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15 Best Jobs For Women Over 50

By Kristin Kizer
Sep. 7, 2022

Fifty is the new thirty, so if you’re looking for a job for the first time or thinking about diving into a new profession, now is the perfect time to do it. At fifty, you’ve still got another fifteen or more years of work ahead of you.

Let’s face it; this isn’t the end of your professional life. You’re solidly in the middle, and that’s a good reason to get out and do what you want to do. If you’re at a loss for what that is, that’s okay. We’ve got some ideas that will help you get started. These are the best jobs for women over fifty:

Key Takeaways:

  • The top three jobs for women over 50 are real estate agent, nurse, and customer service representative.

  • It’s important to use your experience and knowledge as an advantage but also explain why you aren’t overqualified for the position.

  • This is a great time to follow your passion and do something you have always wanted to do.

15 Best Jobs For Women Over 50

The Best 15 Jobs for Women Over 50

  1. Real Estate Agent

    Average Yearly Salary: $99,000

    If you’ve always loved seeing inside people’s homes, this is your chance to get inside almost all of them and check out how they were living. By this age, you’ve probably learned a lot in the realm of people skills along the way and, if it’s your thing, you’re good at communicating with everyone.

    You’re also intuitive and know what people are looking for and what fits them. Having life experience certainly helps when buying a house, and it’s very useful for people selling homes, too.

    Requirements needed: Usually real estate agents don’t need a college degree. To succeed in real estate agent careers it is a good idea to earn popular professional certifications among real estate agents like, Certified Real Estate Inspector (CRI), Certified Sales Professional (CSP), or Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

    Find Real Estate Agent jobs near me

  2. Nurse

    Average Yearly Salary: $59,000

    The nursing profession is desperate for workers. It’s exploding, and there simply aren’t enough people working in this industry.

    Nursing is an interesting profession because there are a lot of different levels of nursing, different specialties, and tasks that a nurse can do, and there are a variety of places where a nurse can work. You can pick and choose what career you want and then tailor your education and training to that specific job.

    Requirements needed: The education needed to be a nurse is normally a bachelor’s degree. Nurses usually study nursing, nursing science or business. Once you earn your degree, all registered nurses must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

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  3. Freelance Writer

    Average Yearly Salary: $52,000

    If you’ve always had a knack for writing and are spot-on when it comes to grammar, then being a freelance writer might be exactly the right job for you.

    The best writers are people with tons of life experience who can write about something from experience, with the ability to see all sides of a situation.

    This is where older women tend to excel. They’ve spent their lives navigating different personality types by seeing things from all perspectives.

    The freelance part is nice at this age because you get to set your own hours and establish a work environment customized to your life.

    Requirements needed: The education needed to be a freelance writer and photographer is normally a bachelor’s degree. Freelance writer and photographers usually study journalism, communication or English.

    Find Freelance Writer jobs near me

  4. Driver

    Average Yearly Salary: $29,000

    If you have lived in the same city for a significant period, there’s a good chance you know all the shortcuts and where everything is.

    Being a driver, especially working for a rideshare company, can be a great way to make money and set your own work schedule. No one will care what age you are; they just want to get where they’re going safely and probably quickly.

    Your ability to confidently and comfortably chat will be appreciated, and you can give them great tips on the city if they’re visiting. If you’re a parent, you’ve been driving people here and there forever; you might as well get paid for it.

    Requirements needed: There is no formal education needed to be a drive, however to succeed in driver careers it is a good idea to earn popular professional certifications among drivers like, Commercial Driver License (CDL) (CDL), OSHA Safety Certificate , or EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA).

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  5. Sales Representative

    Average Yearly Salary: $56,000

    Understanding people is what sales are all about. If you’ve developed these skills and can tell what someone is looking for or would benefit from, you might be great at a sales job.

    There are a variety of sales jobs out there, from working in a retail store to being a pharmaceutical sales representative and everything in-between. If you’re good at making connections with people, then you’ll thrive in this field and earn repeat customers who trust and rely on you.

    There’s something about an older, confident woman that is trustworthy, and that’s a personality trait that can serve you very well when selling.

    requirements needed: The education needed to be a sales representative is normally a bachelor’s degree. Sales representatives usually study business, marketing or communication.

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  6. Daycare Provider/Owner

    Average Yearly Salary: $24,000

    If you miss having little ones around, why not turn that into your business. Being a daycare provider or starting a daycare can be a very rewarding profession, and it lets you experience little ones daily.

    If you love children and spending time with them is when you’re happiest, this is the career choice for you. Each region has different certifications and requirements, but there’s not a lot of additional education that’s needed.

    Check with your city to see what you need to be in compliance with local ordinances and start your business of taking care of kiddos.

    Requirements needed: There are several education requirements to become a day care provider. Day care providers usually study business, early childhood education or psychology. The necessary certifications that day care providers must have to succeed are Child Development Associate (CDA) and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.

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  7. Medical Records Clerk

    Average Yearly Salary: $30,000

    The field of medical records is no longer a room full of charts and paperwork, it’s mostly online, and it’s exploding.

    Your duties will include collecting data and filing it in digital patient records, filling records requests for other doctors and sometimes for legal entities, maintaining confidentiality, and reviewing records for compliance.

    There may be some other duties, as it depends on the size of the facility and how many other people work with you.

    Requirements needed: There are several education requirements to become a medical records clerk. Medical records clerks usually study health care administration, business or medical assisting services. The necessary certifications that medical records clerks must have to succeed are Medical Assistant and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA).

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  8. Customer Service Representative

    Average Yearly Salary: $29,000

    Customer service sometimes gets a bad rap, mainly because you deal with unhappy people. This might be something you’re actually very good at but don’t realize it.

    If you’ve been wrangling a family for years, you’ve settled your share of disputes. If you don’t have a family, you have probably still learned enough through your life to understand how to deal with unhappy and sometimes unreasonable people.

    This field is also more flexible than it used to be, with huge opportunities. Customer service doesn’t just happen in the back of a store anymore, there are a lot of eCommerce companies out there, and they need virtual customer service agents. That means you can work from home, fielding phone calls and live chats.

    Requirements needed: Usually, customer service representatives don’t need a college education. The most common degree for customer service representatives is high school diploma. To succeed in customer service representative careers it is a good idea to earn popular professional certifications among customer service representatives like, Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM), or International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA).

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  9. Life Coach

    Average Yearly Salary: $38,000

    This is something you’ve probably been doing for ages and just thought of it as being a good friend or parenting.

    If you’re someone that others trust for advice and sometimes they just want you to listen, you’ll be an excellent life coach, and age will work to your advantage.

    Why is it better to be older and a life coach? Because you’ve had more life experience and know what you’re talking about. You wouldn’t want a 20-something telling you how to live your life, but you certainly would trust someone who’s been out there and lived a full life that’s bursting with practical experience.

    Requirements needed: Life coaches usually study psychology, business or social work. The necessary certifications that life coaches must have to succeed are Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and Master Certified Coach (MCC).

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  10. Consultant

    Average Yearly Salary: $74,000

    Speaking of telling people what to do, if you’ve spent the first part of your professional life in a particular field, you’ve probably become pretty knowledgeable in that area. This knowledge can be extremely valuable and make you a sought-after consultant in your field.

    If you’ve got that entrepreneurial spirit, you can start your own consulting business and sell your services to others in the field. It’s likely that you already have a lot of connections who know and respect your professionalism.

    If you’re not an entrepreneur, there are still consulting gigs out there, and you don’t have to go it alone. Hook up with a company and tell them why you’re aces in your business.

    Requirements needed: The education needed to be a consultant is normally a bachelor’s degree. Consultants usually study business, computer science or accounting. The necessary certifications that consultants must have to succeed are Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Program Management Professional (PgMP).

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  11. Technical Education Teacher

    Average Yearly Salary: $49,000

    Another great transition for professionals who want out of their current job but have a lot of experience in teaching. Not teaching traditional school classes, but teaching at a technical college or a trade school could be your niche.

    This gives you a chance to share your skills in the industry with people who want to be in that industry. It might be exactly what you wish you had when getting into the field. That inside knowledge and practical information are incredibly valuable, and tech schools love to have experienced staff.

    Each school will have different requirements for its teachers, but in most situations, you won’t have to go back to college yourself and earn a teaching degree.

    Requirements needed: Technical education teachers usually study educational technology, education or general education, specific areas. The necessary certifications that technical education teachers must have to succeed are Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:) and Certified Manager Certification (CM).

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  12. Photographer

    Average Yearly Salary: $49,000

    If you’ve always had a good eye and people constantly tell you what great pictures you take, why not turn that into a business?

    You can be a freelance photographer and set up a studio or business or work for a company that does photography. There are a lot of online photo repositories these days where you can post your images, and then people pay you if they use them.

    Today’s world is very visual, so there are opportunities just about anywhere for someone skilled with a camera. Find your niche and start snapping those pics.

    Requirements needed: Photographers usually study photography, graphic design or business. The necessary certifications that photographers must have to succeed are Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) and Computer Service Technician (CST).

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  13. Party Planner

    Average Yearly Salary: $34,000

    How many parties or events have you organized in your life? If you’re the sort of woman who loves pulling together a party that makes everyone happy, then turning those skills into a profession should be an easy choice for you.

    This is a demanding job, and it takes a lot of skill, a ton of foresight, and the ability to deal with difficult personalities. It also is very rewarding when you see the party and people enjoying themselves, delighted at those little touches that make your parties so special.

    Requirements needed: There is no formal education required, but most party planners usually study business, communication or general studies.

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  14. Wedding Planner

    Average Yearly Salary: $38,000

    The business of weddings is huge, and a woman who’s been around the block a few times can take advantage of her connections, knowledge, and common sense and turn this industry into a great career.

    Many women over 50 have learned how to consider everything from all angles and juggle many different things all at once, and that’s exactly what wedding planners have to do.

    Add to that, your age gives you an air of wisdom and can be very comforting to a young bride. You might just be the shoulder they cry on when things fall apart, but that’s okay because you can put them back together.

    Requirements needed: The education needed to be a wedding planner is normally a bachelor’s degree. Wedding planners usually study business, communication or hospitality management. The necessary certifications that wedding planners must have to succeed are Certified Wedding and Event Planner (CWP) and Certified Master Wedding Planner.

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  15. Tutor

    Average Yearly Salary: $33,000

    If it’s time for you to get out of the rat race and step back from the busy professional life you led, you might find that working as a tutor is the right next step for you.

    If you have experience in a field and knowledge you can use to educate, you can become a very useful tutor for people. People of all ages need tutoring, from grade school children to adults trying to earn their advanced degrees.

    Your knowledge is just what they need to pass that difficult class, grasp a concept that eludes them, or understand the practical applications of what they’re learning. This is also a field where you can often set your own hours and enjoy some flexibility in your professional life.

    Requirements needed: Tutors usually study psychology, business or English. The necessary certifications that tutors must have to succeed are Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:) and Student Electronics Technician (SET).

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Tips for Women Getting Jobs Over 50

  1. Find the right environment. Not every workplace will be welcoming to older workers. Make sure you do your research on a company before applying. It’s important to look at companies’ track records on diversity and the range of ages of their workers. Reach out to current or former employees and see what the company culture is like.

  2. Use your experience and knowledge as an advantage. If you are worried about having all of your qualifications meet the job description, use what you already have experience in as an advantage. During the interview make sure you highlight your experience in the field and that it’s up to date with current events.

    Many companies want to use your experience and knowledge to help train and grow their younger workers.

  3. Update your skills. Don’t let anything in the job description deter you from applying just because you don’t know how to use the software they listed or you may be rusty on it. This is a great opportunity to update your skills and take any classes or watch YouTube tutorials to master something.

  4. Follow your passion. If there has been a career path that you have always wanted to follow, now is the time to do it. Try taking a few classes on some of your interests and see if you can make a career out of it. Don’t hold back on something you want to do just because of your age.

  5. Consider your schedule. You have to take into consideration how a job will fit around your schedule. Are you still raising children, or helping raise grandchildren? You also want to think about if you want a full time or a part time job and what kind of hours you are looking for. Once you know what you want, it will help you answer questions about flexibility in the interview.

  6. Don’t mention your age or your interviewers age. It’s best to avoid bringing up age unless your interviewer mentions it. By mentioning age, you could make the interviewer and your potential manager uncomfortable someone who is more experienced then they are. If they happen to be around your children’s age, you don’t want it make it seem like you see them as a child and won’t respect them.

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Author

Kristin Kizer

Kristin Kizer is an award-winning writer, television and documentary producer, and content specialist who has worked on a wide variety of written, broadcast, and electronic publications. A former writer/producer for The Discovery Channel, she is now a freelance writer and delighted to be sharing her talents and time with the wonderful Zippia audience.

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