignments transfers well to proofreading. Entering final grades for report cards can match well with data entry and bookkeeping. And meetings with parents hone your skills to have professional conversations on tricky issues.

In addition to searching for virtual assistant positions through the AARP/Indeed job board, through you can also find openings through FlexJobs and Upwork.

Qualifications: Some employers require that virtual assistants have a bachelor’s degree and several years of experience in an administrative role, but many are willing to consider candidates with different backgrounds. Make sure your résumé and cover letter align with the what the employer is seeking. You’ll also want your résumé to highlight your specific experience and skills for working remotely

The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

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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.