Best Part-Time Gigs for Baby Boomers

At a time when the majority of men and women expect to work beyond their retirement, many baby boomers will use this time to shift gears in their careers. In fact, 80 percent of today's 76 million baby boomers plan to keep working in the future and more than half of them are interested in pursuing new careers, according to a Merrill Lynch survey.When it comes to seeking a new career or continuing to work for the same employer, many boomers will opt for part-time employment.

This option is particularly appealing for boomers who want flexibility in their schedules or cannot find full-time employment. "A part-time job can keep you physically, mentally and socially active and perhaps allow you to experiment with a new work role without the commitment and energy drain of a 40-hour work week," says Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., co-author of "225 Best Jobs for Baby Boomers" (JIST © 2007).

Working part-time is also a great solution for boomers who want to retire, but can't because they're financially unprepared to leave the work force. "For the first time since you were a teenager, part-time work may be financially feasible even though you will be paid for fewer hours and probably at a lower hourly rate," Shatkin says. "Social Security, a pension, a 401(k) or some combination of these may cover a major fraction of your income needs. Plus, Medicare or a retirement medical plan may provide health-care benefits that previously had been affordable only through a full-time job."

The following are 20 of the best jobs for baby boomers working part-time, based on information from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Teachers, Postsecondary
Annual Earnings: $54,406
Annual Openings: 216,000

Registered Nurses
Annual Earnings: $53,640
Annual Openings: 215,000

Pharmacists
Annual Earnings: $87,160
Annual Openings: 23,000

Clinical Psychologists*
Annual Earnings: 56,360
Annual Openings: 17,000

Counseling Psychologists*
Annual Earnings: $56,360
Annual Openings: 17,000

School Psychologists*
Annual Earnings: $56,360
Annual Openings: 17,000

Instructional Coordinators
Annual Earnings: $50,060
Annual Openings: 18,000


Security GuardsAnnual Earnings: $20,520
Annual Openings: 228,000

Self-Enrichment Education Teachers
Annual Earnings: $31,530
Annual Openings: 39,000

Speech Language Pathologists
Annual Earnings: $53,790
Annual Openings: 10,000

Truck Drivers, Light or Delivery Services
Annual Earnings: $24,420
Annual Openings: 219,000

Personal and Home Care Aides
Annual Earnings: $17,020
Annual Openings: 154,000

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Annual Earnings: $34,650
Annual Openings: 105,000

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
Annual Earnings: $46,710
Annual Openings: 21,000

Teacher AssistantsAnnual Earnings: $19,760
Annual Openings: 259,000

Legal Secretaries
Annual Earnings: $37,390
Annual Openings: 39,000

Chiropractors
Annual Earnings: $67,940
Annual Openings: 3,000

Audiologists
Annual Earnings: $53,040
Annual Openings: 1,000

Janitors and Cleaners, Except for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
Annual Earnings: $19,110
Annual Openings: 454,000

Caption Writers
Annual Earnings: $45,460
Annual Openings: 23,000

*Jobs 4, 5, and 6 share 17,000 openings.

Copyright Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing