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Have you decided that 2024 is the year that you finally embrace your digital nomad dream? It all starts with finding the perfect digital nomad job that you can do while on the move with just your skills and experience, a laptop, and an internet connection.
While any job that you can do fully remotely could potentially become a digital nomad career, when it comes to finding fully remote roles, some jobs are more likely to offer you the opportunity to work from anywhere than others.
If that is what you are looking for, read on for our list of the 15 best jobs to support a digital nomad lifestyle in 2024. These all represent jobs that can be done fully remotely, in growing fields where an increasing number of vacancies and freelance opportunities are available. You’ll learn exactly what the job entails, and the kinds of qualifications, skills, and experience that you need to both get and do the job.
Below our top 15 list, you will also find a list of online resources where you can find remote jobs and freelance opportunities, tips on how to successfully apply for remote jobs, and a discussion of whether digital nomads should be looking for employment contacts or freelance jobs.
15 Best Jobs for Digital Nomads in 2024
Data Analyst
Average Pay: US$20-37 per hour
Many young people without significant experience looking for online work may be able to find data entry roles. This means converting data into something that is machine-readable, usually by plugging it into a spreadsheet or database. It is flexible and doesn’t require much in terms of skills or experience, but that means that the pay is also low (average pay is US$18.50 per hour).
A data analyst role is much more rewarding and requires significantly more skill and experience as it means analyzing data, interpreting it, and turning it into meaningful and actionable insights for businesses.
Qualifying for this role typically requires training in statistics, mathematics, computer science, or a related field, or significant on-the-job experience. You will probably need to understand programming languages such as SQL, R, or Python to work with the data.
You also require analytical thinking and problem-solving skills so that you can apply data to solve real-world problems. You need strong communication skills, to turn what can often feel like dry numbers into meaningful and compelling insights, often for non-data specialists. The ability to create a good infographic can go a long way!
Digital Marketer
Average Pay: US$30-50
A digital marketer uses a variety of digital channels to promote a business, generate leads, and build brand awareness. Digital channels can include websites, social media platforms, search engines, email marketing, online ads, and more. You basically need to be an expert at talking to target audiences in a compelling way where they are present, active, and engaged online.
The role also usually requires the ability to analyze market trends to make strategic recommendations, and data analysis to measure the impact of different marketing activities and understand return on investment.
Key skills include content creation, search engine optimization, data analysis, and understanding web content management systems. You need to be highly adaptable to different situations, have strong communication skills, and good project management. Experience is often obtained through internships and entry-level positions.
Editor and Website Manager
Average Pay: US$25-188 per hour
Today, websites act as storefronts for businesses and are often businesses themselves, selling products and generating income through engagement, ad space, and affiliate marketing.
Websites need to be clean, accurate, and authoritative to engender trust, they need to be engaging and have a smooth user experience to push users from entry to a meaningful interaction (such as purchase), and they need to be SEO optimized so that they are highly discoverable.
There are a lot of different names for people who ensure that website content does what it is supposed to do, and the tasks can be varied from planning, commissioning, editing, and publishing content to analyzing user experience and optimizing the user journey.
To qualify for these roles, you generally need to be familiar with the relevant content management system (CMS) and web development basics such as HTML and CSS. You need good SEO skills and analytics skills to understand what is working and what isn’t. You need good communication skills to engage with users, contributors, and stakeholders, project management skills, and attention to detail.
Freelance Writer
Average Pay: US$28-188 per hour
A freelance writer creates written content for a variety of content, usually responding to a specific brief. While it is often considered one of the easiest jobs to get into when you start looking for flexible remote work, it requires significant skill to write engaging content, quickly and accurately. It also requires excellent research skills, and you will be writing about a variety of different topics, not all of which you will be an expert in.
In addition to this, increasingly clients want writers to leverage AI to produce more content faster, so experience with crafting effective AI prompts and working with major AI systems like ChatGPT are a must. You also need excellent knowledge of SEO, as you will almost always be asked to optimize your content for certain SEO criteria.
The best experience for being a freelance writer is writing, and you should be able to point to a portfolio of your content. While there are many ghostwriting opportunities available, increasingly businesses are seeking our writers with their own credibility, so a strong online presence as a writer and expert is also essential.
Graphic Designer
Average Pay: US$20-37 per hour
Graphic designers create visual concepts designed to encapsulate ideas and communicate them in a quick and compelling way using a visual medium. Designers will use computer software or work by hand to deliver digital graphics to clients. Each project presents unique challenges in terms of the client’s identity and purpose and the target audience.
Many graphic designers have completed an academic or professional course in graphic design and also have skills with specific design software, such as the Abobe Creative Suite, understand web design fundamentals, and understand print techniques.
Graphic designers also need strong communication, analysis, and emotional skills to understand what the client wants, translate it into something that is meaningful for the audience, and sell the idea to stakeholders. A strong portfolio is the best way to engage new clients.
Online Teacher
Average Pay: US$24-40
As the world shifts increasingly towards digital platforms, online teaching jobs aren’t just for language teachers, though there is still a very big market for online language teachers. A variety of educational institutions are now looking for teachers to engage with students online teaching academic subjects, from primary to college level, vocational courses, and also lifelong learning and passion courses such as cooking, music, photography, and fitness.
What kind of qualifications you need depends on what you will teach and for whom. If you intend to work for a school or college, you generally need the same qualifications as you would if you were teaching in the classroom. For language teaching, you usually need a language teaching qualification, such as TEFL for English.
You can also create your own online courses for skills that you are passionate about, but this requires additional skills such as course development, online marketing, and so on.
Programmer
Average Pay: US$45-63 per hour
One of the most common remote jobs available for digital nomads is that of a programmer. In this role, you write, test, debug, and maintain the code that allows software applications and computer programs to function. You will usually work within a team of other programmers, software engineers, and project managers, and you need the ability to translate software requirements and designs into workable programming code.
While there are certainly successful self-taught programmers out there, the role usually requires a degree in computer science, information technology, software engineering, or a related field. You will be asked to show experience in specific programming languages, such as Java and Python, and with specific project methodologies, such as Agile and Scrum.
You will need strong communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team, which is often remote, alongside other programmers, UX designers, and project managers. You need to be able to apply your programming knowledge to solve complex problems, have attention to detail to detect and fix errors, and have a good understanding of version control.
SEO Specialist
Average Pay: US$21-48 per hour
An SEO specialist is an expert in search engine optimization. In a world where most people turn to a search engine whenever they have a question that needs answering or a problem that needs solving, designing and developing online content that ranks high in search results is imperative for most businesses.
As an SEO specialist, you will focus on enhancing the visibility of certain websites on search engine results pages (SERPs) using techniques such as keyword research, content optimization, link building, and technical website improvements. You will also analyze traffic to develop new strategies.
There are often no specific qualifications required, though a minimum of a bachelor’s degree is often listed in job descriptions. Professional training with specific tools such as Google Analytics, Moz, SEMrush, and HubSpot is often desirable.
Being able to show hands-on experience with SEO and demonstrate the impact that your work had on improving search rankings and engagement is a compelling way to engage potential clients.
Social Media and Community Manager
Average Pay: US$23-46 per hour
Businesses and other organizations increasingly use social media platforms to build, engage, and manage online communities for marketing and engagement, and to embrace user-generated content. A social media and community manager is responsible for those communities.
The role involves creating and curating content, responding to comments and messages, monitoring social media trends, and analyzing engagement data to refine social media strategies.
While there are often no specific qualifications required, relevant qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or public relations. Skill with content creation tools is also desirable. More important is experience in social media management, and being able to show how your contribution made a notable impact on engagement. Strong analytics skills are a must for developing strategies and demonstrating impact.
Software Engineer
Average Pay: US$45-63 per hour
Software Engineer is a broad job title for roles that can be highly varied. In general, they apply principles of software engineering to the design, development, maintenance, testing, and evaluation of software and systems that can do a variety of things. You will probably find yourself analyzing user needs, designing software solutions, potentially writing and testing code, and integrating applications with systems and networks.
As a software engineer, you will often work closely with clients, data analysts, graphic artists, and other engineers, so strong collaboration and communication skills are a must.
You will often need a degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field, and potentially professional certificates in certain programming languages, technologies, and project methodologies. A portfolio of successfully delivered software products is often used to obtain new clients.
Translator
Average Pay: US$28-188 per hour
As the world becomes increasingly international, translators that help bridge language barriers are in increasing demand. If you speak multiple languages, there are many opportunities for you.
If you work remotely, you will probably work mostly with written material, but you may also be asked to participate in virtual meetings, translating verbally or creating subtitles in real-time. Creating subtitles for video content is also in high demand.
Translators will often specialize in specific fields such as legal or medical as they use specialist language that requires specific knowledge. It also requires that translations are checked for accuracy and so won’t tend to use online translation tools.
To find jobs you will want to be able to show language fluency, and often expertise in the subject matter you will be translating. You can also obtain certifications for recognized professional associations such as the American Translators Association (ATA) and the Institute for Translation and Interpreting (ITI).
Travel Blogger
Average Pay: US$17-57 per hour
Many digital nomads decide to leverage their travel experience as a source of income by sharing travel information, advice, and experience online. They generate income by monetizing their site to make money on engagement, through affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and guest content on other platforms.
You can find work as a travel blogger for large travel websites, though this falls into the freelance writer category. If you are managing your own site you need to know about writing and content creation, photography and videography, search engine optimization, social media, website management, and digital marketing.
As well as travel experience, you need to be good at networking and selling yourself to gain the partnerships and collaborations that are the most lucrative.
Video Content Creator
Average Pay: US$14-23
Video has become one of the most popular mediums for engaging audiences, so there is a high demand for video content creators who can create engaging content from scratch, or work with clients to convert their assets into engaging video content. You will be working to push content to a variety of platforms, typically YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and other social media channels.
Experience is generally valued over qualifications, but courses in video production, editing software, and digital marketing are all highly beneficial. You need skills and experience in video production, video editing, content development, SEO, and social media.
Creativity and communication are also essential when it comes to creating compelling video. A portfolio or content and collaborations is often what clients will ask to see when hiring.
Virtual Assistant
Average Pay: US$14-26 per hour
A Virtual Assistant is an administrative assistant that provides administrative, technical, or creative assistance to clients remotely. They tend to work with entrepreneurs, businesses, and professionals who are on the move or work in remote teams.
Tasks vary widely depending on the client but can include managing emails, scheduling appointments, handling social media accounts, performing data entry, preparing reports, bookkeeping, customer service, and more.
There are usually no specific qualifications required, but a minimum education level or experience level is often specified in job ads. You will often need experience with specific remote working tools such as Slack.
Web Designer and Developer
Average Pay: US$28-55 per hour
An increasing number of businesses and just individuals want to have their own websites but don’t have the skills and expertise to design and develop the site, which is outsourced to a Web Designer and Developer.
The role includes both the aesthetic design and technical development of the site, often using established web platforms such as WordPress so that the site can then be handed off to the client to manage. You need to know about graphic design, user experience design, and website development.
Clients tend to focus on experience and work portfolios rather than experience, but a degree in computer science or web design is often desirable. You also need strong communication skills to understand what the client needs, create something to engage their target audience and manage the website handover.
Where to Find Remote Jobs
If you are specifically looking for remote jobs and freelance jobs, there are many online resources out there that advertise fully remote jobs. Below are some of the best places to start.
- FlexJobs: currently advertising almost 40,000 jobs in more than 50 career categories including from big-name employers such as Apple, Pearson, Salesforce, and Xerox.
- WeWorkRemotely: in operation since 2017, create a daily digest to get emails with new jobs in your chosen career category.
- Remote: has won scores of awards for their work connecting remote workers with the best opportunities.
- ARC: is specifically for remote developers. Search for jobs and create an online profile so that employers can find you.
- JustRemote: in addition to listing thousands of fully and partially remote jobs., the site offers a range of resources for developing the skills to work remotely.
- Remotive: search for jobs online or sign up for a bi-monthly email with new listings in your career area. Includes software development, design, marketing, sales, customer service, finance, human resources, and more.
- Working Nomads: search more than 25,000 jobs online or sign up for daily or weekly curated job lists via email.
- PowerToFly: specifically targeting women in tech, search and apply for open roles, participate in online networking events and job fairs, and find tailored career advice.
- Authentic Jobs: remote job board specifically for designers, developers, and creative professionals.
- AngelList: job listing board specifically for remote jobs with startups.
- Outsourcely: search for remote jobs in categories such as design and multimedia, web development, writing and content creation, customer services, sales and marketing, and more.
- Virtual Vocations: features remote roles in fields such as technical writing and paralegal.
- EuropeRemotely: remote jobs in European time zones.
If you are pursuing freelance opportunities, there are many marketplaces with hundreds of one-off and long-term projects listed daily. Some of the most popular are listed below but be aware that most charge fees on your earnings.
- Upwork: one of the biggest platforms for freelance jobs.
- Freelancer: more than 13 million users exchanging freelance gigs.
- Fiverr: find freelance micro jobs to help build up your portfolio.
- Designhill: creatives freelance job marketplace where you can also create a portfolio.
- TopTal: connects business consultants with freelance corporate opportunities.
- Behance: marketplace and network for creatives, search jobs, and get found with an online portfolio.
- Gun.io: freelance platform specifically for web developers; sign up through GitHub.
- Dribbble: a place for freelance web designers to share portfolios and search for current opportunities.
These websites manage payments between clients and freelancers to provide a level of security. Often, after working together for a time, clients will ask you to take relationships off-platform to avoid fees. This is fine, but make sure trust has been established.
Tips for Applying for Remote Work Roles
In many ways, applying for fully remote jobs is just like applying for any other role. You should be qualified for the job, be able to show how your skills and experience can be applied to the challenges of the role, and demonstrate how you can have a positive impact on the company.
But getting a job also often depends on demonstrating how you will be able to work as part of the team and integrate into the company culture. When jobs are fully remote, this can be even more important due to the challenges of managing remote teams. There can also be a greater emphasis on skills such as self-motivation and time management since you will be working more independently.
With that in mind, below are some essential tips for successfully applying for remote jobs.
Highlight Remote Skills and Experience
Adapting to fully remote work is not always easy, so employers appreciate candidates who have the skills and experience to be productive from day one. If you have previously worked remotely or had a hybrid role, ensure that you mention this.
You should also highlight remote skills, which include soft skills such as self-motivation, time management, and good communication, but also specific skills such as managing Slack teams, facilitating Zoom meetings, and organizing shared document systems and versioning control.
Learn the Jargon
While it is often good advice to avoid jargon, when employers are skimming scores of applications, including a few remote work keywords can help your application stand out. Consider terms such as hybrid work environment, remote-first teams, telecommuting, distributed workforce, virtual meetings, and so forth.
Be Prepared to Explain Why
Employers will often want to know why you want to work fully remotely. While answers such as not having to commute and wanting the ability to travel are understandable reasons, they aren’t going to tick any boxes for employers.
While you can certainly mention your personal reasons, it is also a good idea to mention things such as valuing the ability to collaborate with a range of inspiring international colleagues, and how the ability to travel enhances your productivity by helping you maintain a better work-life balance and also enhances your creativity.
Think about your Online Presence
Often, especially if you are looking for freelance opportunities, employers and clients will look you up online to understand who you are and what you bring to the table. You should ensure that what they find makes you an attractive catch.
Keep your professional profiles, such as LinkedIn, up-to-date and active where possible. Keep your social media profiles relevant, clean, or private. If you are a creative, ensure that you have an accessible online profile where you can highlight your work.
Employed or Self-Employed?
If you want to become a digital nomad, should you be looking for an employment contract with a specific company or self-employed freelance contracts? It all depends.
An employment contract with a company can offer more job and financial security but can be less flexible as they are more likely to dictate how you work, for example, specific work hours. As a freelancer, you have more freedom to manage when and how you work, but you need to spend more time seeking out new job opportunities. Furthermore, your income can be less secure and more unpredictable.
But the other big thing to consider is whether you are eligible for the employment contracts that you want. When companies create jobs, including remote jobs, they need to locate that job in a specific country and be licensed to hire people in that country. Therefore, for example, a US company will create their jobs in the US.
To qualify for that job, you must therefore have the right to work in the US. This is true even if you intend to do the job from somewhere else because the job is registered in the US market. Other rules also apply to the vacancy. For example, if the company wants to hire a foreign employee and obtain a work visa for them, they will have to show that they could not fill the vacancy in the US market.
When big companies advertise internationally open fully remote jobs, they will often list regions from where they are accepting applications. For example, a company might accept applications from the US, Canada, EU, UK, and Australia. This suggests that the company has outposts in all of those countries, and therefore is licensed to create jobs in those countries. Your contract will therefore be based on where you have the right to work.
Furthermore, when you obtain one of these fully remote jobs, there will often be terms and conditions on where you can do your job. For example, Airbnb has a Work from Anywhere policy. However, US employees must maintain tax residency in the US because this is where their contract says that the company will pay their tax and social security contributions. Therefore, this means that the employee must retain an address in the US, and employees cannot spend more than six months in any one country, as this is normally the threshold for changing tax residency.
This is why many companies hire international talent on a contract basis. This means that you are working for the company as a self-employed person, and therefore managing your own tax and social security contributions. This also means that the company cannot dictate when or how work is done, but only the final output.
For many digital nomads, this is a much more convenient way to find work, but it can limit job opportunities and job security.
Finding a Digital Nomad Job in 2024
The work landscape has changed so much in the last five years that remote job opportunities and no longer unusual. However, as is the case with any desirable job, you need to ensure that you stand out from the competition. This often involves demonstrating that you can work effectively in a remote environment, and how working remotely can enhance your contribution.
But there is no doubt that there has never been a better time to find digital nomad-compatible remote jobs.
