13 Careers You Can Transition Into After 50

The career you decide to take on when you’re 25 doesn’t have to be the career you’re still in when you’re 50.

There may be plenty of reasons to transition to a new career after 50, such as saving money for retirement, changing your work schedule, or just trying something different.

It’s not too late to transition your talents to a new job, so consider these possible career changes if you’re over 50 years old.

Truck drivers can transport products on the roads, so you may need to qualify for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to take on a truck driver position.

Drivers can travel, which can be a bonus as you age. Depending on the type of driving you want, you might be able to set your own hours.

You can add a trade to your professional portfolio, such as a plumber, and learn additional skills through an apprenticeship or by applying to a trade school.

It may be a good position if you’re already in a trade or work in a blue-collar position and want to change careers.

You can use your writing and communication skills to transition into a job as a writer.

Writers can work either in an office or you can become a freelance writer, setting your schedule and finding your own clients. Your previous work in a different field can also be a good start to writing as an expert on specific topics.

You can switch to a different career to use the skills you have learned for something good.

Consider taking your experience to a non-profit organization and becoming a fundraising manager to work on raising money and interest in a particular cause or a favorite charity.

Use your previous computer skills to make money working as a web developer designing and building websites.

Web developers can work for a company or independently, and freelance assignments allow them some flexibility in their schedules.

Real estate agents help buyers and sellers with both residential and commercial property.

You’ll have to get a license to be a real estate agent, and income can vary based on your sales record. However, it could also be a good option if you plan to change direction with a new career.

Your previous experience in the healthcare field could be useful if you decide to transition to a managerial role.

A health services manager plans and coordinates the business side of healthcare, such as managing facilities or overseeing records and vital clerical tasks.

You can use your knowledge and previous experience to transition from working for a particular company in a particular position to being a consultant.

A consultant can be hired to analyze and give recommendations to organizations about improving their work, or you can help with a specific project. It can also be a good position if you want to travel more for work.

A sales representative can work with companies to sell products to potential customers wholesale.

To make your transition to a new career easier, it can help if you can become a sales representative for a product in an industry you’re already familiar with.

Turning a hobby into a career could be a great transition if you want to take on something you are passionate about.

You can turn your love for baking goods, for example, into a career by working for a bake shop or opening your own bakery and baking delicious treats for customers.

Your organizational skills from your previous career can work to your advantage by becoming a virtual assistant.

Some benefits of being a virtual assistant are that you can work from home, set your own hours, and choose which clients you want to work with.

Share your knowledge of your particular field with others who may be starting out and want to learn more about it.

Depending on your field and interest in teaching, you can teach students various subjects at different education levels, including trade schools and colleges.

Your previous work in the construction industry or a particular trade can be useful as a building inspector.

Building inspectors review buildings to ensure they’re built to code. You can be a general inspector or specialize in a particular type of inspection for electrical, plumbing, and other systems.

Changing careers when you're older might be enticing — and daunting — but there are ways you can make it work.

Before you change careers, it’s a good idea to sit down with your estimated budget and decide if you can afford additional classes to make a smooth transition or how much more you’ll be able to earn if you change careers.

You’ll also want to consider what to do with the extra cash you might earn and plan to save it for retirement accounts, pay down debt, or reach other financial goals.