I meet more people working past 60, often helping family, stretch their savings or adding a retirement income stream. What I have found is that a calmer role doesn’t have to mean a much smaller pay packet.
When I read that the “Bank of Gran and Grandad” had handed over more than £37bn to help grandchildren, I wasn’t surprised. Research by Saga found grandparents helping with everything from university costs to first homes, and I see the same pattern in people I talk to every week.
That generosity has a cost. With rising living costs and longer retirements, many people in their 50s and 60s tell me they’re choosing to keep earning for longer.
What they don’t want is the pressure that comes with their old job. After 30 or 40 years of long commutes, targets and back-to-back meetings, I can understand why. So how do you generate income in retirement, or in the years before it, without stress?
I often hear people assume that stepping back means taking a big pay cut. In my experience, that isn’t always true. Pay is driven mainly by responsibility, specialist skills and experience, and stress is only part of that.
I’d also argue that stress is a money issue in its own right. The Health and Safety Executive estimates that 964,000 workers in Great Britain suffer from work-related stress, depression or anxiety. That’s around half of all work-related ill health.
The people I see strike the best balance are usually in skills-based roles. These tend to come with predictable hours, a clear scope and less firefighting, while still rewarding the experience you’ve built up.
These are the roles I’d suggest to anyone who wants steady work, flexible hours or a chance to use decades of experience. The salaries are typical full-time ranges, and part-time or freelance earnings scale with the hours you choose.
| Role | Typical full-time pay | Why it suits later life |
| Bookkeeper | £25,000–£35,000 | Can be freelance from home, with clients chosen to fit your week |
| Tutor (private or online) | £20,000–£40,000 | Turns career or subject knowledge into flexible, often hourly, income |
| Proofreader | £22,000–£35,000 | Quiet, deadline-based work that rewards a good eye for detail |
| Administrative assistant | £22,000–£30,000 | Part-time and local roles are widely available |
| Counsellor | £28,000–£40,000 | Draws on life experience; many people retrain for it in their 50s |
| Care worker | £20,000–£28,000 | Strong demand and flexible shifts, with meaningful day-to-day work |
| Gardener | £18,000–£30,000 | Outdoor, active and easy to run as a small sideline |
I’ve covered each of these in more detail, along with five more options, in our guide to low-stress jobs in the UK.
Before you take on a new role, there are a few money quirks I’d want you to know about.
If you’re unsure how extra income will affect your tax or benefits, my advice is to speak to a regulated financial adviser.
One more tip: work out your budget first. Knowing how much you need each month tells you how many hours you really need to work.
I don’t think working in later life has to mean more of the same. With the right role, you can keep supporting your family, protect your savings and enjoy work that fits around the rest of your life. For me, choosing a lower-pressure job is as much a financial decision as a lifestyle one.
How can I generate income in retirement in the UK? Most people combine several sources: the State Pension, any workplace or private pensions, savings and, increasingly, part-time or freelance work. A flexible job is one of the simplest ways to add a retirement income stream without dipping further into your pension pot.
Can I keep working after I start claiming my State Pension? Yes. There’s no limit on how much you can earn while receiving the State Pension, and it isn’t reduced if you work. Your earnings are simply taxed alongside your pension income.
Do I still pay National Insurance if I work past State Pension age? No, as an employee you stop paying once you reach State Pension age. If you’re self-employed, Class 4 contributions stop from the start of the following tax year.
Will a part-time job affect my private pension? It can. If you’ve already drawn taxable income flexibly from a defined contribution pension, you can only pay up to £10,000 a year into pensions with tax relief. That includes any employer contributions from a new job.
Is it worth deferring my State Pension if I’m still earning? It can be. Deferring increases the amount you receive later, and it can stop your pension pushing your income into a higher tax band while you work. Whether it pays off depends on your health, tax position and other income, so I’d get advice first.
What are the best post-retirement jobs in the UK? The roles I recommend most are bookkeeper, tutor, proofreader, administrative assistant and counsellor. They tend to combine steady pay with manageable pressure, and many can be done part-time, freelance or from home.
Am I too old to retrain? Definitely not. I regularly hear from people retraining in their 50s and 60s. Many qualifications can be studied online at your own pace, and starting with a short course or some volunteer work is a low-risk way to test a new field.
Author bio: Nick Cooper is a writer at NCC Home Learning, the online learning provider offering flexible courses and recognised qualifications you can study from home. He writes about careers, retraining and lifelong learning, with a focus on helping people find work that fits around the rest of their lives, whether they’re changing career in their 40s, returning to work, or looking to boost their income in later life.
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