Read Business Insider's stories and watch our video after nearly 200 interviews with workers over 80

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Style
Barbara Ford, D'Yan Forest, Rich Colorado, Jane Way, June Boyd, Luis Bautista, Pat Fagin Scott, Sandy McConnell, Thomas Ferguson, Lydia HInds

Jason Henry, Laura Thompson, Lanna Apisukh, Matt Martian Williams, Brittany Greeson, Cassidy Araiza, Alyssa Schukar, Bridget Bennett, Tim Gruber, Michael J. Fiedler for BI

Why so many Americans over 80 are still working

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Style
D'Yan Forest
D'yan Forest, 91, is the Oldest Working Female Comedian in the World, as documented by the "Guinness Book of World Records."

Lanna Apisukh for BI

They died 'doing what they loved': The stories of workers in their 80s who died on the job

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Style
Joyner Library and Ralph Scott
Ralph Scott, who died in 2022, worked at East Carolina University's Joyner Library for 52 years.

Cornell Watson for BI; Courtesy of Jonathan Dembo

I'm 81 and can't retire, so I work a part-time job for $18 an hour. Regret is a waste of time.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business
Kathy Curtis
Kathy Curtis, 81, works part-time for her local water company to pay her bills.

Juan-Antonio Puyol/ BI

I'm 82 and still working because my 401(k) ran out. Despite my health conditions, I like teaching young people.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business
David Hugo Barrett
David Hugo Barrett still works as a substitute teacher at 82, partly out of financial necessity.

Timothy Wolfer/ BI

She's 90 and helping her peers as a caregiver. Workers over 80 say helping each other is the best job they can get

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Sports
Barbara Brown teaching Yoga
Barbara Brown, 83, still teaches chair yoga at nursing homes throughout Richmond, Virginia.

Laura Thompson for BI

I'm 81 and still working. It's not for the paycheck — it's part of my secret to aging well.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Sports
Mike Plummer
81-year-old Mike Plummer left corporate at 55 and has been working at a retail store for almost 15 years.

Jesse Brantman for BI

I'm 81 and live in my RV for half the year. I didn't save enough for retirement, so I stay afloat by 'work camping' and DoorDash driving.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Travel
Richard Smith
Richard Smith work camps for half of the year in New Hampshire.

Richard Smith

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Richard Smith, 81, who works part-time for the campground where he lives for half of the year and part-time driving for DoorDash. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I'm 82 and earn $16 an hour working at a boat store. I don't have much saved and can't retire, but everything will work out.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business
Patricia Wheatley
Patricia Wheatley works for her friend's boat store, earning $16 an hour.

Nate Smallwood for BI

Starting a business in your 80s isn't easy — but it may be the only way to earn a living

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Style
Ina Harris, 82
Ina Harris, 82, opened a direct care business last year and has slowly been securing clients.

Corrie Aune for BI

Ina Harris, 82, believes that starting a business is the only way she can earn enough to pay her bills.

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