Best Jobs if You're Over 50
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Focus on Lifelong Investing » Changing Jobs » Best Jobs if You're Over 50
Best Jobs if You're Over 50
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
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By Donna Rosato and Tom Ziegler
Far from ready to call it quits but tired of toiling in the same field? Do you have a dream
job you couldn't afford to take when you had kids in college or 20 years left on your
mortgage?
A growing portion of Americans 50 and older are
still in the workforce, but at this stage of your More from CNNMoney.com:
career you may be ready to switch into a job with
shorter hours, less stress, or more social • 'I Have the Best Job in
purpose, even if it means backing off your peak America!'
pay.
"Many people need to work five or 10 years • Best Jobs for Working
longer, but they want to do something other than Parents
make money for someone else," says Mary
Bleiberg, executive director at ReServe, which • Best Jobs for Fast Growth
places seasoned professionals in nonprofit,
education, and public sector jobs (reserveinc.org).
Another good site for pre-retirement jobs is retiredbrains.com.
MONEY's top jobs for folks over 50 do well in satisfaction measures like stress,
flexibility, and social meaning. None require advanced degrees — too high a hurdle late
in your career — though some will be hard to break into without related industry
experience (such as marketing or tech).
The job skills you honed over a lifetime may transfer, but as an older job hunter you
need to work harder to prove your skills are up to date. Digital know-how and social
media experience, for example, are essential in the nonprofit world, says Bleiberg.
Some second-act jobs are low level, which might feel like a comedown. But the top of
the corporate ladder often comes with big headaches. After decades in your office chair,
you've earned a break for your last act.
These top jobs score high for flexibility and social meaning, enjoy relatively low stress,
and none require advanced degrees.
1. Grant Coordinator
Median pay: $47,800
Top pay: $61,900
10-year job growth: 12%
Total jobs: 10,000
The job: Marry your professional skills with a cause you believe in by writing and
coordinating funding requests for a nonprofit, school or government agency.
More than 1.5 million organizations depend on grants to keep programs running,
especially important in a sluggish economy. Many grant writers consult, giving you
control over how much work you take on and when you do it.
How to switch: Demonstrate good writing skills and passion for the project. Find a
workshop at grantwritingusa.com.
Quality of life ratings: Personal satisfaction: B
Benefit to society: A
Low stress: C
Flexibility: A
2. Personal Trainer
Median pay: $52,600
Top pay: $136,000
10-year job growth: 29%
Total jobs: 30,000
The job: Fitness-conscious baby boomers are paying pros to help with their workouts.The job: Fitness-conscious baby boomers are paying pros to help with their workouts. And companies and communities need trainers for wellness programs. How to switch: This job is best for a workout lover, but being in good physical shape is not enough. You'll need training and certification (find information at afaa.com and nasm.org). A background in a health field or competitive sports is helpful, too. Quality of life ratings: Personal satisfaction: B Benefit to society: A Low stress: B Flexibility: B 3. Energy Field Auditor Median pay: $41,200 Top pay: $66,500 10-year job growth: 12% Total jobs: 10,000 The job: Homeowners looking to cut their energy bills — and maybe even their carbon footprint — are hiring auditors to check the house for leaks and recommend improvements. You set your own hours for appointments, and you can feel good about making the world a greener place. How to switch: Engineering or construction know-how is helpful but not essential. You'll need to take a six-week training course for state certification. Find out more at aeecenter.org. Quality of life ratings: Personal satisfaction: B Benefit to society: B Low stress: C Flexibility: B 4. Online Content Marketing Writer Median pay: $51,900 Top pay: $104,000 10-year job growth: 13% Total jobs: 10,000 The job: As companies turn to social media and the Internet to promote their products and services, they need pros to edit and manage their digital communication materials. You'll work with marketing staff to ensure the content matches corporate goals. You can do project work or freelance, giving you lots of flexibility. How to switch: It's best to have a background in marketing and writing experience. Courses and even certification in digital media marketing helps, too. Get info at emarketingassociation.com. Quality of life ratings: Personal satisfaction: B Benefit to society: C Low stress: C Flexibility: B 5. Tutor Median pay: $52,400 Top pay: $106,000 10-year job growth: 15% Total jobs: 20,000 The job: Private tutoring outside the classroom — often one-on-one but also for groups — is in demand, thanks to parents who want to give their children an edge and nonprofit and city/state programs aimed at improving the academic performance and college readiness of disadvantaged youth. You can schedule sessions any time you want, and the job doesn't require as much training as teaching does. How to switch: No special degree is required, but teaching experience is helpful. For more on training programs for career changers, go to reserveinc.org and encore.org. Quality of life ratings: Personal satisfaction: B Benefit to society: A Low stress: B Flexibility: B 6. SEO Specialist Median pay: $52,100 Top pay: $71,400 10-year job growth: 13% Total jobs: 10,000 The job: There are roughly 250 million websites on the Internet and the most popular way to find them: Google. Competition for the number one spot in Google's search results is fierce, and a search engine optimization, or SEO, specialist knows how to hone a website's pages so they will land near the top. Increasingly, organizations are
hone a website's pages so they will land near the top. Increasingly, organizations are realizing the importance of SEO, making it one of tech's fastest-growing fields. Since the job is largely online-based, you can work from anywhere and create flexible hours. How to switch: Search for "SEO training" on Google, and you'll find millions of offers from "certified" experts. A more credible route is to look for classes at your local community college to boost your knowledge and resume. Most importantly, read all you can about this constantly evolving profession on online forums such as forums.seochat.com. Quality of life ratings: Personal satisfaction: B Benefit to society: C Low stress: C Flexibility: A 7. Pilates/Yoga Instructor Median pay: $62,400 Top pay: $137,000 10-year job growth: 29% Total jobs: 10,000 The job: Mind. Body. Spirit. Career. Pilates and Yoga instructors guide classes (or individuals in one-on-one sessions) through each discipline, making sure students learn their particular practice in a way that is challenging, yet safe and comfortable. If you're thinking about becoming an instructor, it's probably because you already love doing it and want to share your experience with others. Whether you're working with a school or teaching on your own, you can tailor your classes to fit your schedule. How to switch: As both fields become more popular, demand is growing for instructors, but certification and training are crucial to prevent injuries. Both the Pilates Method Alliance and the Yoga Alliance recommend at least 200 hours of training. For more details, go to pilatesmethodalliance.org and yogaalliance.org. Quality of life ratings: Personal satisfaction: B Benefit to society: B Low stress: B Flexibility: A 8. Marketing Representative Median pay: $52,500 Top pay: $92,800 10-year job growth: 7% Total jobs: 10,000 The job: As a marketing rep you are the face of the company. You spend the most time with the customers, and your job is to keep them informed, happy and hungry for more. That requires an exhaustive knowledge of the company's product or service, along with the enthusiasm to drive your message home. Since the bulk of your work is managing clients, you can usually set a flexible schedule that doesn't tie you to a desk. How to switch: Find a company whose product or service you believe in — if you don't feel it, you can't pitch it. Learn everything there is to know about them, then use your gift of gab to pitch yourself to the hiring team. Learn more from the American Marketing Association: marketingpower.com. Or if you need more formal guidance, free online courses can be found at MIT: ocw.mit.edu. Quality of life ratings: Personal satisfaction: B Benefit to society: B Low stress: C Flexibility: A 9. Technical Writer Median pay: $68,100 Top pay: $95,600 10-year job growth: 18% Total jobs: 50,000 The job: Ever wonder who wrote the manual that taught you how to program your DVR? Technical writers take complicated information — like which tiny button erases your entire video library — and put it into simple-to-understand language. Most positions are in information technology, science and engineering, but the work has expanded across a wider range of industries. The field has a solid growth rate and commands one of the higher salaries on our list. Many jobs are on a contractual basis, so you can set your own hours and workload. How to switch: Strong writing skills are a must, and a background or degree in a technical field can only add to your credibility. As more technical writing moves online, knowledge of desktop publishing and graphics programs will also help boost your prospects. Check out the Society for Technical Communication's website for more information: stc.org. Quality of life ratings:
Quality of life ratings:
Personal satisfaction: B
Benefit to society: C
Low stress: C
Flexibility: B
10. Patient/Health Educator
Median pay: $63,300
Top pay: $87,600
10-year job growth: 18%
Total jobs: 10,000
The job: Spreading the word of wellness is the main goal of a patient/health educator.
From hospitals to schools to public and private organizations, the job covers health
education from head to toe. You can teach kids about the importance of exercise, set up
lunchtime health screenings at an office, or counsel patients about difficult lifestyle
changes after a major operation. Like a doctor or nurse, you are a caregiver — and your
gift is knowledge. And as prevention takes a greater role in health care, the need for
educators is rapidly growing.
How to switch: Entry-level positions generally require a bachelor's degree in health
education. Check out local schools for continuing education courses that can expand
your knowledge. If you have the time, an internship or volunteer experience can help fill
out your resume. Learn more at aahperd.org/aahe, the American Association for Health
Education's website.
Quality of life ratings:
Personal satisfaction: B
Benefit to society: A
Low stress: C
Flexibility: B
Click here to see the full list of Best Jobs if You're Over 50.
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181 comments Show: Newest First
Post a comment Comments 1 - 10 of 181 First Prev Next Last
Sandra G 2 hours ago Report Abuse 0 0
Where ARE all these over 50 jobs?? I wasn't making that much when I
worked full time as a marketing assistant or ad copywriter!
Reply
RealityCheck 2 hours ago Report Abuse 0 0
Dead Former Celebrities That No One Ever Heard Of Fashion Analyst. $1
per month.
Reply
The Anti-Liberal 4 hours ago Report Abuse 0 0
The best job is being retired and having no job but of course that requires
diligent saving and investing and most American's are in work till you die
mode.
Reply
The Anti-Liberal 4 hours ago Report Abuse 0 0
Job your most likely to get when your over 50.............Walmart greeter.
Replies (1)A Yahoo! User 13 hours ago Report Abuse 0 0
best job over 50...get fired from my stressful job, collect unenemployment
for 99 weeks until i can retire...masturbate....a lot....well as much as i
can....
Replies (1)
A Yahoo! User 13 hours ago Report Abuse 0 0
ya great article. unbelievable.
i never thought i could be a personal trainer at age 60. cool.
jay lo is just beating down my door.
personal orgasm trainer for kim cattrellllll....not
Reply
BrunoT 13 hours ago Report Abuse 0 0
Strip club talent coordinator.
Reply
A Yahoo! User 13 hours ago Report Abuse 0 0
Best job if you're over 50...the one you have right now! Why would I
volunteer to take a huge pay cut? There may be less stress in performing
the new job, but more stress about how to pay the friggin' bills! These
sound OK if you're already retired and bored out of your skull. With the
current economy, one of these suggestions sounds like a good 2nd job
just to keep your head above water. I'm all for getting our troops out of the
middle east (and closing many of our other foreign bases), but where will
all these troops work if they're not employed by the armed forces?
Reply
Victorschool1 14 hours ago Report Abuse 0 0
Occult High Swami Astrologeristic Predictive Psyic Actuarialist
$666,666
Reply
Victorschool1 14 hours ago Report Abuse 0 0
Personal Truckdriving Highwire Ninga Sumo Wresler Coordinator
(Class A Lic) $2,899,000
Reply
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