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6 Part-Time Jobs for Retirees That Pay at Least $70 an Hour

These jobs pay well based on experience, not because the work is new.

By Chris Lewis, CEPF , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Nov. 9, 2026

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There is a kind of retirement work that pays on a completely different scale, and it has nothing to do with learning a new skill. The money follows the license, the degree, or the judgment that took a career to build.

That is why these roles cluster in licensed professions and advisory work rather than anything you could pick up over a weekend. If you already hold the credential, it does not expire the moment you stop working full-time, and it can help you make extra money in retirement on your own terms.

None of these positions require starting over. They mostly require offering what you already have in smaller doses. Here are six part-time jobs for retirees that pay $70 or more an hour.

Editor's note: All salary data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), May 2025.

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Nurse anesthetist

Median hourly wage: $113.75 an hour

Nurse anesthetists administer anesthesia and provide care before, during, and after surgical, therapeutic, diagnostic, and obstetrical procedures, monitoring vital signs and adjusting the anesthesia as the case goes on.

This position requires a master's degree, plus a registered nursing license, at least a year of critical care experience, an accredited nurse anesthetist program, a national certification exam, and a state APRN license. Hospitals and surgical centers fill coverage gaps with locum tenens and PRN scheduling, so an experienced CRNA can work a handful of cases a month instead of a full week.

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Physician

Median hourly wage: $130.33 an hour

Physicians diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses, take medical histories, examine patients, order and interpret tests, and recommend treatment plans.

Entry-level education for this job is a doctoral or professional degree, followed by three to nine years of residency and a state license that requires passing national exams. Semi-retired physicians typically arrange part-time work through locum tenens assignments, urgent care shifts, or telemedicine blocks they can book week by week.

Dentist

Median hourly wage: $84.67 an hour

Dentists diagnose and treat problems with teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth, including removing decay, filling cavities, and repairing damaged teeth.

The job calls for a doctoral or professional degree, a DDS or DMD from an accredited program, and passing written and clinical exams for a state license. Part-time work usually shows up as per diem or locum dentistry, covering a practice for a few days while an owner is out rather than joining as a full-time associate.

Financial manager

Median hourly wage: $80.08 an hour

Financial managers prepare financial reports and forecasts, direct investment activity, monitor compliance, supervise budgeting staff, and set long-term financial strategy.

A bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this position, paired with five years or more in a related business or financial role such as accountant or financial analyst. Smaller companies often buy this experience by the month, which is how fractional and interim CFO arrangements get built.

Lawyer

Median hourly wage: $76.76 an hour

Lawyers advise and represent clients in proceedings and transactions, research legal issues, interpret laws and regulations, and draft documents such as contracts and wills.

The entry-level education for this job is a doctoral or professional degree, specifically a J.D. from an accredited law school, plus a state license earned by passing the bar exam. Veteran attorneys often work as counsel with a firm, take contract matters by the project, or sign on for expert witness and litigation support tied to a single case.

Human resources manager

Median hourly wage: $71.77 an hour

Human resources managers direct recruiting, interviewing, and hiring, and they connect leadership with employees on benefits, workforce planning, and workplace disputes.

This position requires a bachelor's degree, usually backed by five years or more in roles such as human resources specialist or labor relations specialist, with voluntary certification helping. Fractional HR leadership is the common part-time version, where a growing company buys a set number of hours a week instead of a full-time executive.

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Bottom line

What ties these roles together is simple: the rate is attached to the credential and the judgment behind it, not to how many hours you are willing to stand around.

They also tend to be flexible by design, arranged around per diem shifts, retainers, and case-by-case assignments. That flexibility makes them a practical way to stretch your retirement dollars further without signing up for another full-time schedule.

If you spent a career getting licensed or certified, that is the asset. The only real question is how or if you want to sell it now.

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