- - 4 Side Hustles Retirees Can Start With Zero Experience in 2026

Jake SafaneFebruary 2, 2026 at 4:00 AM

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Retirement may be the end of your main career, but there’s lots of valid reasons to keep working in some capacity later in life.

For example, over one-third of retirees report that their expenses are more than they expected they would be in retirement, according to a survey by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. And 18% worry about how to spend their time meaningfully and stay involved, while another 18% worry about feeling isolated and alone.

Picking up a side hustle you enjoy could help solve some of these challenges. And the good news is that there are many types of side hustles that you can start without having experience in that particular role. Here are of the top examples.

Online Tutoring

You don’t necessarily need experience as a teacher to get started as an online tutor. You may be able to draw on your knowledge gained throughout your career to then help others. Or, maybe you’re naturally gifted at subjects like math or writing and can help young children in these areas.

You can expect hourly rates in the ballpark of $15 to $30 and you can sign up via popular platforms such as Preply, Wyzant and Tutor.com, according to Indeed.

And from a technical standpoint, you pretty much just need a computer with a webcam and a reliable internet connection to get started.

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Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants (VAs) can help small business owners or corporate executives handle a wide range of tasks, like scheduling appointments, organizing files or writing social media copy. Depending on your existing skills, you can market yourself as a VA for specific tasks like these or you might try to be more of a generalist, lending a hand wherever needed.

In general, this is a good role for someone who is organized and detail-oriented. You can find clients through platforms like Upwork or you might be able to join a service like Belay that can match you with clients.

On average, a virtual assistant in the U.S. makes $26.20 per hour, according to Indeed.

Pet Sitting or Dog Walking

If you love pets, want to stay active and gain some companionship, this can be a great side hustle. Having a more open schedule in retirement can make it easier to be available for pet parents who need someone to walk their dogs during the day or watch their pets overnight when they travel.

You can sign up with platforms like Rover or Wag and while it may take some time and effort to find initial clients, it could get easier over time as you gain reviews. Or you might ask around your community and you can then benefit from word-of-mouth referrals.

Rates vary by market, but the average dog walker charges $29.50 for a 30-minute service, according to Time To Pet. Overnight stays can bump up your earnings even more, without requiring constant activity.

Online Surveys or Market Research

This might not be the most lucrative side hustle, but it’s a relatively low-stakes way to make a little bit extra spending money and it doesn’t require any particular skills.

Basically, you sign up through platforms that are looking for survey respondents or market research participants and you get paid for things like filling out online surveys or attending focus groups, either online or in-person.

For example, Swagbucks is a popular platform where you can do tasks like complete surveys or play mobile games to earn gift cards or cash. You might only make a few dollars per hour, but it’s highly flexible.

For market research, User Interviews is a platform where you can apply to online studies and get paid around $50 to $150 hour if selected, according to Side Hustle Nation.That said, these might be more ad hoc, rather than a reliable income stream.

Ultimately, there are many ways to make some extra spending money in retirement, without needing particular job experience. Instead, you can potentially apply skills you’ve learned throughout your life to still make some extra income while also maybe finding work that engages you.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Side Hustles Retirees Can Start With Zero Experience in 2026

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Source: “AOL Money”