Tips & Tricks

Beginner

4 min read 4 stepsMay 9, 2026Verified May 2026

Encore Careers Explained: What Changes When You Start Something New at 60+

Encore careers turn retirement into a fresh chapter. Here is what older Americans need to know about working, earning, and finding purpose after 60.

At a Glance

Decide what you want the next chapter to look like

~23s

Sit down with a sheet of paper and write three columns: what you loved about your old work, what drained you, and what you have always wanted to try. A 60-year-old former accountant might love structure and dislike high-pressure deadlines. That points to part-time bookkeeping for nonprofits, not a fast-paced corporate role. Be honest with yourself before you start applying or building anything.

Figure out how much income you actually need

~32s

Pull your Social Security statement from ssa.gov and any pension or annuity statements. Add them up. Subtract from your monthly expenses to find the gap. If your benefits cover $3,400 a month and your expenses are $4,200, you need $800 a month from work — about $10,000 a year before taxes. That number reshapes the kind of work that makes sense. You may not need a full job.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: Many encore workers aim for income that covers travel, grandchildren gifts, and a small cushion, not full living expenses. Set the bar where it fits your life.

Pick one of the four common encore paths

~24s

The four most common encore paths are: 1) Part-time job in a new field (retail, tutoring, museum docent, hospital greeter), 2) Consulting in your old field (former engineer, teacher, or manager paid by the hour), 3) Small business or freelancing (Etsy, dog walking, handyman, bookkeeper), and 4) Volunteer with a stipend (AmeriCorps Seniors, Foster Grandparent Program). Pick one to focus on for the first six months instead of trying all four.

Use senior-friendly resources to find work or mentors

~30s

AARP Job Board (aarp.org/work/job-search) lists employers that have signed an age-friendly pledge. CoGenerate.org runs Encore Fellowships, paid 6 to 12 month assignments at nonprofits. SCORE (score.org) offers free one-on-one mentors who themselves are usually retired executives. Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) places low-income older workers in paid training positions through the Department of Labor.

Warning

Watch out for work-from-home job listings that ask for a fee upfront, want your bank details before hiring, or promise unusually high pay for envelope stuffing. These are scams that target older job seekers.

You Did It!

You've finished reading: Encore Careers Explained: What Changes When You Start Something New at 60+

How well did this guide stick with you?

Need more help? Book a TekSure tech

An encore career is paid or volunteer work taken on in the second half of life, after a primary career has ended. The term was coined by the nonprofit CoGenerate (formerly Encore.org) and has caught on with millions of older Americans who are not ready to stop contributing. Encore careers often blend income, purpose, and flexibility in a way that a first career rarely could.

The shape of an encore career looks different from a traditional job. Hours are often part-time. Pay may be lower, especially in the first year. Many encore workers move into mission-driven fields like education, healthcare support, nonprofits, coaching, or environmental work. Others lean on decades of professional experience and become consultants, mentors, or part-time advisors in the same industry they left.

Three things change when you start something new at 60 or older. First, time horizon: you are planning for the next 5 to 15 years, not 30. Second, identity: the job title matters less than the meaning. Third, finances: Social Security, Medicare, and retirement accounts all interact with new earned income, and getting that interaction right keeps more money in your pocket.

The encore movement is large and growing. CoGenerate estimates more than 9 million Americans aged 50 to 70 are already in encore careers, and another 31 million are interested. Resources range from AARP Job Board to Encore Fellowships, and SCORE (a federal program of free mentors for older entrepreneurs) is one phone call away.

This batch of guides covers the practical mechanics: freelancing, starting a business, Social Security earnings limits, selling crafts online, and healthcare during the gap years before Medicare kicks in.

(Sources: CoGenerate.org — Encore Career Research; AARP — Working After Retirement)

Rate this guide

How helpful was this guide?

encore-career

seniors

retirement

second-career

purpose

Official Resources

How-To Geek AARP Technology Tips Tom's Guide — Tips

Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

← Previous

Updating Your Own Estate Plan as a New Widow or Widower

Freelancing for the First Time at 60+: Upwork, Fiverr, and Finding Real Work

Still stuck? Let a pro handle it.

A real person can walk you through this over the phone, anywhere in the US. If we can't fix it, you don't pay.

Book a Verified Tech How It Works

Learn more from official sources

Related Guides

iPhone: Battery Saving Tips

Make your iPhone battery last longer with these proven tips and settings.

1 min read

iPhone: Safari Browser Tips

Get more out of Safari on iPhone with these hidden features and shortcuts.

1 min read

iPhone: iMessage and Texting Tips

Hidden iMessage features that make texting more fun and productive.

1 min read