By Alicia Gallegos

Whether retirement is looming on the horizon or you're tapering down your work hours, you're probably wondering what to do next.

For many retirees, the primary aim is to engage in a meaningful activity while bringing in some extra income.

Roughly 1 in 6 retirees in the United States is currently mulling over a return to the workforce, according to a 2023 study from Paychex.

Retired physicians have a range of options when it comes to part-time gigs, both in the clinical and nonclinical spaces.

Are you considering a part-time job? Explore these 20 top options in in-demand industries, selected on the basis of discussions with physician job experts and retired doctors working part-time.

Instructor/Teacher

Teaching medical students and residents offers not only a stable income but also an opportunity to prepare the next generation of doctors. Demand for faculty positions continues to grow as medical schools accept a record number of students.

For the 2022-2023 academic year, medical schools reported having an average of 34 part-time basic science faculty, 218 part-time clinical faculty members, and 126 part-time basic science and clinical faculty combined.

"It's wonderfully gratifying to help train the physicians of tomorrow, the people who will be taking care of me when I need medical care," says John Chuck, MD, a retired family medicine physician from San Francisco and professor of family medicine at California Northstate University. "When I do the work, it reminds of all the mentors who helped me when I was a medical student."

Writer/Author

Retired physicians with writing skills can utilize their talents in new ways. Writing fiction or nonfiction books is a creative outlet that allows doctors to share their story with the world or give expertise about topics in which they are passionate. Other options include contributing to textbooks, blogging, or writing columns for established publications.

Writers are often paid by the word per page and can also generate revenue through ads if they go the blogging route. In 2023, the average pay for writers in the United States was about $30 an hour. Self-published authors generally earn 40% or higher in royalties for the selling price of the book, while authors who use publishers earn about 5%-15% in royalties.

"It's a good gig if you are a writer. Not everyone has that gift," says Louise B. Andrew, MD, JD, a retired emergency medicine physician and attorney based in Port Angeles, Washington, who writes, blogs, consults, and volunteers."I know of a number of doctors who recognized that they had writing skills and have made successful careers as writers. It's a very appropriate retirement activity if you have the skill."

Real Estate Investor

In the 2023 Physician Side Gigs report, the most popular side gigs for doctors were medical consulting and expert witness in the medical field and business consulting and real estate outside of it.

Retirees diving into real estate will first want to consider the associated costs, such as insurance, management, and maintenance.

"Obviously there is going to be significant upfront work, but the attractiveness is the passive income that you can gain," says Nii Darko, DO a trauma surgeon and host of the "Docs Outside the Box" podcast, which highlights doctors with unique jobs and employment activities. "I think real estate is a natural transition for doctors. The amount of attention we are trained to give to our patients, we can give that same attention to detail in real estate."

Associate Medical Director

Assistant and associate medical directors are needed in a diversity of settings, from prisons to mental health facilities to laboratories. Retired physicians with strong leadership skills may enjoy the role, which generally incudes overseeing patient carem developing policies, ad directing quality initiatives.

A review of currently open part-time associate medical director positions on Indeed.com shows a range of about $60-$150/hour. The average national rate for associate medical director is $68/hour.

Expert Witness

Giving your opinion in legal cases is an engaging and high-paying avenue for those interested in the legal system. As a part-time expert witness, retirees have the ability to control how many cases they take on and at what level they wish to participate. Attorneys generally hire physicians to review initial complaints, offer their opinions during depositions, and testify during trials.

The average rate for expert witnesses is about $500/hour but can be as high as $2,000/hour for some specialists. Expert witnesses also typically charge for travel time and in the event of cancellations, says Andrew the physician-attorney.

"Expert witness work is only appropriate as an early retirement activity," she notes. "It is unethical in most instances to testify about the standard of care if you haven't practices in the area with a very few years of the incident that is the subject of the suit."

Locum Tenens Physicians

Retirees who still want to practice but with more control over their schedule may want to consider locum tenens work. Demand for temporary physicians is booming; nearly 90% of healthcare facilities use locum tenens to supplement existing staff.

Compensation varies depending on specialty, but the average hourly pay for a locum tenens physician in the US is 2023 was $171/hour.

"Being a locum tenens allows you to do what you're used to doing, but on your own terms," say Darko, who practices as a locum tenens physician." You're creating your own schedule, determining how you get paid and how your work in relation to a hospital. For physicians heading into retirement, any clinic would die to have a physician with that much knowledge."

Entrepreneur/Developer

For physicians with big ideas or business plans, retirement may be the best time to explore your enterprising side. Whether you've always wanted to open a restaurant, develop a medical product, or start an animal sanctuary, becoming an entrepreneur could fulfill dreams that fell by the wayside during your medical career. Of course it'll cost you to get started, and your income depends upon the success of your endeavor.

When Curtis Brown, MD, decided to develop a new mobile app after he retired, his goal wasn't to make money, he says. Brown's product, called MY ER FILE, is a mobile app that allows patients to easily access their emergency health information.

"I've always prided myself on trying to come up with solutions to problems," says Brown, a retired emergency medicine physician based in Reno, NV. "I felt like I wanted to give something back to the community that I thought could be potentially life-saving. I enjoy the fact that I developed something and that people enjoy it."

Cruise Ship Physician

Traveling to new destinations is a key advantage to being a cruise ship physician. Cruise ship doctors typically work with a medical crew to provide healthcare to passengers and all crew members. The average cruise trip length is about 7 days. While many physicians in the cruise ship industry are full-time, part-time and fill-in contracts are also available. An added perk is being able to bring along spouses or family members, as some cruise lines allow.

Newer doctors working on cruises generally make between $900 and $12,000/month, while more senior physicians can make as much as $14,000/month.

Working on cruise ships can be an ideal position for retired physicians, says Carter Hill, MD, a retired emergency physician based in Redmond, Washington, who spent 30 years in the cruise ship industry.

"That's the time people want to try new things and be able to travel to new places" he says. "The main advantage is an opportunity to do what you're good at, and at the same time, see the world. Remote care is not for everybody, but the people who do it really enjoy it."

Clinical Trial Physician

If you enjoy research and the world of therapeutics, overseeing clinical trials may be the right retirement stint for you. Clinical research physicians work with pharmaceutical companies to determin suitable trial participants, monitor participants during the trial, and ensure that protocols are being followed, among other duties.

Demand for clinical trial physicians is high. As of July 2022, 62,000 new jobs for clinical research roles were posted, of which 17,000 were "unique" meaning they were not traditional clinical research roles. A growing trend toward remote trials means doctors may have the chance to work from home or a hybrid arrangement.

Hospice Medicine

After decades of helping to heal patients, caring for people at the end of their lives can be a gratifying bookend to your career. Physicians don't need to be board certified in hospice and palliative care medicine to work in hospice care, but it helps to have a background in internal medicine, family medicine or emergency care, says Brown.

"For me, I was able to control how much time I spent working," says Brown, who previously worked as a part-time hospice physician. "I could pick and choose my times and spend as much time as I wanted with the patient. Although they were dying, it felt like what I was doing really mattered to the patients and families."

Consultant

Using a career's worth of knowledge to advise others is a worthwhile gig for many retired doctors. Physician consultants typically focus on a specific niche, and many combine their medical specialty with a segment of business that is meaningful to them. Consultants generally set their fees or opt for volunteer consulting.

"What I like most about consulting is getting to know my clients well and drawing on my experience to help them address their most pressing concerns," says Chuck, the California Northstate University professor, who consults about physician wellness and speaks at conferences on the topic. "Tailoring a presentation to a particular audience brings me great joy and meaning."

Telemedicine

Transitioning to remote work is an attractive option for those still want to use their medical skills but in a more comfortable setting. The majority of doctors (85%) currently use telehealth to deliver patient care, according to a 2022 survey. A review of currently posted jobs showed rates of $100 to $1500/hour for contract and part-time telemedicine physicians.

"Telemedicine is definitely here to stay," says Andrew, who practices telemedicine."Certainly, you have to maintain your license and maintain your continuing medication education. States vary on who can provide telemedicine to ensure that you know what is permissible."

Podcaster

Passionate about a subject? Consider starting your own podcast. The costs to launch a podcast are relatively minimal: You'll need a computer, microphone, headphones, and recording software. Although podcasting is not usually a huge money-maker, it is possible to generate revenue from advertising, subscriptions, or listener support, among other avenues.

In 2023, 42% of Americans had listened to a podcast in the past month, up from 37% in 2020. Expect competition, however. Apple Podcasts alone hosts more than 2 million podcasts.

"For retiring physicians, I think it's a great way to get some income," Darko says. "It's going to be tough in the beginning and take several years to build, but its possible. The most important thing is that you feel like you have something to say and that the world would be a better place if you said it. If that's how you feel, then go after it."

Insurance Claim Reviewer

The insurance industry is frequently on the lookout for physicians to review claims and provide opinions on medical necessity. The gig can be a good option for retirees who like working during normal business hours, want nonphysical duties and enjoy virtual work.

Insurance claim reviewers, also called indenpendent medical reviewers, conduct utilization reviews, coding reviews, and prior authorizations, among other evaluations. Reviewing disability claims or life insurance claims is also an option, says Nisha Mehta, MD, a radiologist who has founded two online communities, Physician Side Gigs and Physician Community.

"I think the ideal part-time jobs that most of our retired physicians are looking for are jobs that offer more flexibility and allow them the ability to work a certain number of days a week that allow for long weekends or travel," she says.

Concierge Medicine

Opening a concierge medicine practice or joining a concierge group can allow for a steady income stream without the demanding hours of traditional practice. An estimated 10,000-25,000 physicians practice membership based care in the United States.

Concierge practices, which usually cap the number of patients they see, typically charge patients membership fees between $1,200 and $10,000 a year.

"Physicians who practice concierge medicine get to spend more time with patients and get out of the hustle and bustle of insurance-based medicine," Mehta says. "They can get those 1-hour visits that really resemble the heart of what they love about medicine without engaging in come of the frustrations that are contributing to burnout in most physicians."

Educational Question Writer

Writing medical questions can enable doctors to draw on their years of knowledge and expertise to educate others. A range of companies hire physicians to write test questions and develop educational material, including medical education providers, medical communications companies, and online learning platforms. Writing board exam questions for specialty boards is another option, although these writers are often volunteers.

Two growing platforms that recruit physicians to write educational content are Osmosis and BoardVitals. A current opening for a part-time content reviewer at Osmosis pays $40-60/hour. BoardVitals does not publicize its pay rates.

Medical Device Development

Helping develop and test medical devices is a good choice for retired docs interested in tapping their innovative side. Most medical device companies have a scientific advisory board that seeks input from doctos during device creation and testing.

The time commitment can vary, but part-time advisory roles are often available.

Physicians have their choice of working for a well-established medical device company or going the start-ip route, which may allow for more involvement and input.

Noninterventional physicians and interventionalists can play an invaluable role in keeping the engineering team laser-focused on how the innovation can improve the lives of patients rather than getting lost in technological nuances that may or may not translate into measurable patient benefit.

Nursing Home Medicine

Picking up shifts at a nursing home of long-term care facility can have a number of advantages. The hours can allow for more flexibility, the patients are often insured, and physicians may experience deeper personal satisfaction working with older populations. Because more nursing homes have incorporated virtual care since the pandemic, doctors also have the potential for remote work.

About 1.3 million patients in the US reside in nursing homes, a number expected to nearly double by 2050. The average hourly pay for a nursing home physician is $73/hour but the rate varies greatly by state.

Paid Speaker

Whether present as a thought leader or in support of a drug or device, speaking can be a profitable positon with a range of perks. Pharmaceutical companies can device makers often pay large amounts for physicians to publicly discuss their products and the appearances may come with travel, dining, and lodging.

Typical speaker fees can range from $1,000/talk up to $20,000 or more, depending on the doctor's reputation and expertise. A report showed that more than 1000 physicians in 2018 received $100,000 or more per year for promotional speaking.

Keep in mind that paid speaking is a highly scrutinized activity by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

Volunteer

For many, a part-time volunteer position can be even more fulfilling than a remunerative activity. Studies show that more than 6 out of 10 adults age 55 or older engage in a volunteer activity. For retired doctors, popular options include mentoring, participating in disaster relief, or caring for underserved patients.

Edward Martin, MD a retired pediatrician based in Northern California, says his volunteer activities help him continue his passions. Martin serves as secretary and newsletter editor for the Retired Physicians' Associated of the Permanente Medical Group of Northern California.

"When I was in active practice, I got into leadership and administration," he says. "My primary interest was providing good care for my patients, but just behind that was providing support for my colleagues. In retirement, I discovered an opportunity to continue to do that for my retired colleagues. I view it as an extension of what I was doing in practice."