Work from Anywhere: 18 Jobs That Pay Surprisingly Well

Jana Warner

These days, we’re lucky enough to live in a time when not all well-paid jobs require you to sit in the same office every day. Conveniently, there are plenty of careers that allow us to work from anywhere, including your kitchen table, a local coffee shop, or even somewhere sunny abroad! Better still, many of these roles will surprise you with just how much they pay, offering immense flexibility which rarely requires you to clock in at 9 am. If that sounds like something you’ve been dreaming of, check out the following remote jobs that pay surprisingly well.

Copywriter

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

If you’ve got good writing skills, consider taking up copywriting, which might involve writing content for websites, adverts, or marketing campaigns. Often, this will involve working on a freelance basis, but if you want more stability, agency work could provide you with a contract. Either way, businesses will pay handsomely for words that sell their products, especially if you’ve got experience or a special niche.

Virtual Assistant

Photo Credit: fizkes/Shutterstock

Going hand in hand with copywriting is being a virtual assistant, which keeps such businesses running smoothly from afar. VAs will typically manage emails, organise schedules, book travel, and handle basic admin tasks for their bosses. Sure, it’s not the flashiest job, but the pay can be surprisingly high for experienced VAs who juggle multiple clients. At the end of the day, companies love efficiency, so if you’re great at ticking off to-do lists, this job is well worth considering.

Web Developer

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

It’s no secret that building and maintaining websites pays well, particularly if you’re skilled in coding languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many web developers work freelance or for global companies remotely, because sitting in an office doesn’t bring any benefits to their work. A steady stream of clients is key here, but thankfully, the demand for slick, user-friendly websites means there’s plenty of work to go around.

Social Media Manager

Photo Credit: Dean Drobot/Shutterstock

Nowadays, just about every brand needs someone to keep their Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok profiles buzzing with activity, and therefore, they hire social media managers. These workers create content, plan posts, engage with followers, and track analytics, all of which help the brand to grow an audience. It’s a pretty high-paying job that you can do anywhere, so if you’re savvy with social media, you’d be mad not to give it a go.

Graphic Designer

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Graphic designers create logos, packaging, social media graphics, and even full brand identities, which most companies will need in some shape or form. Remote work suits this career perfectly, as most modern designs are created digitally. Sure, strong software skills in tools like Adobe Illustrator or Canva are a must, but the demand for creative, clean designs means clients will pay generously.

UX/UI Designer

Photo Credit: Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

Unless you’re a tech nerd, you might not have heard about the user experience (UX) career, but it’s pretty cutting-edge. Essentially, it requires user interface (UI) designers to make websites and apps more intuitive and visually appealing. It’s a niche that blends creativity with problem-solving, and because the work is digital, it can be done anywhere. Businesses know the value of a good user experience, so they’re willing to pay quite handsomely for it.

Online Tutors

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

It doesn’t matter if your knowledge sits in GCSE maths, fluent Spanish, or music production; online tutoring can bring in a pretty decent income. With lessons happening over Zoom or Teams, there’s no need for a physical classroom. It’s a progressive career path, too, as tutors with qualifications or advanced teaching experience can charge more. However, even those with beginner skills can find students willing to pay for one-on-one learning.

Translator

Photo Credit: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

Another remote job that pays surprisingly well is being a translator or interpreter. If you speak more than one language fluently, this job could be ideal, as you’ll help businesses adapt their content for international audiences, such as on websites and legal documents. Unfortunately, a lot of translation roles are starting to be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI), but it still needs to make a lot of progress before this career path loses its cash-cow status.

SEO Specialist

Photo Credit: ummit Art Creations/Shutterstock

For as long as search engines such as Google have been around, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) specialists have been high in demand. Their responsibility is to help websites rank higher on Google, leveraging a mix of content strategy, technical know-how, and data analysis to achieve such results. Even today, SEO expertise is highly sought after, and those who understand how to boost online visibility can charge impressive rates.

Data Analyst

Photo Credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

People often claim that data is the most valuable commodity in this day and age, and data analysts are at the forefront of this lucrative situation. They interpret numbers and data trends to help clients make smarter decisions, insights that can be worth millions. Therefore, they can charge very high prices, and better still, they rely on tools like Excel, SQL, or Python, all of which can be used remotely. So, if you’ve got a head for figures and love spotting patterns, definitely consider a career in data analysis.

Video Editor

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Back in the old days, video editing was an in-person job that depended on the manual cutting and pasting of film, but that’s no longer the case. Nowadays, it’s all done on computers, and it has never been higher in demand. Creators, brands, and production companies all need polished videos for YouTube, social media, and ads, with video editing software like Premiere Pro and Final Cut being the industry standard. It pays very well too, so if you enjoy editing as a hobby, consider turning it into your income!

Affiliate Marketer

Photo Credit: Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock

For the last decade or two, affiliate marketers have made a lot of cash by promoting products online. Through blogs, social media, or niche websites, they share links to products and get paid when someone buys. No, it’s not instant money, but once you build a following or rank well on Google, the passive income can be surprisingly steady.

IT Support Specialist

Photo Credit: guteksk7/Shutterstock

If you’re looking to start earning remotely and have grown up solving computer problems, you could definitely try your hand at becoming an IT support specialist. Amazingly, modern software allows such professionals to provide this support remotely, even if it concerns problems with hardware. Ultimately, IT skills will likely always be in demand, and the role pays well, too, so it’s a solid entry on this list.

Customer Support Specialist

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

As you’ve no doubt realized by now, many companies have completely outsourced their customer support to remote workers, often abroad. Handling emails, live chats, or phone calls can all be done from anywhere in the world, often with flexible hours, too. Certain industries, like tech or finance, pay better for support roles, so choose your niche wisely, and you could do really well with this career.

Content Creator

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have heard how YouTube channels, podcasts, and social media accounts are becoming extremely lucrative. Monetisation comes through sponsorships, ads, or direct support from viewers, and while building an audience takes time, content creators with consistent, unique ideas often turn this into an incredibly well-paid gig.

Programmer

Image Credit: DC Studio/Shutterstock

Just like with web development, software programmers are loving the life of remote work, writing and testing code for apps, software, and websites. Skilled programmers are always in demand, and likely always will be, and conveniently, many companies let them work from anywhere. Don’t get put off by how AI is taking over parts of this role because we’re a long way away from programmers being totally replaced.

Recruiter

Photo Credit: Branislav Nenin/Shutterstock

Believe it or not, recruiters are now going remote, helping companies find the right candidates for job openings from anywhere in the world. Using platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed, they can connect with talent and make any necessary hires. Perhaps this is something you’ve worked on from an office in the past; if so, you could definitely transfer those skills to a digital career!

Online Course Creator

Photo Credit: Ground Picture/Shutterstock

Last on our list is the job role of an online course creator. If you’re an expert in a subject, creating online courses could bring in a lot of passive income, all thanks to online platforms such as Udemy and Skillshare. Essentially, they enable you to host courses on any subject you could imagine, such as graphic design, coding, photography, or business skills. Yes, it requires a heck of a lot of upfront work, but once the course is live, the income could keep ticking over for years.

Up Next: