Did you know Martha Stewart was a stockbroker in her 30s before she built her homemaking empire? Vera Wang didn’t design her first dress until she was 40. Julia Child didn’t host her own cooking show until the age of 51, and Grandma Moses didn’t even start painting until she was 76!
It’s never too late to pursue your dreams. In fact, if you’re over age 50, you might be in the perfect spot to pursue a work at home career. With kids out of the house (or nearly there), more confidence, experience, and wisdom, age 50 and above is prime time for an encore career!
If you’re interested in a home-based career or business and you’re over 50 (or retired), check out these great ideas!
1. Content Creation
Maybe you think of content creation as a career pursued by moms with younger kids or Millennials or Gen Z. The truth of the matter is that anyone can start a blog, no matter their age! What is the great thing about starting a blog and creating content? You don’t need to be a technical wizard (I’m not). There are plenty of resources and outsourcing available for the more technical aspects of blogging. All you need is a love of writing and a passion for the topic.
Blogger Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life started her blog to help fellow women over age 50 discover their personal style and fashion. She writes with authority due to her experience as a Principal Fashion Buyer for boutiques in Northern California and her training as an Image Consultant and Personal Stylist. Find a niche you enjoy and are experienced in, and start blogging and creating content!
Looking for an easy way to get started? I have a step-by-step tutorial here.
2. Bookkeeper
If you’re experienced in managing office finances, are comfortable with numbers, and enjoy administrative work, becoming a bookkeeper is a great work at home opportunity. Many bookkeepers work independently, setting their own hours and working with clients of their choice. Find virtual bookkeeping work from online sources and promote your services via social media or with your own website. To start as a bookkeeper, you simply need bookkeeping training and a few tools, including your computer and software such as Xero, QuickBooks, or Sage 50. Bookkeepers earn between $20 and $50 per hour.
3. Coach
Coaches use their professional experience and training to help others work toward and achieve their goals. This help comes in a range of forms from assisting with revamping and organizing a resume to mock interviews. A career coach often assists their client with transitions in their career, helps them develop their interpersonal and job skills, and gives them the tools they need to put their best foot forward when navigating the job world. If you love working with others and helping them discover their potential, career coaching is an awesome work at home career. The salary of a career coach varies greatly depending on training, niche, background, and aspects of the work. Career coaches earn anywhere from $20/hour upwards to $300/hour+.
4. Crafter
Are you skilled with designing, creating, and crafting? Many creative individuals find good sources of income from making and selling handicrafts and artistic creations. If you’re a quilter or seamstress, or you possess other crafty skills and talents, sell your patterns and creations via the CraftStar or Etsy or on your own website. You could also follow the lead of retiree, Carolyn Wainscott of Carolyn’s Canvas and diversify your offerings to include online tutorials through YouTube, Craftsy, and other social media avenues.
5. Direct Seller
Direct sales opportunities are no longer limited to Avon, Tupperware, and Mary Kay (although these companies are still going strong today). The world of direct sales is vast and offers ample opportunity to sell and promote products you feel passionate about, while still working from home, setting your own schedule and hours. The market for direct sales among individuals over 50 is greatly increasing. Chances are, you’ve built a great social network (whether on social media or in real life) and you have a wealth of experience to bring to your business.
Generally, people over age 50 are viewed as trustworthy promoters of quality products. Direct sellers typically pay an initial setup fee to start their business, and then earn a percentage of the profits from items they sell, although many companies offer pay structures including incentives, bonuses, and discounts on products as well. There are often sales minimums and requirements for joining direct sales companies, so research options thoroughly before you jump in!
6. Pet Sitter
If you’re active, love animals, or simply want to connect with people and their pets, pet sitting is a rewarding work at home career that pays more than you might think! Pet owners may seek a pet sitter to watch their pets while they go out of town, walk them while they’re away at work, or simply to check in and play with them occasionally. Pets with special needs may require medication, special feeding, or other care, and owners are often thrilled to find a trustworthy and reliable sitter. You can easily find pet sitting jobs online, on sites like Care.com, Wag, or Rover, or through your neighborhood bulletin boards. Check with your local community center and vet offices, too. You can explore more information at the Pet Sitters International website, which offers a free guide to getting started in the pet sitting industry.

7. Proofreader
Do you have a great eye for catching grammar and spelling mistakes? Then perhaps a work at home career as a proofreader is your calling. Working from home as a proofreader offers flexible scheduling and a job you can do almost any time, setting your own hours, and pace. With so much content online, the demand for proofreading is greater than ever. Unlike editing, which involves rewriting and revising work, proofreaders mainly review work for errors in grammar, spelling, syntax, and formatting. Proofreaders earn on average around $43,200 per year, depending on hours worked and the number of clients they help. There is a free training session available for proofreaders at Proofread Anywhere to help you get started.
8. Transcriber
Are you a great listener? Do you have excellent data entry skills? Then, consider working as a freelance transcriber. There are three common types of transcription: general, legal, and medical; the latter two fields require extra knowledge, expertise, and understanding of terminology. As a transcriptionist, you’ll need fast, accurate typing skills, good grammar, and language proficiency. Transcription work generally pays between $15 and $ 20 per hour, depending on your productivity and experience.
9. Tutor
If your background is in teaching or you simply enjoy working with students, tutoring and online teaching offer rewarding and interesting opportunities. There are several online school systems hiring consultants, instructors, and teachers to work with students via the web. There are also companies pairing tutors and teachers with students who need one-on-one assistance, either in-person or online. Tutor students in their home or in your own home on a variety of subjects. Tutors and teachers can teach art or skills like healthy cooking, ESL classes, or a musical instrument. There are also tutoring positions in classic subjects like math and reading, where students will benefit from your patience and expertise. Tutors earn between $10-$75 per hour, depending on the academic level of the topic, subject matter and level of expertise. To get started, check out platforms like Cambly, Gogokid, or Pearson.
10. Virtual Assistant
The role of a virtual assistant is varied, just like the work of assistants in brick-and-mortar offices. If your background is in event planning, travel, project management, customer service, graphic design or any other professional skills, you may enjoy virtually assisting a client in your area of expertise. With an increasingly mobile workforce, the idea of an assistant working behind a desk in a traditional office is no longer as relevant. Telecommuting is commonplace and many virtual assistants enjoy flexible hours and workloads depending on their area and field of focus. VAs typically earn between $12 and $60 per hour working right from their home.
11. Writer
The field of writing is vast and there are many areas to focus on. You can become a copywriter, writing material for marketing, advertising, and social media. You can also work as a freelance writer, writing articles for online and in-print publications. As a writer, start your own blog, write resumes, or perform research and assist with academic writing. There are also options to self-publish your work, which isn’t nearly as difficult as you may think. You can even pursue a dream of writing a children’s book or novel, like Laura Ingalls Wilder, an author who didn’t publish her first book until she was in her 60s!
Best Work at Home Careers for People Over 50
Not finding the perfect fit? Check out my friend Leisa’s site, Powerfully Purposed for Success, where she helps older individuals find meaningful freelance careers later in life. AARP also has a great list of career resources for people over 50! Lastly, we have a list of companies that hire older workers.
Remember, it’s never too late to pursue your dreams, and there’s certainly no age limit when it comes to work at home job options. Explore the great career paths you could take whether you’re age 50, 60, 70, and beyond!
Are you a retiree? Have you taken on an encore career? We would love to hear about it!
Hello and I am aware most it is for the ladies here but what about a guy? I had to leave a job because I reinjured my shoulder again. However, I am looking for something to do at home. Never done direct sales or anything like that. Being on the phone would be an issue because I am hearing impaired. Would be interested in a company to work for that would give me some financial funds to keep me from losing money. Any suggestions?
Hi Ron,
My information is applicable to men and women alike.
Are you looking for a side gig to make a little extra money, or do you need a part-time or full-time job?
I am looking for a part time job to supplement my income . I am 83 but in good health and told I am very smart and have a sound mine for my age. I have been in sales all my life, I am an artist and enjoy making crafts too.
Hi Diane,
You could work on short tasks:
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/short-task-sites/
You could also sell crafts online like Carolyn does:
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/make-money-retiree/
Hi Holly,
All these ladies are right! Your Blog is not only helpful but inspiring. I quit my job last year to pursue an online business only to find myself in an overwhelming amount of online courses, tutorials, niches, and ideas to work on. I did paralyzed and ended up depressed and now looking to go back to my regular job, but that is not what I want to do.
I would appreciate if you share your beginning experience and how did you overcome your fears and organize your thoughts to start your business, and if you knew what you wanted to do by then.
Thanks!
Hi Olivia,
Before I ever quit my 9-to-5 job, I had saved $15,000 for my transition so that I wouldn’t be stressed about money. Then I started freelancing to get some cash flow coming in. I worked my freelance marketing gig and on my blog for many years until I felt secure to solely survive on my blog’s income.
My niche, mission, and goal of educating other women how to work from home has not changed since I started. It sounds like you need to drill down on your passions, goals, and mission so that you have a clear picture of what you want to accomplish.
Check out these articles, I think they’ll be helpful on your journey:
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/employee-to-freelancer/
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/finding-your-niche/
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/road-blocks-how-to-break-through-and-create-results/
Good luck and keep us posted!
Thank you! I am going to be a single mom, who also happens to have MS. I find your blog very helpful and inspiring! Thank you again for all of these valuable resources.
Carolyn
You’re welcome, Carolyn!
Good luck and keep me posted on your journey!
I enjoyed the article! I’m new to the entire idea of working from home but looking forward to the challenge! Having been previously successful in cosmetics sales (retail) I have the selling gene! I’ve had requests in my area to sell ladies moderate range price plus size clothing & personalized jewelry. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Hi Leslie,
These articles will give you a great place to start your WAH job search:
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/direct-sales-jewelry/
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/right-job/
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/home-based-business-fashion/
Holly, your blog is so very useful! I am currently on my second interview as a remote Nursing faculty via WGU because it was listed on your blog. I will keep you posted (pun intended)
That’s awesome, Sandra! Please, keep me posted. Good luck!
The biggest obstacle for me, as I think about working at home blogging, writing, etc., is the hurdle of knowing how social media works as far as how to market yourself and what platforms to use. My career outside my home has been limited to MS Office, Excel, Publisher and email. Coming at things using social media can be daunting.
Cara,
Social Media can be daunting for sure. What I suggest is figuring out where your target audience is, and then go where they are hanging out. Once you know that piece of the puzzle, get on that platform and observe what others are doing in your niche. Immerse yourself in that platform and once you have a good handle on it, then add another. But only add as many channels as you can handle — quality and always trumps quantity.
Here are a few posts that you may find helpful on your blogging journey:
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/twitter-business-blog/
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/blogs-earning-pinterest/
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/build-audience-instagram/
Good luck on your journey and keep us posted!
Good articial.Thank you for your sharing.For people over 50, finding something to do is also necessary to exercise your brainpower.It will also help improve the health and I will share it with others. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it, Stephanie!
I am looking to work at home but not courses. I am a writer but I have plenty published. I don’t mind if the work at home is basic as I would still like to continue to write. I have Studied in the past. I’ve used that to share some where but I have been on Universal Credit. I use the certificates from the past as memories and I’ve got keep sakes. Most people I know are married with children now and have moved onto grandparent hood, so I put it all in books.
Hi Rachel,
Here is a list of paid writing gigs:
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/paid-writing-gigs/