14 companies desperate to hire workers over 50 (some pay over $40 per hour)

If you’re over 50 and job hunting, it can feel like every posting wants a 25-year-old with “early career energy.” Meanwhile, you’ve got decades of experience, real-life judgment, and the ability to show up on time without drama.

Behind the scenes, a lot of big employers actually want that. An age wave is hitting the workforce, and more than 1,000 well-known companies have signed a public pledge saying they hire and value workers 50+.

Many of these companies also struggle to fill roles, especially in retail, healthcare, logistics, and customer support. That’s where older workers often shine. Some of the jobs below are part-time and flexible. Others are full-time roles that can pay well over $40 per hour, especially in healthcare, management, and skilled trades.

Every company here is known for being friendly (or at least open) to older workers and is hiring right now across many locations. Pay ranges are based on recent BLS data and major salary sites; your actual pay will depend on your experience and where you live.

Costco: high hourly pay and steady hours for retail veterans

Costco is one of the rare retailers where front-line workers actually earn a solid middle-class wage. Recent contract changes mean most hourly store employees now make more than $30 per hour, and top-tier clerks and assistants can earn around $31.90 an hour, with more raises scheduled through 2027.

For workers over 50, Costco checks a lot of boxes: predictable schedules, strong benefits, and a culture that tends to reward loyalty. Common roles for seasoned workers include cashier, membership assistant, bakery or deli clerk, optical or pharmacy assistant, and front-end supervisor. These jobs often involve customer interaction and light physical work, not sprinting around a warehouse all day.

If you have management or merchandising experience, you can move into supervisory or department-lead positions, which typically pay more than the already-strong hourly base. At that level, overtime and premiums can push your effective hourly rate into the high $30s or better. This is one of the few big-box chains where staying in retail into your 60s can actually make long-term financial sense.

Home depot: big-box retail that values hands-on experience

Home Depot has been singled out as an excellent employer for older adults, and it has worked directly with age-focused organizations to recruit people in their 50s, 60s, and beyond for store roles and management tracks.

If you’ve spent years fixing houses, managing projects, or working in trades, your knowledge is gold here. Older workers often thrive as sales associates in departments like lumber, tools, paint, appliances, and garden. Department supervisors at Home Depot commonly earn between about $18 and $27 per hour, and assistant store managers average roughly $32 per hour, with store managers earning the equivalent of $60–$71 per hour in salary.

Those leadership roles are very realistic for someone 50+ who already has supervisory or business experience. They also come with bonuses, 401(k) match, and health benefits. If you’re not ready for management, part-time floor roles can still offer better pay and benefits than many other retail jobs, plus a clear path to move up if you want it.

Walmart: huge employer with growing skilled trade tracks

Walmart is the largest private employer in the U.S., and it already has a sizable older workforce. According to its own diversity reports, workers 65 and older make up about 6.7% of its U.S. workforce.

Average pay for store associates is around $18–$19 per hour, depending on location. That’s not life-changing, but Walmart is trying hard to keep workers by building internal “skills-based” career paths and bonus plans.

The real upside for older workers is in the skilled trades and management tracks. Walmart is training associates into roles like HVAC and refrigeration tech, maintenance, and automation technician that pay between $19 and $45 per hour, with paid training and no four-year degree required. Store and market managers can earn six-figure packages worth the equivalent of $40–$60+ per hour.

If you’ve got operations, trades, or leadership experience, Walmart’s size and constant hiring make it one of the easiest places to get your foot in the door at 50+ and move up quickly.

CVS health: pharmacy and clinic roles that favor experience

CVS Health has openly said that older workers are a core part of its strategy. Older employees make up more than 20% of its workforce, and its “Talent Is Ageless” initiative specifically recruits and trains candidates 50 and over.

At the store level, 50+ job seekers often land as pharmacy technicians, store associates, shift supervisors, and front-end leads. Pharmacy technicians nationwide have a median annual wage of about $43,460, or roughly $21 per hour, according to the BLS.

If you already have a clinical background, CVS’s MinuteClinic locations are where pay really jumps. Nurse practitioners there average around $60–$79 per hour based on recent salary data, and nurse practitioners as a whole earn median wages north of $130,000 per year, or roughly $60 per hour.

For someone 50+ with nursing or pharmacy training, CVS combines strong pay, solid benefits, and high demand, especially in communities with aging populations.

Humana: healthcare and insurance careers with strong commissions

Humana is a major player in Medicare Advantage and senior health plans, so it makes sense they actively court older workers who can relate to their customers. Articles on age-inclusive workplaces regularly mention Humana among companies signing public pledges to recruit and retain workers over 50.

Many midlife job seekers land in member services, care coordination, and customer support. But the standout money roles are in nurse case management and Medicare sales. Recent estimates show nurse case managers at Humana earning around $40–$52 per hour on average. Medicare sales agents can earn the equivalent of $60+ per hour when you factor in base pay and commissions, with some top performers far above that.

If you’ve worked in nursing, social work, or sales, Humana is worth a hard look. Many roles are remote or hybrid, and the combination of health benefits, retirement plans, and strong commissions can make this a very comfortable landing spot for your 50s and 60s.

Kaiser permanente: hospital jobs where experience pays extra

Kaiser Permanente is known for paying nurses and allied health staff very well, especially in high-cost areas. Industry data shows registered nurses at large hospital systems like Kaiser earning around $98,000 per year on average, roughly $45–$50 per hour, with many Kaiser union contracts paying significantly more in places like California. Salary sites report Kaiser staff nurse hourly pay commonly in the $45–$60+ range depending on region.

Older workers show up here as bedside nurses, case managers, clinic RNs, medical coders, schedulers, and call-center triage nurses. Healthcare is one of the few sectors the BLS expects to keep growing faster than average through 2034.

For someone 50+ who already has a nursing or clinical background, Kaiser offers some of the best hourly pay on this list, plus pensions or strong retirement plans in many regions. Even non-clinical roles like scheduling, billing, and patient access can pay in the low- to mid-$20s per hour with room to move up into supervisor roles in the $30s.

Marriott international: hotels that reshape roles for older staff

Marriott has been held up as a model in hospitality for how it treats older workers. It was one of the early hotel chains to sign public age-friendly pledges in both the U.S. and U.K., committing to better recruitment and retention for people in their 50s and 60s.

Older employees are common in roles like front desk agent, concierge, reservations, sales coordinator, and banquet or event support. Hourly pay for front desk staff in the U.S. averages around $17–$21 per hour, depending on city. Sales and revenue management roles move into salaried territory, often paying the equivalent of $30+ per hour at higher levels.

Marriott has also experimented with “flex options”, carving out less physically demanding roles for aging workers who want to stay in hospitality but not push laundry carts or scrub bathrooms all day. For someone 50+ who enjoys travel, people, and problem-solving, Marriott offers solid pay, benefits, and the chance to pick up extra hours during busy seasons.

Amazon: remote and logistics roles with constant hiring

Amazon is huge, and yes, some warehouse jobs are too physical for many older workers. But Amazon also hires thousands of people over 50 into remote customer service, HR support, and lighter-duty logistics roles.

Work-from-home customer service representatives at Amazon often earn around $18–$21 per hour based on recent salary reports.. Delivery station liaisons, HR assistants, and some logistics coordinators can earn more, especially with evening or weekend differentials.

For older workers with stronger tech or business backgrounds, Amazon’s corporate roles, from operations management to IT support, often pay well north of $30 per hour. The company is constantly hiring across the country, and many positions don’t require a four-year degree. If you want stability, benefits, and the option to work from home, Amazon is worth checking regularly.

UPS: delivery and logistics jobs with top-tier driver pay

UPS has one of the best-paid blue-collar jobs in America: full-time package delivery driver. Under the latest union contract, full-time drivers are on track to earn an average of about $49 per hour in wages alone, roughly $102,000 per year, plus benefits worth tens of thousands more, for a total compensation package around $145,000–$170,000 annually.

Those jobs are physical and not right for everyone, but plenty of drivers stay into their 50s and 60s because the pay and pension are so strong. For older workers who want something less intense, UPS also hires for clerk roles, customer counters, dispatch, and inside warehouse positions. Many of these pay in the low- to mid-$20s per hour with full benefits and union protections.

UPS constantly needs workers due to growth, retirements, and normal turnover. If you’re still reasonably fit and like being out on the road, the driver path is one of the clearest ways for someone over 50 to earn well over $40 per hour without a degree.

H&R Block: seasonal tax work that fits retirement schedules

H&R Block shows up often on lists of companies that welcome older workers and has signed pledges to promote equal opportunity for people over 50.

Many retirees pick up seasonal tax preparer roles. Entry-level preparers average around $17–$19 per hour, and you can boost your take-home pay through commission on more complex returns.

For experienced preparers with credentials like the Enrolled Agent (EA), Senior Tax Advisor roles can pay between $43 and $72 per hour during peak season. That makes this one of the best part-time, high-hourly options for older workers with a tax or accounting background.

The work is highly seasonal, you’ll be busy from January through April, but that can be perfect if you want to travel or relax the rest of the year. It’s also a realistic way for someone in their 50s to pivot from general office work into better-paid tax work through training programs.

L.L. bean: outdoor retail that loves seasoned customer service

L.L. Bean has a long reputation for hiring older workers, including employees in their 80s and even 90s, and offering benefits like family medical leave and retirement planning support.

Most 50+ employees work as retail sales associates, customer service reps, call-center agents, and warehouse staff. Sales associates in L.L. Bean stores typically earn around $17–$22 per hour depending on region, with some experienced associates in busy markets earning more

This isn’t a $40-per-hour path for most people, but it is a good option if you want low-drama work with a brand that tends to treat people decently. Many older workers like the social side of helping customers with outdoor gear while still having access to health benefits, discounts, and flexible scheduling. If you’ve done retail, teaching, or customer-facing work, L.L. Bean is an easy cultural fit.

REI: gearhead jobs with decent pay and flexibility

REI, another outdoor retailer, often hires retirees and midlife career changers who love hiking, cycling, or camping. Reviews from employees and pay data show sales specialists starting around $16.50 per hour and working up into the low- to mid-$20s as they gain experience. Department managers can earn up to about $38 per hour, especially in high-volume stores.

Age-friendly job lists frequently mention REI as a company where older workers pick up a “second act” career, sometimes as their fun job in retirement. Many roles are part-time with decent benefits, and the culture is usually more relaxed than big-box retail.

If you’re over 50, reasonably active, and like talking gear, REI can be a nice mix of social interaction and movement without heavy lifting all day. Over time, moving into department leadership or store management can bring your hourly pay close to the $30–$38 range while keeping a flexible schedule.

Wegmans food markets: grocery jobs that welcome retirees

Wegmans is regularly ranked as a top place to work and is specifically known for welcoming older workers, including retirees who want part-time hours. One major job site highlighted that reviewers say Wegmans “loves to hire older workers, including those who retired and want to work part-time”.

Older employees often work as cashiers, prepared-foods staff, bakery clerks, customer service associates, and overnight stockers. Starting pay is usually above local minimum wage, and long-tenured employees can earn significantly more over time, plus strong benefits for a grocery chain. Exact hourly rates vary by region, but $16–$22 per hour is common for many roles.

The upside here isn’t huge money, you’re unlikely to hit $40 per hour unless you move into store or department management, but stability and culture. Wegmans tends to be flexible with schedules, offers health insurance to many part-timers, and promotes from within. For someone 50+ who wants consistent local work and good co-workers, it’s a solid option.

Microsoft: high-paying corporate roles for experienced pros

Microsoft isn’t just for tech bros in hoodies. It has publicly leaned into age inclusion and is listed among the big employers that signed pledges to recruit and support older workers. Microsoft has also hosted events focused on building age-inclusive workplaces.

Realistically, Microsoft is a good fit if you already have experience in tech, project management, finance, sales, or operations. BLS data shows software developers earning a median annual wage of about $133,080 in 2024, roughly $64 per hour. Project management specialists and “general and operations managers” across industries earn around $100,750–$133,120 per year, or roughly $48–$64 per hour.

Those numbers line up with what many mid-career professionals earn at companies like Microsoft. If you’re 50+ and already work in IT, finance, product, or enterprise sales, this is one of the clearest ways to secure a remote-friendly, high-six-figure job well into your 60s. It’s not a “learn to code from scratch at 55” plan, but it is a realistic move for experienced professionals who want to keep their income high.

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Byline: Katy Willis