14 Jobs That Often Pay More If You're Over 55

As you consider retirement, you might look for ways to boost your bank account. None of us can perfectly anticipate how much money we'll need in our golden years, but there are a few steps you can take to make sure you stay on top of your financial planning.

One of these steps is evaluating your career path from time to time. You may wonder if your chosen career has room for growth as you get older, or if your age will just be viewed as a liability. But some occupations prove just the opposite.

Here are 13 jobs that will value you for the years of experience you provide. As a result, they often pay more for those over 55.

Median annual salary: $38,390

With more experience typically comes more responsibility. That's why a career in security could greatly benefit someone over 55. If you choose this path, you could find yourself overseeing other security guards and coordinating operations. The median annual salary for these workers is just under $40,000, but top earners in this field can make up to $111,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Median annual salary: $46,180

Individuals with the gift of motivation and knowledge of fitness techniques could use their skills to help others reach fitness goals. With more experience in this realm comes higher pay, as more experienced instructors are often able to charge their clients more due to their expertise.

And, with connections to higher-value clients, you could land yourself a job as a private fitness trainer. Though the median annual salary is just under $47,000, the highest-paid personal trainers make over $100,000 per year.

Median annual salary: $49,210

In this role, you'd be balancing the books for an organization or individual. This type of work involves detail-oriented eyes and a deep level of trust from your client.

Bookkeepers with more years of experience under their belts are more apt to make higher salaries. Though the median salary is on the lower end, bookkeeping managers, for example, can make as much as $73,000 per year. These high-level individuals are typically tasked with managing other employees and overseeing financial projects from start to finish.

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Median annual salary: $61,710

As a type of consultancy, career coaches get to bring direction and value to other professionals as they hone their career paths. And in this field, lived experience is crucial for credibility.

The BLS reports that the median salary for career coaches is $61,710, though the top earners make at least $100,050.

Median annual salary: $62,350

Electricians with decades of experience under their belts can leverage their experience for higher pay or more desirable jobs. Those who choose to be part of unions can also obtain guarantees for their pay increases and job security based on seniority.

Senior electricians can make up to $96,580 per year, according to the BLS.

Median annual salary: $62,970

Plumbers are another profession that receives higher pay based on seniority. In general, those with more experience make more money, which often correlates with age.

With the option to join a union and protect your benefits and pay raises, senior plumbers can make up to $101,190 per year. These professionals lead a team of other plumbers and solve more complex plumbing issues, and manage projects with their extensive expertise.

Median annual salary: $65,140

As an older counselor, you have likely established a client base that could earn you upwards of $89,920 per year, though entry-level roles typically make an average of $65,140.

If you choose to stick with one particular practice (or go out on your own), you could continue to raise your rates and ultimately end up with a higher salary based on your experience and seniority.

Therapists who choose a specialization like trauma or substance abuse could also earn more based on the demand for their focused expertise.

Median annual salary: $72,270

If you have a wealth of experience in a certain field, have you considered writing relevant content? With the right expertise, you could author books, blogs, or training on your topic of choice.

Life experience can also add to the value of your written words, and authors with more recognizable published works are more apt to make more book sales and often command higher advances and royalties due to their established reputations. The median annual pay for an author is $72,270.

Median annual salary: $83,980

If you have a knack for making complex topics more digestible, getting a position as a professor could be a great move. Since tenure-based pay is involved in most universities' pay structures, this career could be highly beneficial for those of higher age. And often, older professors have years of experience under their belt that many view as more valuable.

Additionally, private institutions with more focused master's programs might offer higher salaries for those with substantial experience. Postsecondary teachers are making a yearly median pay of $83,980 according to the BLS, and professors who stick with one school for longer are rewarded with rising salaries.

Median annual salary: $99,580

Since trust is built over time for vetted financial advisors, and often, clients trust those with lived financial experience. As a result, senior members of this group typically benefit from higher-net-worth clients and therefore, higher paychecks.

According to the BLS, personal financial advisors make a median annual salary of $99,580, and the highest earners in the field earn at least $239,200 per year.

Median annual salary: $100,750

Project managers are tasked with overseeing the completion of complex projects from start to finish. This requires that they understand the industry that they're managing within, often involving years of experience in their field. As a result, workers over 55 often possess the extensive judgment and problem-solving skills needed in the field.

The BLS reports that the median salary for project managers is $100,750 per year, but through years of experience, the top earners make at least $163,040.

Median annual salary: $138,060

As a sales executive, you'd be leading other salespeople in their endeavors to bring in sales. Through years of experience, you can provide significant value and mentorship you've built through years of negotiating and landing sales, making your age an asset.

Studies show that trust is given more readily to older salespersons, so you may also have a higher rate of success (and therefore commissions and pay) as a senior salesperson. According to the BLS, sales managers make a median annual salary of $138,060.

Median annual salary: $163,420

If you have specialized skills in a specific area of expertise, consider offering consultancy services. As your knowledge expands in your field, your mentorship and advice become valuable to other individuals and organizations, not to mention the networks you've likely built.

The highest-paying fields for workers with deeper knowledge include marketing, human resources, and technology. Consultants in advertising, for example, were making a mean annual salary of $163,420 in 2024.

Median annual salary: $198,100

For anyone interested in an exciting career, becoming a pilot could greatly enhance your life. Since most airline pilots are paid by seniority, older workers could benefit from sticking with this occupation. In most cases, pay increases after each year you have worked for the airline.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), pilots make a median annual salary of $198,100 per year. But pilots with more relevant experience who work for major airlines are apt to make more money than their newbie counterparts, often exceeding $200,000.

Choosing a career along the lines of these 14 options could lower your financial stress over time. They might also mitigate some of the worry you have surrounding the value you bring to your job as you age.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 1 in 5 workers are 55 or older, and it's never too early to start thinking about saving for retirement. These career paths could help you navigate your later years with ease.