The Best Career Change Jobs at 40

Are you feeling stuck in your current career? Do you want to pursue a new passion or find more fulfillment in your work? If you’re 40 or older, you might think it’s too late to make a career change. But the truth is, it’s never too late to start a new career that aligns with your goals and values. Changing careers at 40 can be a great opportunity to leverage your existing skills, experience, and network and to explore new possibilities in different industries.

This article will share some of the best career change jobs at 40 that offer high salaries, growth potential, and personal satisfaction. We’ll also provide some practical tips on how to make a successful career transition later in life.

Why Change Careers at 40?

There are many reasons why you might want to change careers at 40. Some of the most common ones are:

• You’re bored or burned out in your current job and need a new challenge.
• You want to pursue a passion or interest you’ve always had but never had the chance to explore.
• You want to make a positive impact on the world or help others in a meaningful way.
• You want to achieve a better work-life balance or have more flexibility and autonomy in your work.
• You want to earn more money or have more security and stability in your career.

Whatever your reason, changing careers at 40 can be a rewarding and empowering decision that can improve your quality of life and happiness. However, it can also be a daunting and risky process that requires careful planning, preparation, and execution.

How to Change Careers at 40?

Changing careers at 40 is not impossible, but it does require some strategic steps to ensure a smooth and successful transition. Here are some of the steps you should take if you’re considering a career change at 40:

1. Define your why: Before seeking a new career, you must understand why you want to change. What are your goals, values, and motivations? What are you looking for in a new career? What are you willing to sacrifice or compromise? Having a strong why will help you stay focused and motivated throughout your career change journey.
2. Assess your skills and strengths: The next step is to evaluate your current skills and strengths and see how they can transfer to a new career. You might have some hard skills that are specific to your industry, such as technical or professional skills. Still, you also have some soft skills that are applicable to any career, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, or leadership skills. List all your skills and strengths and highlight the most relevant and valuable for your desired career.
3. Research your options: Once you know your skills and strengths, you can start researching different career options that match your interests, values, and goals. You can use online resources such as Indeed.com, FlexJobs.com, or BetterUp.com to browse job listings, salaries, requirements, and descriptions. You can also use social media platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter to follow industry leaders, influencers, and organizations that interest you. You can also network with people who work in the fields or roles you’re interested in and ask them for advice, insights, or referrals.
4. Get educated or certified: Depending on the career change you want to make, you might need additional education or certification to qualify for certain jobs or roles. This could mean returning to school, taking online courses, attending workshops or seminars, or getting professional licenses or credentials. You don’t necessarily need to get a full degree or diploma, but you do need to demonstrate that you have the relevant knowledge and skills for your new career.
5. Gain experience or build a portfolio: Another way to prove your value and credibility for your new career is to gain some experience or build a portfolio that showcases your work and achievements. You can do this by volunteering, freelancing, interning, shadowing, or consulting for organizations or projects related to your new career. You can also create a personal website, blog, or social media account to share your work samples, testimonials, case studies, or insights about your new career.
6. Update your resume and cover letter: Once you have some education, certification, experience, or portfolio related to your new career, you must update your resume and cover letter accordingly. You must highlight how your previous career’s skills, strengths, and achievements can transfer to your new career and how they can benefit the employer or organization you’re applying for. You must also explain why you’re making this career change and what makes you passionate and qualified for this new career.
7. Prepare for interviews: The final step is to prepare for interviews with potential employers or clients. You need to practice your elevator pitch, a brief and compelling introduction of who you are, what you do, why you’re making this career change, and what value you can offer. You also need to anticipate and answer common interview questions, such as why you want to work for this company, your strengths and weaknesses, how you handle challenges or conflicts, and your short-term and long-term goals. You also need to prepare some questions to ask the interviewer, such as the expectations and responsibilities for this role, the opportunities for growth and development, or the challenges or issues facing this company or industry.
8. Seek feedback and support: Changing careers at 40 can sometimes be stressful and overwhelming. That’s why seeking feedback and support from people who can help you along the way is important. You can ask for advice from mentors, coaches, or counselors with experience in career transitions. You can also seek support from friends, family, or peers who can encourage you and celebrate your achievements.

What are the Best Career Change Jobs at 40?

Now that you know how to change careers at 40, you might be wondering what are some of the best career change jobs at 40 that you can consider. Here are some examples of high-paying, high-growth, and high-satisfaction careers that you can start at 40 or older:

1. Medical Administrative Assistant

$46,193 Per Year (Average Hourly Pay is $20.88)

A medical administrative assistant is a health care professional who performs office and customer service tasks to support the clinical staff. They book appointments, file medical charts, bill insurance companies, and communicate with patients and other staff members. This is a great career for people with organizational skills, efficiency, and professionalism who want to work in the healthcare industry. The national average salary for a medical administrative assistant is $46,193 annually.

2. Patient Care Technician

$49,392 Per Year (Average Hourly Pay is $23.65)

A patient care technician is a frontline health care worker who assists doctors and registered nurses. They help with patient examinations and treatments, collect samples, record information on patient charts, and speak to patients and their families about their care plans. This is a great career for people with compassion, communication, and teamwork skills who want to help others meaningfully. The national average salary for a patient care technician is $49,392 per year.

3. Event Planner

$50,042 Per Year (Average Hourly Pay is $25.99)

An event planner is a professional who coordinates events such as meetings, conventions, parties, and weddings. They manage budgets, negotiate contracts, and manage teams. This is a great career for people with multitasking, organization, and public relations skills and who want to work in a creative and dynamic industry. The national average salary for an event planner is $50,042 per year.

4. SEO Specialist

$65,435 Per Year (Average Hourly Pay is $31.46)

An SEO specialist is a digital marketing expert who leverages search engine optimization to improve a website’s presence in search results. They conduct keyword research, optimize web pages, analyze data, and implement strategies to increase traffic and conversions. This is a great career for people with analytical thinking, creativity, and technology skills who want to work in a fast-growing and competitive industry. The national average salary for an SEO specialist is $65,435 per year.

5. Project Manager

$86,188 Per Year (Average Hourly Pay is $44.03)

A project manager is a leader who oversees the planning, execution, and completion of projects. They define the project’s scope, objectives, and deliverables, allocate resources, manage risks, and communicate with stakeholders. This is a great career for people with leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills who want to work in a diverse and challenging industry. The national average salary for a project manager is $86,188 per year.

6. Web Developer

$88,488 Per Year (Average Hourly Pay is $37.97)

A web developer is a programmer who creates websites and web applications using various languages, frameworks, and tools. They design the website’s layout, functionality, and appearance, write code, test and debug errors, and maintain its performance and security. This is a great career for people with creativity, logic, and technology skills who want to work in a creative and innovative industry. The national average salary for a web developer is $88,488 per year.

7. Financial Advisor

$102,034 Per Year (Average Hourly Pay is $53.37)

A financial advisor is a consultant who provides financial guidance and advice to individuals or organizations. They help clients with financial goals such as saving, investing, retiring, or budgeting. They analyze the client’s financial situation, recommend products or services, monitor progress, and adjust plans. This is a great career for people with math, communication, and trustworthiness skills who want to work in a lucrative and rewarding industry. The national average salary for a financial advisor is $102,034 per year.

8. Teacher

$106,923 Per Year (Average Hourly Pay is $44.07)

A teacher is an educator who instructs students on various subjects such as math, science, language, or history. They plan lessons, deliver lectures, assign homework, grade tests, and provide feedback. They mentor students, manage classroom behavior, and collaborate with parents and other teachers.

This is a great career for people who have skills in communication, patience, and passion and want to work in an impactful and meaningful industry. The national average salary for a teacher is $106,923 per year. Teaching might be a fulfilling career for you if you have a passion for sharing knowledge and helping others grow. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in education or the subject you want to teach. You’ll also need a teaching license or certification from your state or country.

9. Software Developer

National Average Annual Salary: $87,521 Per Year

A software developer creates, tests, and maintains software applications that run on various devices and platforms. They use programming languages, frameworks, and tools to design user interfaces, write code, debug errors, and implement features.

If you have a creative mind, a logical approach, and a curiosity for technology, software development might be a rewarding career for you. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as computer science, software engineering, or information technology. You’ll also need to demonstrate your skills and portfolio through projects, internships, or freelance work.

10. Entrepreneur

National Average Salary: Varies Depending on the Type and Success of the Business

Entrepreneur starts, runs, and grows their own business based on innovative idea, product, or service. They identify market opportunities, conduct research, develop business plans, secure funding, hire staff, market their brand, and manage operations. If you have a vision, a drive, and a willingness to take risks, entrepreneurship might be an exciting career for you. You’ll need a solid idea that solves a problem or meets your target audience’s needs. You’ll also need the skills and resources to realize your idea.

The Bottom Line

Changing careers at 40 is not impossible. With the right mindset, skills, and strategy, you can start a new career that brings you happiness, satisfaction, and success. Whether you want to work as a medical administrative assistant, a patient care technician, an event planner, an SEO specialist, a teacher, a project manager, a financial advisor, a software developer, or an entrepreneur, plenty of opportunities await you.