By: Nick Callos
Semi-retirement is the perfect solution if you’re not financially ready to fully retire (but desire the retired lifestyle). Being semi-retired means working part-time in a semi-retirement job you are passionate about, earning enough to cover the bills and maybe save some, all the while enjoying the people, places, and things you love.
It sounds nice, right?
Doing semi-retirement right necessitates you find the right job, one that pays right and you like. The key is looking at your hobbies and passions and matching it to a job.
For creatives, semi-retirement jobs abound, from photography to fashion design. In this article, we explore the best semi-retirement jobs for creatives, with data and info covering:
- Average Pay
- Where to Apply
- Why It’s One of the Best Semi-Retirement Jobs
Read on!
Photo by Milad Fakurian on Unsplash
1. Graphic Designer
Average Pay: $31 per hour; $65,000 per year
Where to Apply for This Semi-Retirement Job
General jobs sites, such as Indeed and ZipRecruiter, are probably the best sites to search for graphic designer jobs. You can also search directly with companies you like. Most businesses, especially e-commerce companies, need graphic designers to enhance the visuals of their products.
Why It’s One of the Best Semi-Retirement Jobs for Creatives
The market for graphic designers globally has grown to nearly $50 billion. If you’re a creative, graphic design is a great option if you want steady work and the chance to flex your creative muscle. For instance, you could work for an e-commerce company, helping create designs for product packaging, labeling, social media and more. Most every creative agency needs graphic designers too. If have experience in the field, maintaining or finding a graphic designer role for semi-retirement should be relatively straightforward. If you don’t have formal experience, having a portfolio of artwork and a willingness to learn can help land a job.
Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash
2. Writer
Average Pay: $34 per hour; $69,000 per year
Where to Apply for This Semi-Retirement Job
Look on Frayed Passport’s Jobs and Careers Resources page. There’s lots of great info on how to get started in online writing. WorkingNomads usually has a good writing jobs board too.
Why It’s One of the Best Semi-Retirement Jobs for Creatives
Have a way with words? Then take up writing as your semi-retirement job. Whether you’re creating a local travel guide or writing a short story, writing is a wonderful way to put your creativity to work. Pay is usually solid, and can be very good if you work as a copywriter or technical writer in certain industries, such as tech and medicine. Plus, the job outlook remains robust, with projected 4% growth over the next decade as businesses continue to have a need for content. If you’re looking for work after you semi-retire and can write, look no further.
3. Photographer
Average Pay: $19 per hour; $39,000 per year
Where to Apply for This Semi-Retirement Job
Good with a camera? Then look for jobs on sites such as SimplyHired and Glassdoor. You’ll find semi-retirement worthy roles in photography no matter where you’re located.
Why It’s One of the Best Semi-Retirement Jobs for Creatives
Employment in photography is projected to grow by 9% annually over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There is simply a great need for folks who have the technical expertise and creativity to produce and preserve images. For creatives, photography offers the opportunity to create visually stunning images from the lens of your camera. Whether you’re capturing a stunning landscape or a beautiful moment of humanity, photography can truly get your creative juices flowing. A wide variety of roles are available in photography, from jobs in the wedding and real estate industries to work in sports and travel.
Photo by benjamin lehman on Unsplash
4. Tattoo Artist
Average Pay: $29 per hour; $60,000 per year
Where to Apply for This Semi-Retirement Job
Establishing relationships with local tattoo shops in your home area is probably the best avenue to landing a job in the field. You can first look on job sites such as Indeed to see who’s hiring. Also, make sure to get proper licensing for your state first.
Why It’s One of the Best Semi-Retirement Jobs for Creatives
Being a tattoo artist involves sketching and inking permanent images and designs onto the skin. Tattooing is one of the oldest creative fields in the world, with tattoos dating back to Neolithic times. Many tattoos carry deep cultural and personal meaning, which means being a tattoo artist allows you to do meaningful creative work. Simply put, it’s a great choice for semi-retirement work.
Photo by Cleo Vermij on Unsplash
5. Fashion Designer
Average Pay: $41 per hour; $86,000 per year
Where to Apply for This Semi-Retirement Job
Traditional job boards such as LinkedIn are great for looking for good-paying fashion designer roles. If you don’t have experience, get some freelance gigs on Upwork to build your portfolio.
Why It’s One of the Best Semi-Retirement Jobs for Creatives
Fashion designers sketch designs for clothing, footwear, and accessories, making it a perfect semi-retirement job for creatives who love art. Just imagine creating iconic designs for major brands, such as Nike, Carhartt, Hermes, or Rolex! Every major fashion company has a need for designers, and these brands pay good money for talent. After all, some of these brands are worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
Go Get One of the Best Semi-Retirement Jobs for creatives
Semi-retirement takes planning, but once you have enough savings and want to slow down, you can begin working part time and living off that income. If you’re a creative person, and would like a semi-retirement job that fuels your passion, look no further than the jobs above.
For more information on how to plan and execute semi-retirement, read our other articles:
Best of luck on your journey to semi-retirement!
About the Author
Nick Callos has always had a passion for reading, writing, and discovering the new and unknown. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Nick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Boston College. He currently splits his time between his hometown, Chengdu, China, and the open road. A full-time travel writer, Nick hopes his work can inspire others to explore the world more deeply and enjoy the digital nomad lifestyle.
Featured image by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash