If you think that the only way to earn a decent income is by leaving the house and working outside of the home, think again. You can earn a solid income without stepping one foot outside of your front door. A Global Workplace Analytics study found that the number of work-from-home employees has increased by 115 percent from 2005 to 2017, and that number keeps growing. In this article, we will share some of the best work at home jobs that actually pay you money.
1. Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant provides administrate, technical, or creative support to companies. If you opt for a work-from-home career as a virtual assistant, you can even base your services around your background. For instance, if you have a legal background, you could tweak your services to accommodate legal clients. This might include calendar management, legal research, or working as a virtual legal receptionist.
Or perhaps you consider yourself a social media guru. You can offer your services as a virtual assistant specializing in social media by managing social content and ads.
Average Salary = $33,427
2. Freelance Writer or Editor
If you have a way with words or an eye for grammatical errors, then you might consider utilizing those skills as a freelance writer or editor. As a freelance writer/editor, you compose/edit written content for various companies.
To be successful as a freelance writer, you’ll want to pick a niche. If you market yourself simply as “Freelance Writer”, then you will find yourself limited to just the lower-paying jobs. Take some time to research a particular industry and become a specialist at writing for it. For instance, you could present yourself as a “Freelance Writer for B2B Companies” or “Finance Writer.”
Once you’ve narrowed your niche, you can find various writing positions on websites such as UpWork.com or ProBlogger.com. If you aren’t sure what your niche is just yet, you can try out a few general projects until you figure out where you thrive. You’ll also want to keep in mind that while some writers land a job at one company, most freelance writers and editors have multiple clients.
Average Salary = $63,830
3. Transcription Specialist
Transcription specialists are often needed in the corporate, financial, legal, and medical industries. Transcriptionists listen to audio files and transcribe them into text files. This requires that you type quickly and accurately. Many vocational schools offer transcriptionist certification--while certification is not a requirement for the job, it could make you more hireable.
Average Salary = $35,250
4. Customer Service Call Representative
When you’re calling into your phone company to fix an error on your bill, there’s a good chance that you’re chatting with someone who is working from home. Customer service representatives handle online or phone discussions with customers. Most of these calls involve customer complaints or troubleshooting.
Since many companies are looking for around-the-clock customer service, this is a job that can potentially work around your schedule. It’s also a position that tends to require little experience.
Average Salary = $35,147
5. Web Developer/Designer
Nearly every company needs to have a website, which is why there is a great need for web developers/designers. These developers create a website’s layout and add on appropriate applications (for example, e-commerce tools). This position does require a certain level of understanding of coding (JavaScript, HTML5, jQuery, etc) and usually an associate degree in web programming.
Average Salary = $67,990
6. Data Entry
Many businesses hire remote workers to enter data into their systems. This includes data such as inventory, shipments, customer information, etc.
The minimum education requirement for a data entry employee is normally a high school diploma or GED equivalent. These jobs do require that you be a proficient typist--many companies have requirements on the minimum number of keystrokes per hour.
Average Salary = $31,442
7. Bookkeeper
Businesses often need bookkeepers to manage their cashflow. These individuals handle payroll processing, producing financial statements, and more.
The minimum education requirement for a bookkeeper is a high school diploma, although some employers look for someone who holds an associate degree in business or accounting. Employers value bookkeepers who are accurate as well as knowledgeable about keeping a general ledger and processing important financial documents.
Average Salary = $42,536
8. Insurance
The insurance industry as a whole tends to function using a large number of remote employees. This includes positions such as underwriters, appraisers, case managers, and even insurance agents.
The minimum education requirements tend to vary based on the position, but many positions require at least a high school diploma.
Average Salary = $40,000
9. Online Education
Another viable option for working from home is by becoming an online educator. Many online institutions hire remote instructors for positions such as teaching an online college course or teaching English to students in China.
The minimum education requirement for this job varies depending on the position. For example, college courses normally require that the instructor have a master’s degree in an appropriate field.
Average Salary = $46,406
10. Graphic Designers
If you have an eye for design, then working as a graphic designer might be a fantastic option for you. Companies often turn to freelance artists to design company ads, logos, brochures, and more.
This position requires a strong understanding of illustration software and a sometimes even a bachelor’s degree in graphic design.
Average Salary = $43,519
Conclusion
While this list includes many major online positions, it is not exhaustive. We’ve left out some riskier employment options, such as entrepreneurships, MLMs, and blogs. These positions tend to take some time to start up and don’t provide you with immediate cash flow (nor a guarantee of future cash flow), but could potentially in the long run.
Finding work-from-home jobs is not as difficult as it might sound. Websites such as Upwork, Monster.com, and Indeed post hundreds of remote positions each day. But a word of warning: keep an eye out for fraudulent sites. Always search on a reputable site (such as the ones mentioned here) and be skeptical of companies that make you invest money in order to get the job.
Resources:
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Freelance-Writer-Salary
- https://www.thebalancecareers.com/work-from-home-careers-3542835
- https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/make-money/legitimate-work-from-home-jobs/
- https://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/10-best-and-real-work-at-home-jobs-1.aspx
- https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2012/demo/p70-132.html
- https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/technology/blog/everything-about-becoming-web-developer/
- https://www.bls.gov/
