Side gigs for retirees

Work after you retire has one job: fit around the life you already have. These gigs let you pick your hours or work a short shift. Each page says what the work pays, what you need before you start, and what is bad about it. Money questions about Social Security belong with the Social Security Administration, not with us, so we point you there instead of guessing.

9 gigs.

• Get a Stipend With AmeriCorps Seniors

  $4 an hour

  $4.00 an hour is the rate AmeriCorps uses to build its grant budgets, not a promise to any one volunteer.

  You spend a few hours a week helping an older adult or a child one to one. If your income is low enough, you get a small tax-free stipend. It is budgeted at $4 an hour and does not count against other benefits.

  • Car helps
  • No phone needed
  • No computer needed
  • Some standing

  First money in about 4-10 weeks.

• Take Paid Studies on Prolific

  $8-12 an hour

  $8 an hour is the floor Prolific makes researchers meet.

  Researchers pay you to answer questions and do short tasks online. Prolific makes them pay at least $8 an hour. You need a computer, an ID and patience, because there is a waitlist to join.

  • No car needed
  • No phone needed
  • Computer needed
  • Can sit

  First money in about Unknown. There is a waitlist to join..

• Teach Classes on Outschool

  $12.60-14.70 per learner, per hour

  This is your share of ONE learner for one hour, using Outschool's own recommended price of $18-21 and the 70% split.

  You teach live video classes to children on your own subject. You set the price. Outschool keeps 30% and you keep 70%. No teaching degree is needed, but a background check is.

  • No car needed
  • No phone needed
  • Computer needed
  • Can sit

  First money in about 3-5 weeks.

• Sell Your Stuff on Mercari

  $0.90-1,800 a sale

  This is what you keep from one sale after the published 10% fee, at Mercari's own $1 and $2,000 price limits.

  You list things you own and post them when they sell. Mercari keeps 10% of the sale. Listing is free. You are not paid until the buyer rates you, which can take days after delivery.

  • No car needed
  • Phone needed
  • Computer helps
  • Can sit

  First money in about 1-2 weeks after your first sale.

• Teach English Online With Cambly

  $10.20-12 an hour

  $0.17 a minute works out to $10.20 an hour, and Cambly Kids pays $0.20 a minute, or $12.

  You talk to English learners by video. Cambly pays $0.17 a minute, but only for minutes you are actually in a call. No degree or teaching certificate is needed. Three US states are barred.

  • No car needed
  • No phone needed
  • Computer needed
  • Can sit

  First money in about 2-4 weeks.

• Type Audio for GoTranscript

  $0.20-2.38 an audio minute

  Per minute of audio, not per minute of your time.

  You type what you hear in recordings. GoTranscript's headline says up to $1.75 a minute. Its own rate table says English pays $0.65. You are paid per minute of audio, not per minute of your time.

  • No car needed
  • No phone needed
  • Computer needed
  • Can sit

  First money in about 1-2 weeks.

• Type Audio for Rev

  $0.40-1.10 an audio minute

  Paid for each minute of audio, not each minute you work.

  Rev pays you to type what you hear in a recording. You pick the files you want. Pay is $0.40-1.10 for each minute of audio, not each minute of your time. You need a computer and good headphones.

  • No car needed
  • No phone needed
  • Computer needed
  • Can sit

  First money in about 1-2 weeks.

• Work the Polls on Election Day

  $75-300 a day

  For one election day.

  You help run a polling place for one long day. Pay is set by your state or county, not by any national rule. In the places we checked it ran from $75 to $300 for the day.

  • Car helps
  • No phone needed
  • No computer needed
  • Some standing

  First money in about 4-6 weeks after the election.

• Work a Community Service Job With SCSEP

  $7.25-20 an hour

  The highest of three things: the federal minimum wage, your state or local minimum wage, or what the same employer pays others for similar public work.

  SCSEP is a federal program for people 55 and over with a low income. You work about 20 hours a week at a school, senior center or other local place. You get paid at least the minimum wage where you live.

  • Car helps
  • No phone needed
  • No computer needed
  • Some standing

  First money in about 4-12 weeks.

All gigs and filters or how we check things.