The 52 Best Online Jobs in 2023: What they Pay and Where to Find Them

by , Updated
All of our reviews and recommendations are completely impartial but some posts may include affiliate links that can earn us a commission. Click here for details.

Many people have recently had a chance to work from home, and the demand for online jobs is skyrocketing.

The good news is there are SO many different ways to work online that you have plenty to choose from. 

There will always be some jobs that require a physical presence. But, there are also MANY more that you can do perfectly well from anywhere – with just a computer and an internet connection.

So, with a bit of effort, you will almost certainly find something that suits your skills and combines flexibility with the potential to earn a great income.

Table Of Contents
 [show]

What are Online Jobs?

If you can work from home on your laptop or computer using the internet, you’re probably doing an online job. 

Some are remote jobs, where you work for a company or small business. You get paid regular wages or a salary and receive benefits, health insurance, equal opportunity assurances and bonuses just like a regular office job. 

But instead of traipsing into the office every day, you do the work online and at home. 

Some people prefer to own an online business. If that sounds more like you, there are two main options. 

You could become a freelancer — owning your own business but contracting out to other people. If freelancing is entirely new to you, and it all seems a bit intimidating, take a look at this great course, which will help everything become clear!

Or, you could become a solopreneur and start selling a service or even products from home. 

What is THE Best Online Work at Home Job?

Only you can decide which online job is best for you. 

It helps to understand the primary focus of your search. In other words, why do you want to work from home?

Are you focused on: 

  • Making money to pay the bills?
  • Following your dream or passion?
  • Having a flexible lifestyle?

Then clarify your thinking with some further questions.

  1. Can you work from home part-time, to begin with? 

Part-time work, aka a side hustle or side gig, could be a great option if you’re just looking for more money to pay the bills. It can also be a great trial to see if you like that job and see it as a realistic full-time possibility.

  1. Do you need further study?

If you’re starting a new career, you may need to take a course first. Or you may be able to work part-time to gain experience and do an online course to get the qualifications you need to get ahead. 

  1. Do you want to work for a business or be your own employer? 

Once you have those details worked out, it’s time to explore your options. That’s where our list of online and remote jobs ideas comes in. So, let’s get started.

Online Jobs in Writing and Editing

1. Proof-Reader / Editor

Pay rates: Remote proofreader: $12 – $30 per hour (Payscale, US.) Freelance Editor: Average pay rate $69,599 per year (Zip Recruiter)

If you’re good at noticing details and have an eye for spelling and grammar errors, proofreading might be a great online career path for you. On the other hand, if you’re great at noticing how writing could be improved — and you’re both diplomatic and firm — then editing might be the way to go.

Being an editor could mean making alterations and adding comments to documents created in Microsoft Word. You might be making changes to blog articles before they’re published or even providing feedback on papers and essays before they are submitted.

Freelance job boards are rich leads for editing work of all kinds. Alternatively, you could approach businesses and contacts directly or online via LinkedIn. If you want to make money with an online job as an editor, we have a detailed article on becoming an editor here.

Perfect grammar and strong organisational skills are essential for proofreaders. There are many conventions to follow, and if you’ve never tried proofreading before, there are lots of courses out there.  

Proofread Anywhere from Caitlyn Pile is one of the most popular courses around. Caitlyn’s story of being fired and seizing the chance to start a freelance proofreading business resonates with many online job seekers.

2. Blogger

Pay rates: $0 to more than $1000 per month

Writing a blog is a very popular form of freelance writing, although not all niches are lucrative. However, with a year or two of solid effort, it’s not unrealistic to expect to replace an average western full-time income with income from a blog. Plenty of people work happily from home making money from food blogs or mum and dad blogs.

Although you can blog part-time, it’s much harder to succeed because it takes so much time and effort.

Running a blog involves:

  • Writing a LOT of blog posts
  • Forming online partnerships with advertisers and other bloggers
  • Researching keywords and learning about SEO
  • Constantly looking for the next product or angle that will help you make money from your blog
  • Creating and maintaining an email list
  • Learning the technical skills required for a successful blog – it’s undeniable that the more technically-minded you are, the easier you will find the process.

Our own article on starting a blog for beginners is a good starting point. Then head over to Problogger, a site dedicated to all things blogging. Their “31 Days to Build a Better Blog” is one of the most well-respected courses around. Find out all the advantages of blogging here.

3. Article Writer

Pay rates: $10 – 200 per article. $31,000 – $89,000 per year (Payscale US.)

Article writers spend their time writing reviews, product round-ups, and all kinds of other content. There are many places to find freelance writing jobs, from freelancing websites to specialised job boards like ProBlogger Jobs. Some firms also take on their own internal writers, if you prefer the idea (and relative security) of having an employer.

You do need a flair for writing, perfect spelling, grammar and punctuation, which you can check through Grammarly or similar apps. 

However, being a subject matter expert in a particular topic is often equally important. If you have specific knowledge in a particular topic – anything from medicine to vegan food to cybersecurity – starting to search for gigs online in that area is always a great move.

Why not read my freelance writing story? There are many down-to-earth and honest articles about becoming a freelance writer here on HomeWorkingClub. Here’s how I personally got started as a writer.

4. Content Strategist

Pay rates: $200 per day. $97,000 per year (Payscale, US.)

Experienced content strategists typically take control of all the content production for a business or website. 

They:

  • Control the content calendar.
  • Come up with ideas for new features and articles.
  • Manage writers.
  • Write and edit articles of their own.

This is the kind of job you can sometimes do “in-house” as an employee, as well as from home – so you can search on both freelance sites and traditional job sites like FlexJobs.

Content strategists are usually people who have been writing professionally for some time and have learned everything involved in running a website, business blog, or social media. 

These jobs are a great way to combine creative work with managing a small team and getting more involved in the business side of things. You can learn more about the details of online jobs like this.

5. PR Writer

Pay rates: $30 to $100 per press release (freelance job boards) Network with the right clients for more.

Writing for PR (Public Relations) purposes is a distinct freelance writing skill that aims to create hooks and attract attention and coverage from journalists. 

PR writers create press releases and articles, work directly with clients to learn their business objectives, and sometimes pitch stories to journalists.

It’s an attractive proposition for people with previous PR agency experience who want to “go it alone” in the freelance world. As well as excellent writing skills, you’ll need the ability to create soundbites and interesting data and to understand how journalists work. 

There’s lots of demand for individual press releases on online job platforms like Upwork and PeoplePerHour. PR agencies also often hire full-time writers.

This guide to writing press releases will give you a good idea of whether PR writing is a great job for you.

6. Sales Writer

Pay rates: $25 – $250 per hour. (Upwork)

If you can write persuasive sales copy, you could find yourself in a high paying freelance writing niche. Good quality clients are prepared to pay big bucks for copy that converts and makes them money. 

Work includes:

  • Writing sales letters (often for internet marketing sites).
  • Writing email marketing copy.
  • Creating other content intended to engage readers.
  •  Developing strong calls to action to convince potential clients to buy or sign up for things.

Sales writing is a distinct skill. You’ll need a knack for sales writing and an understanding of buyer psychology. 

Examples of past work that’s been proven to convert are crucial to landing high paying jobs. You can find plenty of well-reviewed courses on Udemy.

7. Author

Pay rates: variable 

Nowadays, people can and do make money enough for a decent living from self-published books on platforms like Amazon KDP and CreateSpace.

Of course, if you’re self-publishing, you’ll also need to learn about typesetting and pricing, cover design and marketing. Many authors now have a website and a blog to help promote their work. 

All you need is your inspiration to start in this online job. Whether you want to write a non-fiction book about a subject you know about or have a crack at the next Harry Potter, all you need to do is find the inspiration and get started writing. 

I have self-published a book myself and wrote this article about my experiences of publishing it.

Online Jobs with Foreign Languages

8. Translator

Pay rates: $38,410 – 72,630 per year (US News) Freelance: $30 – $50 per hour 

If you’re multilingual, translators are in huge demand. Businesses and agencies need quality translations that beat the output from systems like Google Translate. 

Your writing and verbal communication skills will need to be perfect in both/all the languages you plan to work in. Reliability and professionalism are essential for this job. Good computer skills will help you keep on top of processing the work.

Big firms sometimes put translators on the payroll if job security is your priority. Otherwise, you will find plenty of jobs on the freelance boards, or you can sign up with an agency. Generally, freelance translators with specialities tend to make more money since they get to set their pay rates. 

We have a dedicated feature on working as a translator here. 

9. Localisation Specialist

Pay rates: average rate $60,000 per year (Payscale)

A step beyond simple translation, localisation specialists typically work with businesses to help them operate in multiple territories. 

The work involves the technical aspects of setting up in different countries using foreign languages. Localisation specialists also usually ensure everything is culturally suitable and relevant for the various markets. You could find yourself often having to rewrite the source text.

Large businesses often hire localisation specialists, and it’s not unusual for these to be work from home jobs. You’ll find many freelance opportunities in this field too.

10. Language Tutor

Pay rates: Estimated $15-25 per hour, depending on the platform 

There’s tons of global demand for language tutors and many online jobs in the field. 

Teaching jobs can vary from highly informal offerings such as an online tutor on Fiverr to formal online teaching positions with language learning businesses.

Teaching English as a foreign language is particularly popular among online teaching jobs. These jobs often ask you to have TESOL training or experience before applying. 

Still, whatever your native language, the chances are you’ll find children, college students and adults who want to learn it. 

There are lots of platforms that can link you up with potential students. Well-known options include VIPKid, Preply, Italki and QKids. 

Some online positions require a bachelor’s degree, but some consider your teaching experience and credentials instead. Most crucial is your mastery of the language you are planning to teach.

11. Online Interpreter

Pay rates: averages $38 per hour (Zip Recruiter)

Video conferencing has created lots of great job options for interpreters. You could be doing anything from helping doctors communicate with patients to being a middle-man in telephone conversations between people speaking different languages.

As interpreting happens in real-time, you need to be efficient and accurate and able to work under pressure. Flawless language skills are also, of course, a must – and sign language is in high demand too.

Interpretation job seekers can work directly with companies or as independent contractors. 

As an online interpreter, you can work from home as long as you have a quiet, distraction-free workspace. Check both freelance sites and traditional remote jobs websites.

Jobs in Sales and Customer Service Roles

12. Sales Representative

Pay rates: often minimum wage. Average rate $48,963 per year (Payscale US)

Plenty of organisations offer online jobs from home to salespeople. There are plenty of sales roles in our own listing of businesses hiring home-based employees, including those for car hire and travel firms.

Generally speaking, you can either sell or you can’t, but businesses usually look for proven sales experience. You also need to be persistent and resilient, especially if you’re making outbound sales. Usually, you will be doing a phone-based role, either inbound or outbound, helping customers choose products and persuading them to buy more of them.

Sales jobs are not for the faint-hearted and are often commission-based. So, if you feel like you need to learn more, Udemy has a best-selling course on sales techniques here.

13. Account Manager

Pay rates: average base salary $55,358 (Indeed) to $85,000 (LinkedIn)

There’s considerable cross-over between sales rep and account manager roles. Still, an account manager role is generally more senior and usually in a business-to-business environment.  

Account managers act as the link between a company and its clients. That means selling, providing quotes, and cultivating long-term relationships. 

You’ll need strong sales experience in a professional firm and the usual blend of determination and resilience. Specific industry knowledge is often a prerequisite, especially if you want to make money in sectors like tech and healthcare.

When we put together our list of companies who recruit for work from home jobs, we noticed several account manager jobs with big-name businesses. It makes sense for firms to allow people to carry out these roles working from home, as it reduces their overheads and office expenses.

14. Customer Service Representative / Call Centres

Pay rates: $10 – $12 per hour

Upwork predicts that customer service skills will be in high demand this year. So, If you’re happy to do phone-based / call centre work, but you’d rather not be selling, look for customer service jobs instead. You’ll answer calls, send emails, and help with customer queries in all kinds of different industries. 

Some customer service roles are “entry-level,” allowing you to get started with limited experience so long as you have the right attributes. These include professionalism, reliability and a good telephone manner.

While some firms want you to be in the office, many others now allow their customer service people to work from home. 

Or, perhaps you could even set up a small customer service business. That can be a great way to make money online by servicing multiple clients.

Find these jobs by having a browse on FlexJobs for call centre opportunities, or check the freelancing websites like Upwork.  

15. Affiliate Marketer

Pay rates: Variable, depending on your experience, marketing skills and the size of your target audiences.

Have you heard of this job title before? A close relative of blogging, affiliate marketing is all about reviewing and recommending products and services. If people read your content and buy the product(s), you receive a commission.

Online affiliate marketers: 

  • Set up websites.
  • Learn SEO to help each website rank in Google.
  • Review and write about the products you’d like to try to sell.

There aren’t many job ads for affiliate marketers; rather it’s something you do for yourself. 

However, you do need to be a decent writer and have a passion for the product/service niche you plan to write about. 

Affiliate marketing is a HUGE topic, so the more you learn about SEO and technology, the better your chance of success. It’s also well worth checking out the hugely popular Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course, which is reviewed here.

16. Live Chat Operative

Pay rates: Averages $11 per hour

Many people would rather interact with companies via live online chat than pick up the phone.

Working as an online live chat operative, you will be interacting with potential or current clients on behalf of companies. To do this job, you’ll need excellent written English and the ability to navigate technology very quickly.

Search results for these online jobs could turn up anything from customer service for a utility supplier to running the chatrooms on a bingo site. 

These roles can be great as they get you off the phone but can still be fast-paced. This Reddit thread contains some interesting insights from operatives with experience working in live chat.

17. Community Moderator

Pay rates: $40,000 or less, (ZipRecruiter.)

Moderating a community is similar to working on live chat. You could also be overseeing forums and discussions on social media, such as Twitter.

Companies often communicate on these  channels 24/7. This is one of those work from home jobs that can suit those who need to work unusual hours, including nights and weekends.

Community moderators:

  •  Manage user and customer interactions on online channels, such as chat rooms, forums and social media sites. 
  • Ensure users are sticking to the rules and trolls are kept at bay! 
  • Have good writing skills and the ability to work at a fast pace. 

Previous experience in managing groups and forums will certainly help. Here’s an interesting article on moderating online communities to give you some idea of the job.

If you’d prefer to work for yourself, it’s worth looking on the normal boards like Upwork and with firms like ModSquad, who specialise in such roles.

Legit Online Jobs in Education

18. Online Teacher / Tutor

Pay rates: $10 – $20 per hour

We’ve already covered language tutoring jobs above. Still, if you’re a specialist in any subject, the chances are you can teach people about it online. 

Start by offering one-to-one teaching in subjects you specialise in. You can teach anything, but there’s a particular demand for preparing students for exams or entrance to colleges.

Existing teaching experience is a big plus, but most important is expert knowledge in the subject(s) you want to teach and the ability to pass this knowledge on to others. 

Several tutoring platforms online let you apply to “set up shop” and offer your services. These include Preply and Wyzant. You can also look for more traditional style teaching jobs on job boards and at universities, as these are now offering college students more and more virtual learning opportunities.

19. Course Creator

Pay rates: variable

Many entrepreneurs make serious money online by creating online courses to sell. It’s an interesting business model because once you’ve put in the up-front effort, you can earn mostly passive income. This is one of the reasons many consider it to be one of the best online jobs. 

  • Identify your area of expertise
  • Find target audiences
  • Get to know them by creating free content and interacting with them in comments, surveys etc
  • Create the course using  Camtasia, Teachable, Udemy or another online course platform. Strong technical skills help with this.
  • Market your course on your website, social media and paid advertising.

You can create a course on literally anything – from self-defence to freelance writing to playing the piano, so long as you have the knack of sharing your knowledge with others.

Clerical / Secretarial Online Jobs From Home  

20. Virtual Assistant

Pay rates: $20 per hour is realistic, although many VAs work for less.

Being a virtual assistant is a good online job option for anyone with strong clerical and administrative skills who wants to work from home. 

Typically, a virtual assistant works by the hour, but you can also offer service “packages” in your strongest specialities.

A virtual assistant helps individuals and companies with all kinds of admin tasks, from booking travel to email management to keeping their social media accounts up to date. It’s worth remembering that doing your own marketing and finding those clients is also a key part of doing this job.

While there is a lot of competition in the virtual assistant space, there’s also tons of work. You will find clients on the freelance boards, LinkedIn, or even in the “real” world. This post on how to find new clients as a virtual assistant will definitely help.

21. Transcriber

Pay rates: $5 – $20 per hour depending on your speed and experience

You’ll likely come across lots of transcription jobs online when you’re looking for extra income. There’s a lot of demand for people who can accurately turn audio into text, with a wide variety of work out there. 

Transcribers are fast, accurate typists and previous experience will definitely help. The faster you can find your way around a computer, the easier you’ll find the work. And, whether you plan to work from home or some other location, you will need a quiet space for working

Generally, you’ll be listening to audio files and typing out the content. There are also plenty of specialist areas of transcription where you may be required to transcribe medical (see below) or technical detail.

Transcribers often work as freelancers instead of finding a full-time job. Our guide to online jobs for transcribers details the 27 best places to look for transcription work. 

If transcription sounds interesting but you’ve never done it before, Transcribe Anywhere is generally considered one of the best courses around.

22. Typing and Data Entry

Pay rates: $15 per hour (Indeed, US.)

As discussed in our guide to online typing jobs, a lot of the typing work out there is really transcription (as discussed above). 

However, if you are a skilled typist, you will find some work from people who need information typed out. Although it can be a great part-time online job, you won’t make a huge amount of money online from simple typing.

Work can include simple data entry jobs, closed captioning, and other tasks that often cross over with the work of a virtual assistant. You’ll need fast, accurate typing skills and good knowledge of word processors and other related software.

This type of online job can be great for college students. Mostly you’ll find jobs on the bidding sites. Micro working sites are also worth a look, so check out our review of Clickworker and this article on data entry work. 

In reality, while this kind of online work does exist, technology is reducing it. Be wary of handing over any money (or even your email address) to sketchy companies promising unrealistically lucrative employment.

Human Resources and Recruitment Online Jobs 

23. Recruitment Consultant

Pay rates: $35,000 – $86,000 per year (Payscale)

Recruitment work is easy to do from home, as much of it involves examining resumés, contacting candidates and matching candidates to jobs. Recruiters usually make their money by charging commission — but they’re only paid if they successfully place someone in a job!

Many people who set up shop as self-employed recruitment consultants have previously worked in the industry. They decide to go it alone once they have experience and – crucially – the right contacts. 

You’ll need to be highly professional, assertive and good with people. Also, be aware that there is a substantial “sales” element to recruitment, both in getting your candidates seen and picking up new roles to recruit for.

Some recruitment agencies hire recruiters for permanent positions. Alternatively, this is something you can do on a self-employed basis. Typically you will find clients via “traditional” networking rather than on the likes of Upwork and Freelancer. If you are interested in this type of online post, we have a case study from a professional recruiter here.

24. HR Representative

Pay rates: $30,000 – $90,000 per year or freelance rates of up to $300+ per day

You might think that HR staff need to be “on the ground”; however, the number of work from home jobs in the Human Resources category can be surprising. 

To get well-paid online jobs from home in Human Resources, you’ll need HR experience and specific qualifications. (Have a look at the CIPD website to learn about globally-recognised HR qualifications).

HR representatives need a host of attributes, including empathy, discretion, and professionalism. You’ll be writing policies and procedures, dealing with staff admin and employment issues, and getting involved with recruitment and interviews.

You may well find that if you work for a large company, the HR opportunities open to you as home online jobs are predominantly “back office” roles. As with recruitment work, you will find both permanent opportunities and freelancing options in the world of HR – so look on the usual job sites for “working from home jobs” and “remote,” or on the freelancing sites.

Online Jobs in Finance

25. Accountant / Bookkeeper

Pay rates: Accountants: $55,000 – $98,000 (Indeed). Bookkeepers average $42,000 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

As an accountant, you will help companies with day-to-day bookkeeping, tax returns, financial projections, and other money-related issues. 

If you want to work for yourself, do a quick search for “bookkeeper” on the Upwork website. Or you can find clients via word-of-mouth and other real-world networking techniques. 

Some companies hire finance staff directly for online jobs. If you’re in the US, take a look at the Accounting Department website. 

Our article Can Accountants Work From Home has all the information you’ll need to start working in this field, either as a remote worker or as a bookkeeping business owner.

26. Currency / Cryptocurrency Trader

Pay rates: variable

If you’re bold and enjoy “playing the markets,” trading currency or cryptocurrency is an online job with huge earning potential. You can make a fortune, but you could also lose the lot.

Currency/cryptocurrency traders buy and sell currency assets online. They study the markets and charts and (hopefully) make the right calls! 

There’s nothing to stop you from trading by yourself; you just need online accounts with the relevant platforms.

You can learn to trade by reading books and articles or taking a course, but keep in mind this is a risky business. 

Obviously, if you come from a professional trading background with a history of making the right decisions, you have more reason to be confident that this could be a suitable career.

Online Jobs in Healthcare

27. Work From Home Pharmacist / GP

Pay rates:  $24,500 – $129,500 (ZipRecruiter)

Not long ago, it would have felt like science fiction to speak to a doctor via a mobile app, but it’s quite commonplace now. 

Of course, you need proper qualifications on your resume for this kind of work. It’s a good fit for already-qualified and experienced doctors and pharmacists who’ve decided to work from home. 

The work involves conducting consultations with patients using video-call functionality, providing advice and prescribing medications.

Our list of home working companies includes plenty of medical firms that are worth a look. 

You can also search traditional sites like Indeed and FlexJobs for “remote pharmacist” or similar. Typically these are permanent jobs where a single company employs you. Private insurance firms also hire “remote” doctors.

28. Medical Transcriptionist

Pay rates: $15 – $20 per hour

We’ve discussed transcription work already in this article, but medical transcription warrants a section of its own. 

Unlike regular transcription jobs, medical transcription usually requires a clinical background and a couple of years of experience in a related job (perhaps as a medical audio secretary). 

Fast and accurate typing skills are paramount, as you will type up notes that can include complex medical terminology.

Several companies specialise in medical transcription, including Dict8 and FastChart. Some firms take on staff themselves, and others require you to work as an independent contractor. Learn more about the intricacies of medical transcription here.

29. Online Counsellor

Pay rates: average is $31 per hour (ZipRecruiter.)

If you’re an experienced counsellor or therapist, there are now great opportunities to help people with their mental health via the internet. Counselling using Skype or other video-chat software is both practical and popular. 

Of course, you’ll need specific qualifications and accreditations to start providing counselling services. Find out how to become a certified counsellor here. Beware of providers who unleash counsellors on the public without extensive formal training.

Counsellors need to be understanding and empathetic and know many therapy techniques. You’ll conduct counselling sessions via video-chat, voice-chat or even instant messaging, writing notes and keeping records of your sessions.

If you’re already a qualified therapist, you can expand your business to include online offerings. 

Usually, you’d use your website and/or social media to promote this. Or, there are platforms like Online Counselling.io that allow you to set up shop while they provide the technical infrastructure. 

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to work for another company, a search for “online counselling” on a job board like Indeed will usually yield some online jobs from home.

Online Jobs in Tech

30. Technical Support Agent

Pay rates: average is $16.07 per hour, entry-level.

If you’re an IT guru, you’ll find plenty of jobs that allow you to work from home in the technical support space. Even Apple hire home workers to provide tech support to their users. 

Many tech firms and software companies hire remote support engineers, so it’s worth looking directly on a company’s website and in places like Upwork. Smaller firms often hire freelancers; searching for “technical support” on a bidding website should find plenty of options.

You will help computer users with hardware and software issues and assist with their remote control software problems.

 Low-level tech support jobs may only require some basic experience and knowledge. More senior roles can require formal industry qualifications such as those accredited by CompTIA and Microsoft (Check out this CompTIA training course available on LinkedIn Learning).

31. IT Consultant

Pay rates: Experienced freelancers can earn $500 per day

IT consultants use their technical skills to help and advise companies on technology. You could be doing anything from helping implement systems like Office365 to advising on cybersecurity and data protection.

Real-world networking is usually better than finding jobs online for high-level work and lucrative contracts. You can also find work via recruitment agencies. There are plenty of small, individual tasks for IT consultants to make some money on all of the freelance boards.

You’ll need strong technical knowledge and good “client-facing” experience. What technical expertise you need depends on the technology you wish to work with. A popular career path is to start with an internal IT role in a business and to move to provide consultancy once you’ve built up lots of experience.

You can read my personal experiences of working as an IT consultant here. 

32. Programmer / Developer

Pay rates: $49,000 – $144,000 per year (Payscale)

When Upwork lists the most in-demand skills, there are always plenty relevant to programmers and developers. Many in this industry work remotely because a home job can be great for quiet concentration.

Big tech firms hire developers directly. But there are many online opportunities for the self-employed, from small one-off jobs to lucrative long-term contracts. 

There are online jobs for programmers at all levels, from novices to gurus. Training and experience in specific programming languages are key. For high-level positions, clients and employers will undoubtedly want to see the work you’ve done before. If you’ve worked with big names, you’ll be able to attract big money from businesses.

Time to brush up on your programming languages? Why not take a course in one of these popular programming languages.

33. App Creator

Pay rates: up to $148,000 per year (Glassdoor)

App creation is undoubtedly an offshoot of programming and development, but it’s worthy of a job listing of its own. With over 178 Billion app downloads each year (and rising), there’s a massive demand for those who can create them.

There is lots of interest in app builders on freelance platforms. Try a search for “app developer” on the Upwork website. If you have an extensive real-world network, opportunities could create themselves there too.

App creators liaise with companies to pitch ideas, then they design, program and support mobile apps.

You’ll need specific skills and experience in the programming languages normally used for apps (such as Swift, C++, C#, Java, Objective C and HTML5). And it’s obviously helpful if you have a portfolio of well-regarded apps.

Want to start immediately? You can start to learn app programming right now with this very inexpensive and well-reviewed course.

34. Web Designer

Pay rates: $38,000 – $77,000 per year (Payscale)

Thanks to content management systems like WordPress, it’s now very easy for people to set up websites of their own. 

However, there’s still a huge demand for web designers, and  help with the technical side of launching a new website because so many people find this kind of thing intimidating.

Web design can be anything from setting up a simple theme-based website for a client to designing and coding custom, bespoke sites. The work can span a wide range of tasks, from graphic design to technical support. If you’re hunting down clients, there can be a fair bit of sales and marketing involved too.

It’s not hard to find people looking for help launching a new website. There are hundreds of related jobs on the usual freelancing bid sites, and you’ll quickly find people needing this work doing in the “real world”, too.

35. Social Media Manager

Pay rates: $44,724 per year (Indeed) Freelancers: $100+ per month for each social media network.

If you can’t get enough of Facebook and Instagram, why not turn your fondness for social media into a part-time online job or a career?

Social Media Managers: 

  • Post content to social networks on behalf of companies.
  • Manage advertising campaigns.
  • Study and report on related analytics.

Big companies may have full-time social media roles, so if that’s what you’re looking for, it’s worth searching the usual job boards. Alternatively, plenty of freelancers set up shop as self-employed social media managers, typically looking after social profiles for multiple clients.

You will have to demonstrate substantial experience of social networks and know the latest techniques for making the most of them. 

You could take a course like Coursera’s Facebook Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate to help you excel in social media marketing.

If you would like to make money with this online job, check out our feature on becoming a social media virtual assistant.

36. Search Engine Evaluator

Pay rates: $14 per hour

Many people looking for online jobs ask about work in search engine evaluation. This involves rating search engine results to search firms to improve their listings to internet users. 

Search engine evaluator work is surprisingly complex, with a lot to remember. You’ll need to pay attention to detail and quickly navigate around your computer and the online world. You will look at the websites search engines are ranking for certain queries and assess the quality of the results based on detailed criteria.

Sometimes these jobs pop up on platforms like PeoplePerHour and Upwork. Still, it’s best to look at legit companies that are well-known for recruiting for these roles, such as Appen and Lionbridge. We have a detailed feature on search engine evaluator work.

Online Jobs in the Creative Industry

37. Graphic Designer

Pay rates: $34,000 – $64,000 (Payscale)

If you have an eye for design, there’s a huge variety of online work and career paths open to you. 

An online graphic design job is great because you can design literally anything. 

For example, the first page of Upwork job listings for designers (at the time of writing) includes:

  • Facebook cover pictures.
  • Health and beauty product packaging.
  • Designing a real estate website. 

Typically, modern design jobs involve mastery of software like Photoshop and Illustrator. The most important thing is to be artistic and skilled in design – and this doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Second is a strong technical skill in the relevant software applications.

Big companies may have internal online jobs for home workers (search sites like Indeed for “designer home work”). 

There are also oodles of freelance opportunities on the normal sites, and it is a great way for design students to build up their portfolios.

 In addition, you will find some interesting platforms for design work, like the competitive 99Designs, where you can pitch a design to a specific brief in the hope of being the winning designer.

Have a read of this case study involving a designer who makes money designing T-shirts, bags and other garments, selling them via an online platform. Designing is another excellent online job opportunity for college students to make money.

38. Photographer

Pay rates: variable

You might not immediately think of photography as an “online job.” 

Obviously, you will be getting out and about to actually take the photographs. However, a lot of the work involved in being a photographer happens on the internet nowadays.

Some photographers specialise in photography for travel websites and other small businesses or take pictures to sell on a stock photo website. If you’re selling stock photos via an online platform, receiving 50% of the paid royalty is quite normal.

Job boards like Upwork are a good place to start learning about the kinds of photography in demand. You can also work entirely for yourself by taking photographs and selling them online – either as individual works or by placing them for sale on stock photo sites.

Photography is one of those online jobs where it is as much about talent and flair as anything else. However, as photo editing is closely related, knowing how to use software like Photoshop is invaluable. (Here’s a comprehensive and very-well reviewed Photoshop course.)

We have a dedicated article here on getting paid to take pictures and a case-study article with a photographer.

39. Photo Editor / Retoucher

Pay rates: Freelancers $10 – $30 per hour

If you’re a Photoshop guru with an eye for design and colour, you’ll find plenty of online work in photo editing and retouching. Yes, the software is widespread and accessible, but it is a distinct skill to know how to use it properly.

Photo editing lends itself well to freelancing, perhaps as a complement to your own photography business. 

Just type “photo edit” into any of the job boards (such as PeoplePerHour). You’ll find people looking for help – with everything from editing their wedding photographs to removing objects from the background of pictures they’ve taken.

Learn all about editing photos with this online course.

40. Video Creator / Editor

Pay rates: averages $18.64 per hour (Indeed). Expert freelancers can charge much higher rates.

Video content of all kinds is increasingly popular, and there’s lots of demand for those who can create and edit it. 

To start working as a video creator/editor, you will need a creative eye and expert knowledge of related software, such as Adobe Premiere and Camtasia. 

You can look on the normal job boards for full-time and part-time remote jobs in video editing. It’s also a great career path for freelancers, with many firms now creating video content. (Upwork had over 3000 open requirements for “video editing” at the time of writing.)

41. Influencer

Pay rates: variable

It was hard to decide which section to place “influencer” under on our list of some of the best online jobs. However, as taking the perfect Instagram photo is often a big part of it, the “creative” section seemed most appropriate!

If you have 100,000 Instagram followers, you can apparently charge $1000 for a post, so the rewards can be considerable, but building up that many followers is a big task. 

Generally speaking, influencers visit hotels, resorts, restaurants and beaches, post “aspirational” photos and share their experiences with their online audience. Influencers often work directly with businesses to promote brands and are compensated for the online promotion generated.

You’ll need a strong creative vision, an eye for marketing, and serious determination to build up your initial following. Experience in PR, fashion and related industries helps, too.

Read this post for a review of a product that can build your Instagram following – and some of my own opinionated views on influencer “culture!”

42. Craft Creator

Pay rates: range from pocket money to thousands per month.

If you’re itching to flex your creative muscles, the internet offers lots of popular platforms for selling the wares you make. The “richest” craft seller on Etsy made $960,000 in 2017.

From T-shirts to tea-towels and mugs to mouse-mats – if you can imagine and produce it, the online world allows you to sell it for money – globally.

Obviously, the first prerequisite is creating your merch. 

Then you want good technical skills for setting up an online store and marketing skills to build up a good audience and make lots of sales. Thanks to platforms like RedBubble and Pietra, you can even create crafts from your designs to produce a merchandise line all of your own. 

This is one of those online jobs you can start all by yourself working from home- you just need to have the ideas and go where the creativity takes you. Read this HomeWorkingClub case study from someone making money selling jewellery and other items on Etsy for some inspiration.

Online Jobs in Personal Development

43. Nutritionist

Pay rates: $75+ for one-to-one consultations 

Many people now are cautious about what they eat, and there are trends in everything from gluten-free diets to veganism. So there’s lots of potential to set up an online business providing nutrition advice. 

There are many different ways to make money as an online nutritionist, and several of them tie in with the other online jobs on this list. For example, you could create courses, offer one-to-one consultations, or run a niche blog specialising in a particular area of food and nutrition.

In an industry where exactly what constitutes an “expert” is something of a grey area, related qualifications will help you stand out and make more money. 

Nutrition is the kind of career where it’s best to establish your own presence and audience. That said, a job search on the usual boards revealed plenty of related gigs, from paleo nutrition advisors to dieticians to consult on dieting apps.

If this is one of the online jobs that appeal to you, you can start to learn more about what nutritionists actually do in their jobs here.

44. Life / Career Coach

Pay rates: $75+ for one-to-one sessions 

There are many sub-niches within life and career coaching, making this an interesting option for specialists in all kinds of areas.

An online coach can make a real difference in people’s lives by helping clients reach their goals, usually by conducting coaching sessions via video call. You’ll also need to promote yourself to build up clients and provide ongoing support to them in between sessions. 

You’ll need a strong desire to genuinely help others and the marketing skill to build up an audience if you plan to start your own business. Qualifications exist, but note that they can range from genuinely useful to utterly meaningless!

Online Jobs That Make Great Side Gigs

Not everyone looking for online jobs wants a full-time post. With that in mind, here are some online side jobs – perfect for those just after a little extra money or as a part-time complement to another job – as part of a portfolio career.

45. User Tester

Pay rates: $10 per test 

Companies are constantly rolling out new apps and websites. They need people to test them and give their opinion on functionality. However, there’s not a constant stream of this work, so you can’t make this into a full-time income.

You’ll test new websites and apps in this side gig, often speaking your thoughts out loud while you are recorded (either audio or video). 

Many platforms offer this work, including UserTesting, TestingTime and TryMyUI. We have an article all about how user testing works here.

 

46. Survey Taker

Pay rates: peanuts

Love them or hate them, online surveys are very popular with people seeking entry-level online jobs to make money. 

Surveys involve answering questions online – on anything from politics to washing powder! 

You can find them on any of the hundreds of online survey platforms. Make sure to do your research, as some are MUCH better than others, and some are total scams. 

Check out this article for some handy tips on making the most out of surveys.

47. Ebay / Amazon / Facebook Seller

Pay rates: variable

It may not be particularly glamorous, but many people make good money selling things part-time on these popular online platforms. Whether you’re merely saving up for treats by selling unwanted items or operating more of a buying and selling business to generate a more substantial income, these sites make sellers money every single day.

Of course, it depends entirely on what you have to sell. 

If you’re operating a buying and selling business with physical products, making a couple of thousand dollars per month is relatively easy in theory but hard work in reality. 

Drop-shipping products made overseas is another option – potentially more lucrative, but with far more learning and experimentation involved.

Check out these guides if you are ready to start working from home selling:

48. Microworker

Pay rates: $10 – $12 per hour for fast, experienced microworkers

Microworking is one of those online jobs that’s open to everybody. It involves doing repetitive short tasks for small payments, with each one typically only taking seconds to complete. 

Microworking tasks can vary hugely. You could be “liking” things on social media, categorising photos, or even determining whether particular web pages should be classed as “adult” or not. 

The two most popular microworking platforms are Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and Clickworker. 

There are several less reputable platforms, which we don’t recommend. Read reviews before you decide. (Start by reading our review of Clickworker here.)

49. Handy-Person

Pay rates: variable

This isn’t strictly an online job as you’ll have to head out of the house to complete your tasks. 

However, the internet has made it really simple to connect to people who need all kinds of odd jobs completed. 

You can make money from anything from dog walking to putting up an IKEA wardrobe to mowing somebody’s lawn. It makes this one of the best online jobs for anyone from high school to college students and beyond.

You do need enough skill and experience to complete jobs to your customers’ satisfaction so that you get good reviews. 

You can find jobs on online platforms like TaskRabbit and Airtasker and may want to get inspiration reading this case study of someone who set up an entire business around doing odd jobs.

50. Freebie Hunter

Pay rates: usually vouchers

If you have some time to kill online, you’ll be surprised how much free stuff you can find. Freebie hunting isn’t really work. Think of it more like an online treasure hunt. 

You can sign up to offers on sites like Swagbucks and Prizerebel, hunt around for product tests, or look into the many ways you can get yourself some free Amazon gift cards. 

You won’t earn money as such, but determined freebie hunters often come across vouchers worth a considerable amount of money. Being a member of the right panels, survey and cashback sites is the best way to start.

It’s good to have in-depth knowledge of the internet and the ability to know a genuine offer from a scam. Be organised too. Sometimes you’ll need to make sure you follow things up or cancel trials – to ensure your freebies don’t end up costing you money.

Read our dedicated guide to finding free stuff online if you like the idea and want to know where to start.

51. Panel Participant

Pay rates: up to $100+ per hour

Something we love here at HomeWorkingClub is getting involved in panels and focus groups. 

Distinct from surveys, these usually involve one-on-one participation, often by video call or sometimes even face-to-face. 

The issue with market research panels is that you have to wait to find studies that fit your experience and demographic. That means you might pick up two or three in a month and then get nothing for several months in a row. That’s why you can only ever think of this as a part-time gig.

Want to get started? It’s wise to sign up to several different panels to increase your chances of grabbing as many projects as possible. We suggest you start with UserInterviews and Respondent, both reputable platforms. There’s more information on market research work here.

52. Rent Out your Car, Home or Parking Space

Pay rates: variable

There are some great apps nowadays that help you to make money online from things you already own. 

You can rent spare rooms on Airbnb, unused cars on Hiyacar, and parking spaces on the likes of JustPark. 

Depending on what you are doing, there’s some admin work involved (and perhaps some cleaning!). However, these are all ways to establish significant income from assets you already have.

Quick FAQs about Online Work:

Do Online Jobs Really Pay?

Many online jobs pay regularly and reliably, and thousands of people make a full-time living working from home online. 

That said, there are plenty of scams and false promises out there. So it’s wise to do proper research and check out any business that interests you to ensure that they are offering legit online jobs.

If your cost of living is high, you may find that some online jobs don’t pay sufficient income. Low pay doesn’t mean a job isn’t legitimate, just that it isn’t right for your circumstances. Ultimately the best way to make sure your income matches your needs and growing skill set is to set your own rates as a freelancer.

Which Online Jobs are Legit?

To find out which online jobs are legit, you need to do your own research. This article will help you with identifying scams. A great rule of thumb with online work is that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Do I have to Work From Home as a Freelance Writer?

No, thousands of great online jobs do not require writing skills. Freelance writing is simply one of the most popular job opportunities among online job seekers. 

A freelance writer often enjoys extremely flexible hours and can work from anywhere in many cases. Still, freelance writing is more of a grind than you might expect, as I discuss in this podcast. 

At the end of the day, freelance writing is not the only or necessarily even one of the best online jobs.

Where Can I Find an Online Job?

The most obvious places to look are the online job boards. These can be a great way to see which online jobs are in demand.

 However, not all businesses post their job opportunities on job boards, so you should check out individual business websites if you are searching for jobs online.

To find the best online jobs, you may need to spend a little less time online and more networking in the real world. Great opportunities often come out of casual conversations or recommendations from a friend of a friend

The Golden Rule of Online Jobs

The crucial thing for job seekers to remember is that legit online jobs are fundamentally no different from traditional ones. 

That means:

So, with all that in mind, I’d suggest using this list as a place to find some initial inspiration. 

While You’re Here

We hope this extensive list of some of the best online jobs around will help you start finding that job of your dreams. Still, this isn’t the only article we have about online jobs.

If you’re lucky enough to be a “youngster,” we also have dedicated features on the best online jobs for students and teenagers.

If you’re specifically looking for companies that will hire you to work from home on a part-time or full-time basis, check out our guide to 125 companies that do just that.

You might also want to check out our article on work from home jobs with Amazon.