Americans seeking a late career change or who want to get back into the workforce often face a series of hurdles as they near traditional retirement age.
But, at a time when many are delaying retirement, new data spotlights careers that are good fits — often with strong wages — for workers 55 and older.
A new study by Resume Genius analyzed jobs with strong wages, low physical demands and accessible entry requirements — along with positive job growth — to identify ones best suited for workers 55 and up.
Jobs included in Resume Genius’ analysis must also already have a sizable population of workers above the age of 55.
“Even though re-entering the workforce can feel daunting, seasoned professionals often have more potential to excel than they think,” said Nathan Soto, career expert at Resume Genius. “Experience is highly valued across industries, and many employers are seeking older candidates to step into leadership or managerial roles.”
The top 10 jobs for older citizens compiled by Resume Genius were:
- Sales manager: $66.38 hourly wage
- Computer-systems analyst: $49.90 hourly wage
- Management analyst: $48.65 hourly wage
- Accountant and auditor: $39.27 hourly wage
- Social and community service manager: $37.61 hourly wage
- Sales representatives: $35.63 hourly wage
- Property, real estate and community association managers: $32.07 hourly wage
- Food-service manager: $31.40 hourly wage
- Insurance sales agent: $29.02 hourly wage
- Real estate broker and sales agent: $28.35 hourly wage
The study comes as older Americans overall decide to stay in the workforce longer than generations that preceded them, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2024, 19.5% of people age 65 and older participated in the labor force, up from about 12% in 2000.
Much of that work is part-time, though, with 38.3% of employed people age 65 and older working less than 35 hours a week, compared to just 14.2% of workers ages 55 to 64 and 11.1% of workers ages 25 to 54.
Older workers are largely concerned they won’t be considered for roles because of their age. About 78% of baby boomers believe their age would be an issue in applying for a new position, according to a recent report by the American Staffing Association. Generation Z was the second group most likely to believe their age would be an issue when applying for a new position, with 55% of that age cohort saying so in the survey. More than 51% of Gen Xers and 39% of millennials surveyed believed their age would be an issue.
Additionally, about 68% of baby boomers said they believed their age would count against them when looking for a new job, and 53% said they felt their age limited their career opportunities.
A survey by the AARP earlier this year found 24% of older workers were planning to make a job change in 2025, up 10 percentage points from 2024, when just 14% were planning to look for a new job.
“Many older workers face age discrimination and are often overlooked for jobs they are qualified for, even though they bring expertise, maturity and perspective to the job,” said Carly Roszkowski, vice president of financial resilience programming at AARP. “This should not be the case. Employers need talent, and it makes great business sense to hire experienced workers.”
For older workers who are looking to switch careers or get back into the workforce, Resume Genus had some tips to share:
- Take advantage of an existing network: Tap into professional and personal contacts, including former colleagues, clients and community groups. A person letting these connections know they’re open to work can lead to opportunities before they’re posted publicly.
- Draw upon experience: Decades of skills, insights and problem-solving abilities are assets. Older workers should be confident in highlighting their expertise and the value they bring to a team in both resumes and in interviews.
- Explore new fields: Today’s jobs often blend skills from multiple industries. Many abilities from previous careers may be more transferable to other industries than many may think. Older workers shouldn’t be afraid to try apply to jobs they wouldn’t have tried applying to in the past.
- Update tech skills: Technology is constantly advancing, and even young professionals need to constantly learn new skills to stay up-to-date. Develop a familiarity with current tools and platforms, including video conferencing, basic data management and artificial-intelligence tools, as that can help workers adapt quickly and compete effectively in today’s workplace.
