People work a huge portion of their lives to earn retirement, but many return to work after some time. Boredom combined with dissatisfaction with retired life and the financial security of additional income often push retirees back into the workforce.
A recent study by Choice Mutual, an independent final expense insurance agency, shows what professions people coming out of retirement are choosing across the United States.
The most popular profession in Massachusetts for retirees is working as a bookkeeper.
Bookkeeping is also the most popular profession among retirees in a dozen other states, making it the leading choice across the nation.
Bookkeeping is also most popular in both New Hampshire and Maine.
The nationwide pay rate for retirees turned bookkeepers is $17.35 per hour or $42,940 per year.
Other choices across the country include school bus driver, home health aide, substitute teacher, orderly, secretary, administrative assistant, licensed practical nurse, office manager and dental hygienist.
The highest-paid profession chosen by retirees is dental hygienist. Retirees earn $34.24 per hour or $59,077 on average.
See the most popular professions for retirees in each state below or see the entire study here.
| State | Profession |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Bookkeeper |
| Alaska | Bookkeeper |
| Arizona | Bookkeeper |
| Arkansas | Dental Hygienist |
| California | Bookkeeper |
| Colorado | Bookkeeper |
| Connecticut | School Bus Driver |
| Delaware | School Bus Driver |
| District of Columbia | Office Manager/Administrative Assistant |
| Florida | Bookkeeper |
| Georgia | School Bus Driver |
| Hawaii | Substitute Teacher |
| Idaho | Dental Hygienist |
| Illinois | Bookkeeper |
| Indiana | School Bus Driver/Bookkeeper |
| Iowa | Bookkeeper |
| Kansas | Licensed Practical Nurse |
| Kentucky | Bookkeeper |
| Louisiana | Licensed Practical Nurse |
| Maine | Bookkeeper |
| Maryland | School Bus Driver |
| Massachusetts | Bookkeeper |
| Michigan | Secretary |
| Minnesota | School Bus Driver/Bookkeeper |
| Mississippi | Dental Hygienist |
| Missouri | Substitute Teacher |
| Montana | Bookkeeper |
| Nebraska | Dental Hygienist |
| Nevada | Substitute Teacher |
| New Hampshire | Bookkeeper |
| New Jersey | Home Health Aide |
| New Mexico | Substitute Teacher |
| New York | Home Health Aide |
| North Carolina | Dental Hygienist |
| North Dakota | Orderly |
| Ohio | Licensed Practical Nurse |
| Oklahoma | Dental Hygienist |
| Oregon | Dental Hygienist |
| Pennsylvania | Licensed Practical Nurse |
| Rhode Island | Orderly/Substitute Teacher |
| South Carolina | Dental Hygienist |
| South Dakota | Dental Hygienist |
| Tennessee | Dental Hygienist |
| Texas | Substitute Teacher |
| Utah | Dental Hygienist |
| Vermont | Substitute Teacher |
| Virginia | Substitute Teacher |
| Washington | School Bus Driver |
| West Virginia | School Bus Driver |
| Wisconsin | Licensed Practical Nurse |
| Wyoming | Dental Hygienist |
