14 BEST JOBS FOR RETIRED TEACHERS

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Hey there, retired teachers, rejoice! You’ve navigated the halls of academia, survived countless parent-teacher conferences, and mastered the art of deciphering adolescent hieroglyphics (also known as “texting lingo”). 

But now, as you bid farewell to the land of chalk dust and cafeteria duty, it’s time to embark on a new adventure—one filled with opportunity, excitement, and maybe even a touch of mischief. So, grab your favourite sweater vest and prepare to explore the top 14 highest paying jobs for retired teachers like yourself.

From wielding the mighty pen as a wordsmith extraordinaire to guiding eager minds as a virtual sage, the possibilities are as endless as the stacks of ungraded essays left in your wake. So, kick back, relax, and let’s uncover the next chapter in your illustrious career—or should we say, your encore performance?

What are the highest paying jobs for retired teachers?

Top 14 highest paying jobs for retired teachers

1. Online Tutoring

Tutoring, whether online or in-person, is basically using your teaching skills to help students out one-on-one or in small groups outside of their regular classes. As a tutor, you work with students to help them really understand and master the material better.

Job Responsibilities: As the tutor, your main responsibilities are reviewing the student’s homework, assignments, and tests to identify what areas they’re struggling with. Then you explain those concepts using a teaching method that makes more sense to them, give them strategies for studying and test prep, and provide feedback on their progress. You adapt your approach to how the individual student learns best.

How to Do It: For online tutoring, you just need a computer, webcam, and decent internet – students can book sessions with you virtually through companies like Chegg Tutors. For in-person tutoring, you can advertise your services locally, get hired through an agency, or even meet students at places like libraries or community centers. You set your own hours and rates based on your experience level.

Pay: Online tutoring companies tend to pay $15-25 per hour. For private in-person tutoring, rates are usually around $20-40 per hour or higher, especially for super advanced subjects like calculus or test prep (SAT, ACT, etc.). The more experienced and credentialed you are, the more you can charge. Tutoring can be a really flexible way to keep making some extra money!

2. Writer

Being a writer means creating all sorts of written stuff for people. You might write articles, stories, scripts, or other materials. Your job is to use your research skills and creativity to make writing that informs or entertains readers.

Job Responsibilities: So, as a writer, you’ll need to do some research on whatever topic you’re writing about to gather all the facts and details. Once you have your info, you organise your ideas and plan out how the whole piece will be structured. Then, you actually write the content, making sure it’s clear, mistake-free, and meets what the client wants. After that, you edit and revise your draft based on any feedback from editors or the client. And of course, you make sure to submit that final written piece on time!

How to Do It: You don’t need a specific degree, but most writers studied English, communications, journalism, or creative writing. Having a portfolio with great writing samples is super important for getting hired. Some writers are freelancers bidding on different jobs, while others get hired by companies, publishers, agencies, or websites.

Pay: How much writers make can really vary. As a new freelance writer, you might only make 5 cents to $1 per word at first. But experienced writers can charge $50-300 or more just for shorter articles and blog posts! The median yearly pay for full-time writers is around $57,000.

3. Virtual Assistant

Okay, so being a virtual assistant is basically like being an assistant, but you get to work from home instead of going into an office. As a virtual assistant, you help out clients with all sorts of tasks and provide support remotely using your computer and internet connection.

Job Responsibilities: The duties can really vary, but some of the typical things a virtual assistant might do are scheduling appointments, responding to emails and messages, doing data entry, bookkeeping, researching topics, managing social media accounts, and providing customer service. It’s kind of like being an administrative assistant, but virtually!

How to Do It: You don’t necessarily need a particular degree, but you’ll want to be really skilled with things like Microsoft Office, scheduling software, communicating professionally online and that sort of thing. A lot of virtual assistants are self-employed freelancers who find clients on job boards like Upwork. But there are also companies that hire virtual assistants as employees too. The nice part is you just need a computer and WiFi to do this job from home.

Pay: Virtual assistant pay can honestly be all over the place. When you’re just starting out, you might only make $10-$15 per hour. But experienced virtual assistants who offer more specialised services can make really good money – like $25-50 per hour, or more! The average annual pay is around $40,000 for virtual assistants working part-time or full-time hours. Sometimes you get paid per task instead of hourly too.

4. Paralegal

As a paralegal, you provide support to lawyers by helping out with lots of important legal tasks and paperwork. You can’t give legal advice or represent clients in court, but you basically assist the lawyer in the office with all the behind-the-scenes work on cases.

Job Responsibilities: On a typical day, a paralegal’s duties could include things like researching laws and regulations, organizing and maintaining all the case files and documents, drafting letters and reports, scheduling meetings and court dates, gathering evidence through investigations, and filing documents for court. You’re making the lawyer’s job easier by taking care of the legwork.

How to Do It: While lawyers need lots of years of law school, paralegals can start with just an associate’s degree or certificate program focused on paralegal studies from a community college or university. Getting experience working at a law firm helps too. And some states require paralegals to get certified by passing an exam.

Pay: The average paralegal salary is around $55,000 per year. But more experienced paralegals who specialize in certain areas like litigation or corporate law can make over $60,000. Most paralegal jobs are at law offices or corporate legal departments, though freelance and remote paralegal positions exist too.

5. Substitue Teaching

Being a substitute teacher is basically filling in for the regular classroom teacher when they’re out for the day. So you go in, teach the lesson plans they left, keep an eye on the students, give out any assignments or homework – that kind of thing.

Job Responsibilities: As the sub, you’re in charge of running that class for the day. That means teaching whatever material is on the agenda, making sure the kids behave and follow the rules, taking attendance, grading any work they do, and updating the regular teacher on what went down when they were gone. You might have to monitor the kids at lunch or recess too. Basically, you’re the teacher for the day!

How to Do It: Most schools require subs to have a 4-year degree and some kind of teaching certification or permit. The district may offer training too. If you were already a teacher before retiring, a lot of people sub at their old schools since they’re already familiar with the place.

Pay: Instead of a salary, you get paid by the day as a substitute teacher. The day rate can be anywhere from $80 to $200 typically, depending on the school district. If you sub long-term for the same teacher for weeks or months at a time, you’ll usually make a bit more per day. Subs working every weekday could potentially make $20,000 to $40,000 for the year.

6. Editor

As an editor, your main role is reviewing written content like books, articles, and reports. You make sure it meets quality standards and follows the proper style guidelines before it gets published or shared.

Job Responsibilities: So, as an editor, you’ll be reading through drafts of whatever was written very carefully. You fix any grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors you catch. Sometimes, you rearrange paragraphs and parts to improve the overall flow and clarity. You also need to fact-check information against the original sources to verify accuracy. And you’ll provide helpful feedback to writers on how they can improve their work. Finally, you approve the final version before it gets published.

How to Do It: Most editors need at least a bachelor’s degree in English, communications, or journalism. Having previous writing experience is valued too. Editors can get hired by book publishers, magazines, marketing firms, websites, and more. A lot start off as assistant editors or proofreaders first.

Pay: The median annual salary for editors is around $60,000. If you’re just starting out, entry-level editing jobs pay around $35,000. Experienced editors can make $65,000 or more, especially if they specialise in a certain type of publishing like books or marketing materials.

7. Sales representative

A sales rep is someone who sells products or services for a company. Their job is to find new potential customers, tell them all about the product, and convince them to buy it.

Job Responsibilities: As a sales rep, you’ll do lots of research to identify good sales leads and opportunities. Then, you contact those potential buyers through cold calls, emails, or by going to networking events. You give presentations and sales pitches that highlight how the product meets the customer’s needs. You also negotiate prices and contract terms to seal the deal and meet your sales quotas. Plus, you provide support to existing customers to make sure they stay satisfied.

How to Do It: You don’t need a particular degree, but classes in sales, marketing, business, or communications can help. Most sales reps get training from their company. The most important thing is having strong people skills – being confident, persistent, and able to build relationships with clients.

Pay: The median annual pay for sales reps is around $60,000. A lot of the compensation is based on commission from the sales you close, on top of a base salary. Top-performing sales reps making tons of huge deals can easily make over $100,000 per year.

8. Corporate trainer

Being a corporate trainer means you get to play a pivotal role in shaping the skills and knowledge of employees within a company. Think of yourself as the Jedi Master, guiding eager Padawans (okay, maybe not Jedi, but you get the idea) through the ins and outs of their roles, helping them level up their skills and knowledge.

Job Responsibilities and Duties: You’ll be responsible for designing and implementing training sessions tailored to the company’s needs. This involves collaborating with management to identify areas for improvement, delivering engaging training sessions, and evaluating the effectiveness of the programs.

But hey, it’s not all about standing in front of a room full of people and dropping knowledge bombs. You’ll also be evaluating training effectiveness, gathering feedback, and tweaking your programs to ensure maximum impact. Oh, and let’s not forget the paperwork – tracking attendance, compiling training materials, and all that jazz.

How to Do It: To excel in this role, leverage your background in education or training. Hone your communication and organizational skills to effectively convey information and manage training schedules. Building strong relationships with both employees and management is key to understanding the company’s needs and delivering impactful training sessions.

Pay Grade: Corporate trainers typically earn an average salary of $61,736 per year, with opportunities for bonuses based on performance and the company’s training budget.

9. Researcher

Okay so As a researcher, your primary role is to gather, analyze, and present information on various topics to support the goals of your employer. You delve deep into specific subjects, seeking insights and data to inform decision-making processes.

Job Responsibilities and Duties: Your responsibilities include conducting thorough research using various sources, such as databases, archives, and interviews. You analyze the gathered information, synthesize it into cohesive reports or presentations, and communicate your findings effectively to stakeholders. Additionally, you may need to stay updated on industry trends and developments relevant to your research area.

How to Do It: Start by honing your research skills and familiarizing yourself with different research methodologies. Utilize online resources, libraries, and academic journals to gather relevant information. Develop critical thinking and analytical skills to assess the validity and significance of the data you collect. Effective communication is essential, so practice presenting your findings clearly and concisely.

Pay Grade: Researchers typically earn an average salary of $81,237 per year, with potential variations based on factors such as experience, industry, and employer. Additionally, opportunities for advancement and higher pay may arise as you gain expertise and specialization in specific research areas.

10. Adjunct professor

Being an adjunct professor means teaching part-time at a university or college. It’s a flexible role that allows you to share your knowledge and passion for a subject without the full-time commitment of a regular faculty position.

Job Responsibilities and Duties: Your main responsibility is to teach a specific course or courses each semester. This involves creating lesson plans, delivering lectures, facilitating discussions, grading assignments, and providing feedback to students. Adjunct professors often bring real-world experience to the classroom, enriching students’ learning with practical insights.

How to Do It: Start by identifying your areas of expertise and the subjects you’re passionate about teaching. Reach out to local universities or colleges to inquire about adjunct positions and submit your application, including your resume and a cover letter highlighting your teaching experience and qualifications. Once hired, collaborate with the department to develop course materials and engage students actively in the learning process.

Pay Grade: The average salary for adjunct professors is around $81,622 per year, although this can vary based on factors like institution, location, and subject area. While adjunct positions may not offer the same benefits as full-time roles, they provide an opportunity to supplement your income while enjoying the rewards of teaching.

11. Life / Career coach

So, picture this: You’re like the guiding light in someone’s career journey. That’s what being a life coach or career coach is all about. You help people figure out what they want to do with their lives career-wise and then help them make it happen.

Job Responsibilities and Duties: Alright, so here’s the deal. As a career coach, you’re the go-to person for all things career-related. You chat with folks, figure out what they’re passionate about, what they’re good at, and what makes them tick. Then, you help them set goals, make plans, and navigate through all the twists and turns of their career path.

You’re not just a cheerleader, though (although a bit of cheering is always good). You’re also like a strategist, helping them develop new skills, improve their resume, ace interviews, and even negotiate job offers. Think of yourself as their career GPS, guiding them through every step of the way.

How to Do It: First things first, you gotta be a good listener. Like, really good. You need to tune in to what your clients are saying, understand their dreams and fears, and then help them make sense of it all.

Then, it’s all about asking the right questions. You gotta dig deep, uncover their strengths and weaknesses, and help them see things from a different perspective. After that, it’s all about setting SMART goals (that’s Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, in case you were wondering) and coming up with a game plan to reach them.

And let’s not forget about the coaching itself. You’ll be meeting with your clients regularly, offering guidance, support, and maybe even a gentle nudge in the right direction when they need it most.

Pay Grade: Now, let’s talk about the moolah. As a career coach, your pay can vary depending on factors like your experience, qualifications, and location. But on average, you’re looking at around $50,000 to $60,000 per year. Not too shabby for helping people chase their dreams, right?

So, there you have it! Being a career coach is all about helping others find their passion, achieve their goals, and live their best professional lives. If you’ve got a knack for inspiring others and a passion for career development, this might just be the perfect gig for you.

12. Educational consultant

Alright, listen up! Being an educational consultant is like being a wizard in the world of education. You’re the person schools and teachers turn to when they need help with stuff like curriculum development, teacher training, or student assessment. It’s all about using your expertise to make the education system better for everyone involved.

Job Responsibilities and Duties: So, what exactly does an educational consultant do? Well, let me break it down for you. First off, you’re like a problem-solver extraordinaire. Schools might come to you with issues like low test scores, classroom management problems, or outdated teaching methods, and it’s your job to swoop in and save the day.

But it’s not just about fixing problems. You’re also like a coach, helping teachers improve their skills, develop new strategies, and become the best educators they can be. You might lead workshops, give presentations, or even do one-on-one coaching sessions to help teachers up their game.

And let’s not forget about curriculum development. You’re the mastermind behind creating engaging, effective lesson plans that actually get students excited about learning. Whether it’s designing new courses, updating old ones, or incorporating new teaching techniques, you’re always thinking of ways to make education more awesome.

How to Do It: Now, you might be wondering, “How do I become an educational consultant?” Well, it’s not rocket science, but it does require a few key skills. First off, you gotta know your stuff. Like, really know it. You need to be an expert in your field, whether that’s math, science, English, or whatever else floats your boat.

Next up, you gotta be a great communicator. I’m talking clear, concise, and confident. Whether you’re giving a presentation to a room full of teachers or explaining a new teaching technique to a struggling educator, you need to be able to get your point across in a way that’s easy to understand.

And last but not least, you gotta be passionate about education. Like, really passionate. You gotta care about making a difference in students’ lives, improving the education system, and helping teachers succeed. If you’ve got that fire in your belly, then you’ve got what it takes to be an educational consultant.

Pay Grade: Now, let’s talk turkey. How much can you expect to make as an educational consultant? Well, it depends on factors like your experience, qualifications, and location. But on average, you’re looking at anywhere from $60,000 to $80,000 per year. Not too shabby for making the world a better place, right?

So, there you have it! Being an educational consultant is all about using your expertise to improve education for everyone involved. Whether you’re helping teachers develop new skills, designing engaging lesson plans, or solving problems, you’re making a real difference in the world of education.

13. Academic Supervisor

Alright, let’s talk about being an academic supervisor. Think of yourself as the guide, the mentor, the wise sage of the academic world. Your main gig? Helping students navigate the treacherous waters of education and come out on top. It’s like being the Gandalf of academia, minus the pointy hat.

Job Responsibilities and Duties: So, what exactly does an academic supervisor do? Well, buckle up because you’re in for a wild ride. Your main jam is helping students make smart choices about their academic journey. That means helping them pick the right classes, choose the best extracurriculars, and even figure out which colleges are the right fit for them.

But that’s not all. You’re also like the guardian of academic integrity, making sure students stay on the straight and narrow and don’t veer off into the land of cheating and plagiarism. You’ll be the one doling out advice, offering support, and maybe even laying down the law when necessary.

And let’s not forget about being the master of schedules. You’ll be the one juggling classes, meetings, and appointments like a pro, making sure everything runs like a well-oiled machine. It’s all about keeping things organized, efficient, and running smoothly.

How to Do It: Now, you might be wondering, “How do I become an academic supervisor?” Well, it’s not rocket science, but it does require a few key skills. First off, you gotta know your stuff. Like, really know it. You need to be an expert in education, with a deep understanding of everything from curriculum development to student counseling.

Next up, you gotta be a great communicator. I’m talking clear, concise, and compassionate. Whether you’re talking to students, parents, or fellow educators, you need to be able to get your point across in a way that’s easy to understand and empathetic to their needs.

And last but not least, you gotta be passionate about helping students succeed. Like, really passionate. You gotta care about making a difference in their lives, guiding them toward their goals, and empowering them to reach their full potential. If you’ve got that fire in your belly, then you’ve got what it takes to be an academic supervisor.

Pay Grade: Now, let’s talk turkey. How much can you expect to make as an academic supervisor? Well, it depends on factors like your experience, qualifications, and location. But on average, you’re looking at anywhere from $50,000 to $75,000 per year. Not too shabby for being the guiding light in students’ academic journeys, right?

Jobs You Can Do For Fun

• Flipping Things
• Blogger
• Airbnb Host
• Textbook Author/Editor
• Librarian
• Pet Sitter
• Museum Guide
• YouTuber
• Make and Sell Crafts
• Gardening/Landscaping
• Teaching Art or Music

Tips For Finding Jobs As A Retired Teacher

So, you’re a retired teacher, huh? Congratulations on making it to the land of eternal weekends and no more Monday blues! But hey, just because you’ve hung up your grading pen doesn’t mean you have to bid farewell to the world of work altogether. In fact, there are plenty of fantastic job opportunities out there that could be perfect for someone with your skills and experience. Here are some tips to help you navigate the world of post-retirement employment:

1. Play to Your Strengths: As a retired teacher, you’ve got a whole toolbox of skills at your disposal – from lesson planning to classroom management to mentoring students. So why not leverage those skills in a new role? Whether it’s tutoring struggling students, mentoring new teachers, or even leading professional development workshops, there are plenty of opportunities to put your expertise to good use.

2. Think Outside the Classroom: While teaching is what you know best, don’t be afraid to explore opportunities beyond the traditional classroom setting. Consider roles like educational consultant, corporate trainer, or even virtual assistant. These positions may not involve teaching in the traditional sense, but they still allow you to make a positive impact and share your knowledge with others.

3. Embrace Flexibility: One of the perks of retirement is having the freedom to set your own schedule. So when exploring job opportunities, look for roles that offer flexibility in terms of hours and workload. Whether it’s tutoring on weekends, teaching online courses from the comfort of your own home, or working as a substitute teacher on an as-needed basis, there are plenty of ways to stay active in the workforce without sacrificing your newfound freedom.

4. Stay Open-Minded: Finally, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try something new. Retirement is the perfect time to explore your passions and pursue interests you may not have had time for during your teaching career. So whether it’s writing, sales, or even flipping things on the side, embrace new opportunities and see where they take you. After all, you never know what exciting adventures retirement may have in store!

So there you have it – a few tips to help you navigate the world of post-retirement employment. Remember, retirement is just the beginning of a whole new chapter in your life, and the possibilities are endless! So go ahead, dust off that resume, and get ready to embark on your next great adventure. The world is waiting – are you ready to seize it?

FAQ on Best jobs For Retired Teacher

Conclusion on High Paying Jobs For Retired Teacher

And there you have it, dear retirees, a veritable smorgasbord of post-teaching possibilities that would make even the most seasoned educator weak in the knees (though that could also be the result of standing for hours on end). So, as you bid adieu to the classroom and set sail for new horizons, remember this: retirement isn’t the end of the lesson—it’s just the beginning of a new chapter.

So, whether you’re crafting prose as a master wordsmith or navigating the legal labyrinth as a paralegal powerhouse, know that the world is your oyster (and you’ve got the pearls of wisdom to prove it). Here’s to embracing the journey, seizing the day, and never underestimating the power of a retired teacher with a twinkle in their eye and a lesson plan in hand. Cheers to you, my fellow retirees—may your days be filled with laughter, learning, and plenty of well-deserved relaxation!