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12 Seasonal Jobs That Can Pay $15K+ in Just a Few Months (Perfect for Semi-Retirement)

Seasonal work can be a great opportunity to earn more and keep active.

By Laura Gesualdi-Gilmore , Edited by Amanda Machado

Updated April 18, 2026

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If you're retired, or planning to be soon, but looking for ways to earn a modest extra income, a seasonal job may be the key. Whether you're hoping to build up your vacation fund, build up your retirement fund, or remodel the house, a contract or seasonal gig could provide an influx of cash in just a few months.

These 12 jobs are solid options for semi-retirees looking to make up to $15,000 in just a few months.

Editor's note: All salary data is sourced from the BLS, unless otherwise stated.

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Event coordinator

Median hourly pay: $28.58

Event planners help coordinate everything from corporate conferences to weddings to festivals. The work can be seasonal, planning summer weddings and festivals, for example, and require extra hours during those busy seasons.

With average pay at $28.58 an hour, event coordinators can make over $15k working 40-hour weeks for less than four months out of the year.

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National Park worker

Median hourly pay: $21

The National Park Service offers employment opportunities at more than 400 parks and offices around the country, and hires seasonal rangers, maintenance workers, drivers, and more during busy seasons.

With the average wage at $21 an hour for forest and conservation workers, you would need to work about 18 weeks out of the year to earn $15k. Of course, some specialty positions pay significantly more.

Photographer

Median hourly pay: $20.44

Retirees with an eye for photography can make a few thousand dollars every year by picking up some lucrative contract work. Many photographers are self-employed and work part-time or seasonally.

Wedding photographers, for example, might choose to work during just the fall and summer, the prime wedding season. According to data from The Knot, couples spend an average of $2,900 on wedding photography, which means you'd only need to book five to six gigs to earn $15k for the year.

Tax preparer and accountant

Median hourly pay: $39.27

If you worked as an accountant before retirement, particularly if you have a license as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), you may be able to pick up seasonal work around tax season or quarterly audits.

With accountants earning an average of just under $40 an hour, you'd technically only need to work 10 40-hour weeks out of the year to earn more than $15k.

Delivery driver

Median hourly pay: $20.56

Delivery driver gigs are often available to anyone with an active license and a clean driving record with very little on-the-job training.

Thanks to the popularity of online shopping, work for drivers spikes around the holiday season. With an average hourly rate of $20.56, you would need to work around 18 40-hour weeks a year to crack $15k, but it's possible to earn significantly more during peak seasons.

Pet sitter

Median hourly pay: $25.75 (Indeed)

Becoming a pet sitter can be lucrative once you build a reputation, especially around the holidays when many owners travel. Of course, building that reputation does take time and effort.

You could gather $15k in about 3 to 4 months, and, if you can offer additional services to traveling clients, like boarding their dogs or cats in your home, you could earn significantly more.

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Hotel front desk clerk

Median hourly pay: $20.60 (Indeed)

Hotels often need extra help during busy seasons, but exactly when those busy seasons are depends on where you live. Beachside resorts may do most of their business in the summer, while skiing hotspots need extra staff in the colder months.

The average hourly pay for a hotel clerk is just over $20 nationally, but wages in certain areas, including much of the Northeast, California, Nevada, and Hawaii, are significantly higher.

Tutor

Median hourly pay: $25.54 (Indeed)

Tutoring can be a lucrative part-time gig for retired teachers and others with expertise in subjects like math, English, or test prep.

With the average pay at under $25 an hour, tutors can make an extra $15k by working a few hours a week throughout the year, or by loading up hours during specific parts of the school year.

Landscaper

Median hourly pay: $18.50

Landscaping and other grounds maintenance work can technically be done year-round, but it's common for seasonal work to become available in the warmer months.

Training can often be done on-the-job, and it can be a great gig for those who enjoy time outdoors and working with their hands. To earn $15k at the average hourly rate, you'd need to work about 20 weeks out of the year, a stretch that could take you from mid-May to September.

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Retail associate

Median hourly pay: $16.70

Many retailers bring in extra staff around the holidays to assist an influx of shoppers. Typically, the holiday shopping season stretches from November to January, but it may start earlier for certain stores.

With an average hourly pay of $16.70, seasonal staff would need to put in full-time hours for about 22 weeks to earn an extra $15k, but the holiday season may come with opportunities for overtime (and overtime pays more).

Fitness class instructor

Median hourly pay: $22.20

While you may need a certification in your chosen activity, fitness instructors can earn great money leading classes at recreation centers, health clubs, and studios.

It's ideal for the active retiree and can be part-time and/or seasonal. With average hourly pay just over $22 an hour, instructing just a few classes a week could earn you an extra $15k for the year.

Bookkeeper

Median hourly pay: $23.66

If you have some basic bookkeeping skills or work history helping an employer keep financial records, a part-time or seasonal gig as a bookkeeper could be a solid earner.

Companies sometimes hire contract bookkeepers during their busy seasons or around tax time. With an average hourly pay of $23.66, working full-time hours for just 16 weeks would earn more than $15k.

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Bottom line

While your retirement years should be a time to kick back and relax, many people still look for simple ways to make cash on the side. Having extra income rolling in is always a plus, but many semi-retirees also just like the idea of working on a less frequent, often less stressful basis.

A seasonal job in retirement may even be an opportunity to devote more time to a passion, like photography or animal care.

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