13 Popular Location Independent Jobs – Say Goodbye To The Office
So, you want to gain some freedom and stop working that office job of yours.
This was the exact position I was in back in 2020. I was working a 9-to-5 job I hated, and I was stuck in my old college town with no flexibility.
But since then, a lot has changed. I've now been living as a digital nomad for the last few years, and I've worked remotely from 10+ countries and six continents.
In this time, I've also met a lot of people who are doing the same. And that's why this guide is covering some of the most popular location independent jobs you can also use to gain more freedom.
The Best Location Independent Jobs
If you're ready to make money with your laptop while being completely location independent, the following jobs are excellent options.
1. Freelance Writing
Freelance writing is one of my favorite methods for making money online. And this is actually the gig that helped me become location independent back in 2019.
At the time, I was working a day job at a digital marketing agency. But, I began freelance writing on the side to make extra cash. After a few months, my freelance writing income was beginning to catch up to my day job's income.
So, I did what anyone would do and booked a one-way ticket to Medellin, Colombia, and started my first location independent job!
Freelance writing is ideal for location independence for a few reasons. For one, all you need is a laptop and Internet connection and you're good to go. Plus, it can be a very lucrative side hustle if you become a niche expert and gain experience.
Some of my top writing clients pay $500 per article; more than enough to cover the cost of living for a while in many places in the world.
Pro Tip: Check out my new eBook, Freelance Writing For Freedom, to learn how I scaled from $0 to $100,000+ in writing income.
2. Online Tutor
Online tutoring jobs are an incredibly popular location independent job, and it's no surprise many digital nomads turn to them to pay the bills. After all, native English speakers have immediate value in many foreign countries as English is one of the most popular languages to learn in the world.
ESL tutoring jobs generally pay between $15-$24/hour depending on the platform, experience levels, and bonuses, and there are plenty of websites or apps where you can become a teacher.
Many tutoring websites also don't require their tutors to have a degree, so the barrier to entry is low. Additionally, most platforms cater to the Asian marketplace, so working hours would be ideal for any digital nomads living in the region.
I suggest checking out Qkids and BookNook to find tutoring roles. You can also check out PalFish, Chegg, and dozens of other sites.
3. Blogger
Blogging is another one of my main income sources. And starting WebMonkey has let me travel to six continents and over a dozen countries in just the last three years.
Blogging is also an excellent location independent job because you're in control. It's your business, so you make your own hours.
Plus, blogging can be incredibly lucrative. As a full-time blogger, I made $272,000 in 2022. And this year, WebMonkey is pacing to pass $600,000.
I make money blogging through affiliate income, sponsorships, and Mediavine display ads. But a lot of bloggers I've met who are also location independent sell courses, coaching, and digital products.
The downside to this job is that it takes a long time to scale into a business. But blogging is worth it if you're creative, willing to hustle, and want to be your own boss.
4. Website Designer
Website design and programming are always going to be in demand. There is simply too much technological growth in this world for there not to be.
Most of the people I met abroad who were working remote side hustles or jobs were also website designers. I also met a lot of software developers and graphic designers.
All of these online jobs are generally high-paying. Plus, they lend themselves well to freelancing for clients or short-term projects or on an hourly basis.
Pro Tip: You can find high-paying, flexible and fully remote jobs with FlexJobs!
5. Virtual Assistant
If you're looking for a job that offers freedom and flexibility, becoming a virtual assistant might be a good path to take.
Virtual assistants can help businesses or bloggers with a variety of tasks. Social media management, email and customer service support, and general administrative tasks are a common part of a VA's day.
If you can successfully network with online business owners in your niche, you might be able to find clients that are willing to outsource these sorts of tasks to you.
A few clients is realistically all you need to start bringing in a decent income every month while working from home. In fact, according to Indeed, the average virtual assistant makes $1,000 a week:
Pro Tip: I recommend joining Facebook groups related to your niche or blogging Facebook groups; VA requests are posted here all the time! You can also find virtual assistant jobs on websites like Fancy Hands.
6. Social Media Manager
A friend and I ran paid advertising campaigns for businesses to make money in college, but ads aren't the only online service business owners are willing to pay for.
Social media management can be a critical component of growing both local and global businesses. But many business owners don't have the time or ability to run a high quality account and engage with customers.
If you have experience with social media management and customer service, you can probably find local businesses in your community or network that need assistance. You might not be able to charge a high amount before you gain experience or larger clients, but a few clients could still result in a steady stream of work and income.
One of my friends currently lives in downtown Toronto (very expensive) and makes his living through social media management and gig jobs like Uber Eats, so anything is possible!
7. Consultant
Consulting is another popular, high-paying location independent job. And this is also something I've done in the past to make money while traveling.
Personally, I've been paid as an SEO and paid ads consultant in the past. I found my clients on Upwork, and my best ever contract was for $3,000 a month:
This is just one example of how you can turn consulting into location independence. Fields like legal, human resources, accounting, and business development can also lend themselves well to consulting.
The main downside is you really need to know your stuff and have a decent network. But again, you can turn to platforms like Upwork or your own network on LinkedIn to find opportunities.
8. Editor & Proofreader
While content writing is a common job for many digital nomads, proofreading and editing work is also high in demand.
Many content writers often tack on these services as an additional business line they offer, and this isn't a bad way for full-time writers to expand their income streams.
Proofreaders generally charge anywhere from $10-$45/hour, and editors can easily charge upwards of $50+ per hour if they are experienced.
Having a portfolio is incredibly helpful for securing editing jobs, and you will probably want to stick within the same niche to increase your authority on the subject.
9. Customer Support Agent
These days, many businesses turn to outsourcing to meet their custom support needs, and this presents an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to make money remotely.
You also don't have to work in a call center to be a customer support agent. Plenty of companies are willing to let their customer services agents be fully location independent if they have some experience and referrals.
Customer service agents have an average hourly wage of $17.40 according to studies, although you could probably earn more if you worked in a specific role like tech support.
Extra Reading – The Best Work From Home Jobs That Don't Have Phone Calls.
10. Influencer
Content creators, or influencers, are another common categories of location independent jobs. And while it's easy to poke fun at that couple taking photos on a beach, or that vlogger walking around with a camera, being an influencer is a real job.
I've made plenty of YouTube videos while traveling, including some vlogs. And these days, my channel is making $100 a day just through Google AdSense revenue:
I'm not even in the travel niche or digital nomad space either. But content creators who are can often snag free flights, trips, and accommodation to help make location independent life that much easier.
11. Copywriter
Copywriting is the process of designing copy to promote a product or service while encouraging consumers to purchase. Web page design and content writing, ad copy creation, and promotional banners or materials all constitute copywriting.
Copywriting is immensely valuable for businesses because anything that increases conversion rates can increase profit. The development of an effective sales funnel is something that many companies are willing to pay considerable money for.
Plus, after reading this pretty neat story on Reddit about how someone started their own copywriting business through trial and error, I truly think copywriting could be a great option for anyone with a background in sales or marketing.
12. Transition From Your Current Job
Location independent work is becoming more common and accepted by employers. So if your current job doesn't deal directly with clients or require you to be 100% in the office, you might be able to start working from home or abroad.
This is exactly what I did when I was working at that digital marketing agency…I first got every Friday as work-from-home, then a few remote months, until I eventually went fully location independent.
Talk to your employer, make a case for why you can leave the office, and show results. If your productivity increases with you being location independent, it's a no-brainer to keep things that way.
My Experience With Becoming Location Independent
Like I mentioned, I've tried numerous location independent jobs over the years. And during this time, I've lived and worked on six continents, including places like Dubai, Cape Town, Thailand, Indonesia, and Colombia.
All of the travel, the new experiences, the new friends, and the new places has been possible because of gaining location independence. And it really wasn't rocket science or luck either.
All it took was starting new online side hustles, making a game plan, and sticking to it. There are so many places on earth with low costs of living as well, so you don't need to have the highest paying digital nomad job or business either.
Again, I suggest getting into freelancing, looking on Upwork, Fiverr, or trying platforms like FlexJobs. You should be able to find some remote arrangement with some determination and practice.
Extra Reading – How To Make Money Online For Beginners.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, I understand why there is a growing body of followers for the digital nomad movement. People like choices. The freedom to escape working the traditional 9-to-5 office job is certainly an easy idea to fall in love with.
Judging by how the last few years have gone, it's also clear that location independent jobs are here to stay. More and more companies are becoming comfortable with this, or even shutting down office buildings. So, there's never been a better time to get started.
Thanks for reading, and happy travels!
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