3 Side Hustles Perfect for Older Women

After all, who doesn't want some extra cash?

By

Jane Bokun

 
Published June 11, 2026
Illustration showing one person carrying a shopping basket with produce, another offering snacks on a tray, while a third hands over a delivery box as a dog sits nearby.
Sunny Eckerle

I love a side hustle.

Before the days of part-time jobs like delivering food or providing rides, my enterprising father always had a side hustle, and now I always have one, too.

Watching him made a big difference in the way I viewed my salary. Like many people, I didn’t like the finite numbers on my paycheck. I started experimenting with side gigs as soon as I started in the working world. Now, in retirement, these gigs are my saviors.

In fact, I've tried almost every side hustle that’s legal and within reason. Why? I can’t help myself. I love having an artery pumping in some income at every age. Who doesn’t?

With that in mind, I’ve picked out my three favorite freelance jobs that are fun and pay well. From serving samples at big-box stores to teaching, I’m always game for the extra green.

And I love setting my own schedule. This AARP site is a good starting point for seniors looking for sideline gigs that will enlarge their social lives and bank accounts.

One of my favorites is working for a marketing company that connects me with stores such as Target, Walmart and Costco to do product demonstrations. This allows me to get out there, chat with customers, discover samples that may become personal staples and even mix cocktails — all while making between $20 and $30 an hour. It’s also fun to see the glee in customers’ eyes when they get to try something new, tasty or beautifying, and it’s free!

And I get to meet other older women who have the same motivation as me — we want to meet interesting people outside of our old jobs or communities and earn some extra cash.

“I’m an opera singer by day,” said one older woman who worked with me serving drinks. “It gives me something to do at night, and I love the money, too!”

I have given demonstrations that run the gamut, from showcasing a variety of prunes to a new brand of press-on fingernails. The latter drew a really big crowd, and I bought some for myself! Most of my jobs last several hours, and I am paid up to $30 an hour. Ka-ching! One recent job paid $22 an hour and lasted for five hours with breaks. Ka-ching!

If you’re looking for something more cerebral, substitute teaching can fit the bill.

I would sign up to fill in while teachers are absent. There are many companies that specialize in placing candidates in these positions. Once connected with a school, you are provided with a lesson plan, and while you may have the academic part of this job down, you do need to go back to your child-rearing days to handle challenges with unruly children.

I found getting into a classroom again in my advancing years to be a stable and meaningful job. Full-time substitute teachers can receive long-term school placements, a steady paycheck, full healthcare benefits, paid holidays and more.

Older adults are welcome in substitute teaching. You can do it when you want, and it can pay up to $150 a day. The qualifications for these positions can vary from state to state.

Since I have a journalism degree, I was eligible for a license to substitute teach, which I got in about two weeks. I taught every grade from first grade to high school. The lesson plans were provided by the teachers. My favorites are still the younger students in grades 1 through 3, as they get so excited to learn something new every day.

My third side gig was delivering food from restaurants to homes, and getting this gig was a breeze — once you pass a company’s background check.

I worked for DoorDash, though other opportunities to obtain driver/delivery positions can be found at Uber Eats and Grubhub. Food delivery companies do mandatory background checks on all drivers.

The process went like this: The company app was powered by a GPS system, which gave me a map and directions to customers who had ordered food from anywhere in my area. This included everything from fast-food drive-through places to the fanciest restaurants.

The app designated how far I was going and gave me options on how many minutes it would take. Once I picked up the order, I had to deliver the food within a ten-minute window. If I couldn’t make the delivery within that time frame, I was able to directly call the person who had ordered the food and explain how a traffic jam or a snafu on the restaurant’s end had made me late.

One time, I got an order that was about eight miles away. I picked it up, and it was a cup of coffee! I was happy to deliver it, and it was still steaming hot when I got it to the customer.

Delivering food paid close to $100 per night with about three runs to different places. Paying for gas and upkeep on your car is the worker’s responsibility.

Today’s gig economy is clearly on the rise, especially for seniors who want cash and community after retirement and are living longer than ever. Having side-hustled my way through my 60s, I can say these jobs provide me with bonus cash to pay the bills, plenty of fun and a network of new friends. And if any of my side jobs do not suit you, there are many other opportunities for those of us moving up in years who still want to keep earning and moving.

One of my close friends, single and 70, became a hostess at her favorite restaurant, and the benefits are abundant. As she puts it, “I get dressed up, get free delicious food and I am meeting lots of delicious people!”

Here's more info on how to find a part-time summer job.

Jane Bokun is an award-winning freelance writer, reporter, and editor with extensive experience in journalism for People Magazine, AARP, and Chicago Magazine.