In between jobs? Want to work from while you travel? Need a job that allows you to set your own schedule?
These days, more and more people are choosing to give up the nine-to-five and work remotely – from home, or wherever they happen to be in the world. Online jobs are more accessible now than ever before.
Even better, there are tons of online jobs that don’t require much prior experience or training. You can get started today and make a decent salary right off the bat. Whether you’re looking for a way to supplement your part-time income, want to spend more time with your family, or just need a little flexibility, the right online job for you is out there.
To help you find what you’re looking for, here are 40 legit, well-paying online jobs that you can start right now.
1. Virtual Assistant
Being a virtual assistant is a job that almost anyone can work as. As a virtual assistant, you will work for a business or an office, performing basic tasks such as scheduling, customer support, and general administration. This type of work can make you anywhere from $19-$25 an hour, and you can find jobs on sites such as FlexJobs or Indeed.
If you want to learn more about what it means to be a virtual assistant, you can look into different job descriptions and job review boards to get a better understanding of what this work would entail. There are plenty of resources on the web that can also prepare you to be a virtual assistant, so if it’s something you’re interested in than you can certainly prepare yourself.
2. Take Surveys Online
Even though taking surveys online probably won’t be your full-time job, downloading a survey app and completing surveys in your free time is an easy job that you can do from anywhere to earn some extra cash quickly. The surveys are always easy, and they cover a broad range of topics.
Here are some of the best options
The majority of the surveys will serve as market research, so you’ll be answering questions about products or services that you’ve probably seen before or maybe even used. How much you’ll make will depend on how quickly you find and complete surveys, and also how often you do this as well.
3. Transcription
If you’re good at typing, transcribing videos in your spare time can be an awesome way to generate some extra income.
Just search for the top transcription websites, then make an account with the site that seems best for you. In most cases, there is no prior experience required, and the hiring process takes no more than a few minutes.
Once you make your account, you can start accepting jobs. The site will give you a video or audio clip to transcribe within a certain period of time. As you continue complete jobs, you’ll gain more opportunities and access to higher-paying work.
How’s it pay?
It’s tough to make a living with a transcription site. But if you stick with it and take on as many jobs as you can, you should easily be able to support yourself while you’re traveling, or at least earn some spending money to supplement your income.
Dedicated transcriptionists can earn between $10 – $30 per hour.
4. Writing articles
Have a knack for writing? You can get paid to write articles online.
Tons of companies are looking for freelance writers to help with their blog posts and website articles.
Sign up for a site like Fiverr or Upwork and make your free profile to get started. You can post your skills and bid on jobs that would be a good fit for you. The more jobs you take on, the more experience you’ll gain!
How’s it pay?
Payment can vary depending on the article and company you’re working with, but a beginning freelancer can expect to make anywhere between $5 and $100 for a single article.
Plenty of freelance writers build up enough experience to turn it into a full-time career.
5. Blogging
It’s easier than you might think to successfully monetize your blog. The only catch is that it takes a little time for it to really take off — this is something you should see as a long-term project to eventually earn passive income.
To get started, the best thing you can do is pick your niche. Do you want to write about travel? Cooking? What about advice for other parents? The more specific your niche is, the easier it will be for you to attract followers.
Once your blog has picked up enough traffic, you can monetize it by posting ads, reviewing products, and sharing affiliate links.
How’s it pay?
It takes some time to make money with a blog. Once you start successfully advertising on your blog, though, it has real potential to take off.
Plenty of popular bloggers make up to $2,000 per month, or more.
6. Affiliate marketing
Social media influencers make money by promoting brands and products on their platform. Most of the time, they do this through an affiliate marketing program.
Sort of like monetizing a blog, it takes some time to make a profit through affiliate marketing. You have to start by building up a significant following on the platform of your choice. Then, you can sign up for affiliate programs with your favorite brands.
You’ll get designated links to the products you’re trying to sell. Every time someone buys using your link, you’ll earn a commission! It’s an easy way to earn passive income, and grow your social media following.
How’s it pay?
The top influencers make millions every year. Starting out, however, you should expect to make around a part-time salary. The more followers you have on your platform, the more you’ll earn with affiliate marketing.
7. Testing products
There are tons of market research companies out there hiring product testers to work from home.
It’s super simple: just sign up with your preferred site, and you’ll have product samples sent to you (for free) to test out. Write a detailed review of each product, and you’ll earn cash or points that can be exchanged for rewards.
How’s it pay?
Testing products at home isn’t a replacement for a full-time job. You might make between $5-$15 per hour, but those hours won’t be consistent.
That said, it’s a great way to earn some spare cash and try out new products for free.
8. Proofreader
If you have excellent grammar and an eye for detail, you can become a proofreader.
Proofreaders find work at magazines and online publications, publishing houses, and even small-time blogs and websites. All you have to do is read through someone else’s writing to make sure it flows well, and correct minor grammatical errors.
You could get hired as a contracted proofreader for a specific company, or independently promote your skills as a freelancer.
How’s it pay?
Top proofreaders with major companies will make a comfortable full-time salary.
If you’re just getting started at a freelance site like Upwork, you should expect to earn between $10 – $20 per hour – that pay will increase as you gain experience.
9. Online teaching
Teaching is an incredibly rewarding career, but it can also be very demanding. Today, there are plenty of ways to take your teaching job online and enjoy a little more flexibility.
As an online teacher, you’ll have the benefits of teaching in a much more relaxed environment. Private tutoring companies, English language courses, and music courses all hire teachers to work remotely from anywhere in the world.
How’s it pay?
Online teachers can earn anywhere from $15 – $40 per hour, depending on their experience and the company they’re working for.
10. Selling on Etsy
If you’re crafty, you can make a decent income with an Etsy store.
Creators on Etsy sell hand-made crafts, digital prints, photography, and more. The site will take a small cut of your profits, but it’s so much easier than trying to sell your art in person.
Once your store is set up, you just have to wait for buyers – Etsy can turn into a dependable source of passive income over time.
How’s it pay?
It’s up to you to set your own prices in your Etsy store. Browse through some other stores to get a feel for what your crafts, art, or prints would sell for.
11. Dropshipping
Dropshipping is an awesome way to sell things online, without having to handle the production or shipping yourself. This makes it a lot easier to sell your used or handmade goods.
Shopify or another third-party website will handle the heavy lifting, and give you a place to market your products online.
How’s it pay?
Like with any online sales job, your income with dropshipping will depend on what you’re selling.
Shopify does take a cut of your income, but this system lets you save on the costs of site development and maintenance.
12. Copywriting
Copy is another word for a company’s promotional or sales content. It’s what you see on their website, ads, and social media posts.
If you’re a good creative writer and a natural salesperson, you’ll have no problem finding an online job as a copywriter.
You can also apply directly to companies that are looking for remote, part-time, or contract copywriters.
How’s it pay?
Copywriting can easily become a full-time career. Tons of copywriters make between $20,000 and $40,000 per year, or more with a lot of experience.
As a copywriter employed by a single company, you can also enjoy benefits like health care, while still working from home.
13. YouTube channel
Believe it or not, some of the highest-paid celebrities in the world are YouTubers.
You might not be able to reach that level right away, but you can easily earn an income by monetizing your YouTube channel.
Once you have over 1,000 subscribers on your channel, YouTube will give you the option to monetize by posting ads before your videos. Beyond that, you’ll make more money by partnering with brands and promoting their products.
How’s it pay?
You shouldn’t expect to make a full-time salary with your YouTube channel right off the bat. However, if you dedicate enough time to posting popular, niche videos, YouTube can turn into a profitable side hustle.
14. Online jurying
Before a big case, a lot of legal teams like to run mock-trials and receive feedback from jurors. They’ll pay ordinary people (no experience required) to listen to trial material online and provide honest feedback.
Not only is this an easy job, but you can actually make a difference by helping a lawyer win their case.
How’s it pay?
Depending on the scope of the trial and the amount of effort that goes into it, you can get paid between $10 – $60 per hour for participating in mock trials online.
15. Data entry
It might not be the most exciting online job, but you can easily make money just by entering data into spreadsheets.
Companies hire people with a high school diploma and basic computer skills to handle their data input. If you’re an organized person, it’s an easy and profitable side hustle.
You can find data entry jobs on a freelance website, or on a jobsite like Indeed.
How’s it pay?
Data entry generally starts at around a minimum wage salary or slightly higher. Depending on the job, you may also be able to access benefits like health care and paid time off.
16. Ghostwriting
Another great option for a skilled writer, ghostwriting is a service that helps authors, blog owners, and journalists complete their projects on time.
As a ghostwriter, you will write eBooks, articles, and stories from scratch or from an outline. You won’t see your name on the published work, but you will get paid for your time, and have the chance to improve your writing skills.
How’s it pay?
Ghostwriters generally make between $50 and $500+ for a single project, depending on the scope of what you’re writing and how much research is required.
17. Tutoring
Online tutoring is an increasingly popular service that pays well.
You can help kids learn and improve their grades in the after-school hours by meeting with them virtually. This is a great opportunity for someone who’s patient, intelligent, and a good teacher.
Online tutoring companies are always hiring – you can find the right company for you with a quick Google search.
How’s it pay?
Tutors working for a reliable company like Chegg can earn between $14 and $25 per hour. You also have the advantage of being able to set your own schedule.
18. Selling stock photos
Are you a talented photographer?
While it can be tough to sell your work in person, one easy way to get your start is by selling photos to stock photo websites like iStock or Adobe.
If you’re interested, just make your account with a stock photo site and submit your work. The website you choose will provide you with specific guidelines and pay for each photo they accept.
How’s it pay?
Some stock photo sites pay a flat fee for each photo, and others will pay the photographer a commission when their photo is used.
A skilled, dedicated photographer can make around $200 – $400 per month by selling stock photos.
19. Graphic design
If you have the skills to become a graphic designer, but don’t want to work for a company, you can take on design jobs as a freelancer.
To get started, make your account and promote your skills on a site like Upwork. Plenty of companies and individuals are looking for a talented graphic designer to help them with their website and promotional materials.
How’s it pay?
Graphic design can be a highly lucrative career. As a freelancer, it’s up to you how much you want to charge for your services.
That said, it’s best to start with lower rates, then work your way up as you gain experience.
20. Selling Online
Whether it’s eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook marketplace, you can easily turn a profit by selling online.
There are multiple ways to do this: you could try the consignment method, in which you charge a fee to facilitate sales as a third party – or you could buy used goods and sell them directly yourself.
The best way to maximize your profit as an online seller is by picking a category and sticking with it. For example, you could sell used laptops and phones, clothes, bicycles, or jewelry.
By sticking to your niche, it will be easy to find eager sellers and buyers online.
How’s it pay?
If you’re selling used goods online, your profits are entirely in your hands. With the right dedication, you could earn a full-time salary over time.
21. SEO writing
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It’s a way of creating content that will appear at the top of search engine results.
While it does take some time to develop the right expertise, SEO content writing is a highly marketable skill. SEO specialists are always needed and can take on as much remote work as they want.
If you’re familiar with SEO practices, you can get a freelance job writing optimized content for companies, websites, and blogs.
How’s it pay?
Like any freelance job, you’ll earn more money as you gain experience. A talented SEO writer can earn a full-time salary ($40,000 – $50,000) with a few loyal clients.
22. Website and app testing
Companies that produce new apps and websites need users to test them out and provide feedback.
This is a super easy job that requires no experience. All you have to do is sign up with a website like UserTesting or UTest to get started.
How’s it pay?
Payment depends on the website you sign up with. A popular testing site might pay between $10 and $60 per each website or app tested, depending on the amount of time required.
23. Micro tasks
A micro task is a small job that a company or individual needs to be completed, but doesn’t have the time to handle themselves. These can include captioning photos, organizing a schedule or entering data.
Sites like Mechanical Turk pay users to complete easy micro tasks from home. It’s a great gig for a college student or someone with a flexible schedule.
How’s it pay?
A site that pays for micro tasks generally pays between $2 and $10 per hour, although some sites will reward loyal users with up to $20 an hour.
24. Facebook Ads marketing
Have a service or product that you can promote? Facebook Ads is an easy way to make more money.
This isn’t something you can use to earn money from scratch, but it will boost your income if you have something you need to promote (like your Etsy store, SEO writing service, photography, etc.)
Detailed Facebook Ads campaigns will charge a fee, but you can also boost post and promote your page through Facebook for no cost.
How’s it pay?
Facebook Ads marketing is a way of promoting an already existing business. So, you will grow your revenue if you have a product or service to sell.
25. Editing
Similar to proofreading, editing can be a great job for someone with an English degree, or just a knack for grammar.
As a freelance editor, you’ll connect with clients online and help them to polish rough drafts of short stories, eBooks, articles, blog posts, and more.
How’s it pay?
Like any freelance job, editing can turn into a very profitable full-time career.
When you’re just starting out, you can expect to make around $10 – $30 per hour online.
26. eBooks
Have a story to tell? If you take the time to write it out, you can publish it yourself.
eBook publishing has changed the game for aspiring authors. Now you can self-publish on a platform like Amazon with minimal (or zero) investment into marketing and promotion.
As your book sells, you’ll earn passive income.
How’s it pay?
Self-published eBook authors can make a ton of money if they grow their fanbase.
You shouldn’t expect your first eBook to sell hundreds of copies overnight, but with a little effort invested into promotion and great cover art, you can gain a significant fanbase and turn your writing into a career.
27. Medium writing
Medium is a platform that any writer can publish on. You’ll get paid according to the number of reads your article or story gets.
If you want to sharpen your freelance writing skills or gain some exposure, this is a great option. Just keep up with your articles, and your Medium page can become a highly successful blog.
How’s it pay?
The top writers for Medium make as much as $10,000 per month.
However, at the start, your blog will probably earn around $100 per month – plus some awesome exposure and writing experience.
28. Lead generation
Lead generation is a specific type of online marketing that helps companies gain new prospective customers, or “leads.” A lead generation specialist works remotely to improve a small business’s website, social media presence, SEO content, and more.
If you have a background in marketing, or some talent with tech and a willingness to learn, lead generation can become a profitable career.
How’s it pay?
A lead generation specialist can earn $1,000s per job by taking on small business clients. As a freelancer, it’s up to you to decide your rates.
29. Personal training
You don’t actually have to work in a gym if you want to be a personal trainer.
As more and more jobs go online, tons of fitness experts are marketing their skills as remote trainers or coaches. You can set up fitness plans for clients, design workouts, and communicate through video chat.
How’s it pay?
Personal trainers can set their own rates and market their business to clients. It’s easy to earn $30 – $50 per session – or, set up a monthly rate for long-term clients.
30. Remote beautician
Beauticians can also take their skills online by working with clients remotely. This can be a great side hustle for someone who already has a presence as a beauty influencer on YouTube or Instagram.
You can market your skills to your followers on social media, or promote your own business on a freelance site. As a remote beautician, you’ll provide beauty, fashion, and makeup advice to clients over a set period of time.
How’s it pay?
Like personal trainers, beauty advisors can charge between $30 and $50 per session, or set up a monthly rate to be on-call for clients.
31. Website design
Building and designing great websites is an important skill. Plenty of businesses and individuals need help with their website design – you can provide that help from home or anywhere in the world.
If you have only a basic knowledge of web design, it might be worth the investment to take an online course and improve your skills. Professional website designers are highly sought-after, so you’ll have no problem turning this into a high-paying career once you gain some experience.
How’s it pay?
Website design is a very lucrative industry right now. As a beginner, you can charge around $500 – $1,000 per job.
However, as you gain more experience and your time becomes more valuable, you can expect to charge $2,000-$10,000 or more for a single website.
32. Social media management
A lot of professionals and artists need active social media platforms to market themselves, but don’t necessarily have the time or talent. That’s where you come in.
As a social media manager, you’ll handle someone’s day-to-day activity on social media, including drafting posts and Tweets, responding to messages, updating profile information, etc.
If you have some basic knowledge of social media, this is an easy job to get started with.
How’s it pay?
Social media managers can charge by the hour, or start a monthly contract with their clients. It can be an excellent part-time job for a freelancer or student.
33. Teaching English
I already covered remote teaching and tutoring on this list, but teaching English is a job category of its own.
As a native English speaker, you have the skills to teach children and adults in other countries. Sign up for a website like iTalki or Magic Ears to get started – they pay by the hour, and you can work whenever you have the time.
In some cases, all you need to do is have conversations over video chat with groups or individuals.
How’s it pay?
Beginning English teachers can make around $20 per hour or more, depending on the site they’re working with.
34. Call centers
One job that has recently become easy to do from home is call center work.
As a call center employee, you’ll make marketing calls, handling online chats and answering customer service complaints throughout your day. While this used to be a job that required going into an office, all you really need today is a laptop and a phone.
The cool thing about this option, compared to some of the other online jobs on this list, is that you can become a full-time employee of a company while still enjoying the flexibility of remote work.
How’s it pay?
Call center employees often start out at minimum wage, or higher. It’s also important to remember that being a full-time employee can come with benefits like health insurance, dental, and a 401K plan.
35. Course creation
If you’re an expert in marketing, graphic design, website creation, or any other marketable skill, you have another option aside from freelancing.
Creating an online course is a great way to take advantage of the recent boom in remote and online work. More people today want to learn online job skills than ever before.
It’s up to you how you want to run your course: live, through a platform like Zoom, or by selling individual eBooks or video lessons.
How’s it pay?
A successful online course can totally be your full-time job. The key is to attract enough interested customers before you release your course, by building up hype on social media or YouTube.
That way, you’ll be able to charge $200 or more per subscriber!
36. Podcasting
Podcasts are becoming more and more popular as the years go by. If you have a team of people willing to help you, now is a great time to start your own podcast.
Like creating a YouTube channel, starting a successful podcast takes some time and dedication. It’s important to have a niche subject that will catch people’s attention, and a way of promoting it (like through social media or using Facebook Ads).
Once you have enough listeners, you can monetize your podcast by sharing sponsored ads, and by partnering with brands.
How’s it pay?
You shouldn’t expect to make a living with your podcast when you first start it. However, with a large enough fanbase and some partnered brands, this can become a decent side-hustle for you and your team.
37. Cryptocurrency trading
Interested in cryptocurrency? Now is a great time to make some money with it.
Cryptocurrency traders buy Bitcoin and other currencies online, then trade them to make a profit. It’s a lot like investing in stock or real estate – except that everything takes place online.
As a bonus, if you have the right technology, you can also create or “mine” Bitcoin and sell it to make a profit.
How’s it pay?
Unfortunately, cryptocurrency is a little less predictable than other investments, so traders’ earnings are hit and miss. I wouldn’t recommend relying on this for your full-time income.
That said, it is totally possible to strike it rich with cryptocurrency if you put in the effort.
38. Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping is another one of those popular office jobs that can now be done online.
If you have an eye for numbers and expenses, you could manage a small business’s finances as their remote bookkeeper. This is an awesome job for someone with an accounting or business degree.
If you don’t have the skills, you can easily learn them in an online course or two. Modern software makes it easier to get into bookkeeping today than ever before.
How’s it pay?
Bookkeepers generally work as direct employees of a business, and earn a full time salary ($40,000 – $50,000 a year).
That may also come with benefits like health insurance and an employer-sponsored 401K.
39. Beta reading
Don’t have the grammar skills or experience to be a proofreader? You can become a beta reader.
Authors and journalists often need secondary readers, or “beta” readers, to take a look at their work and provide feedback. They’re specifically looking for someone without editing or publishing experience, so they can get an idea of what their fans will think.
This is an online job that takes no prior skills. Plus, it’s fun – you get paid just for reading!
How’s it pay?
Beta readers generally won’t earn a full-time income, but this can be a great side hustle for someone who loves to read.
You might make $50 – $100 per manuscript you read, or more if the author is in a rush.
40. Video editing
If you have the right skills and software, video editing is an easy job that can be done entirely online.
Professional video editors take clips from their clients – usually businesses or individuals with YouTube channels – and create watchable, viewer-friendly videos. They may also offer consulting or write scripts.
This is another profitable skill that you can market on a freelance job site like Fiverr or Upwork.
How’s it pay?
Video editors can charge per job, or per hour, depending on how much effort needs to go into each project.
Take a look through the freelance job site of your choice to get a better idea of what amateur and established video editors charge.
Where to find online jobs
If you see a job on this list that sounds right for you, the next step is to find the right platform.
Most of these jobs are facilitated through third-party websites, job boards, or other companies. I mentioned a few of those platforms already, but here is a more detailed list to help you make your choice:
Freelance job sites:
Freelance platforms allow individuals to create a profile, market their skill or service, and find clients. In most cases, the website will take a small cut of your earnings – but you don’t have to pay a fee to sign up.
Here are a few of the most popular freelance sites:
- Upwork: One of the biggest online platforms for freelancers, Upwork connects people all over the world. It’s a great option for freelance writers, SEO specialists, editors, and web designers. The site takes a small percentage of your earnings as a fee for facilitating safe freelance transactions.
- Fiverr: The basic concept behind Fiverr is that anyone can post any job worth $5 or more. This is an awesome website if you’re just starting out as a freelancer, in any industry, and want to gain some experience.
- Guru: Guru is a reliable platform for freelancers in all industries. I would recommend this site if you have more technical skills to offer, like marketing, website creation, programming, or copywriting.
Teaching & tutoring sites:
Want to teach or tutor online? There are plenty of companies that connect teachers with students, let you create your own schedule, and pay by the hour.
Here are a few of the most popular:
- Magic Ears: Magic Ears is a company that hires native English speakers to teach students in China. Class sizes are generally small, and students are 5 – 12 years old. They pay between $18 – $26 per hour
- Chegg: Chegg tutors can earn up to $1,000 a month by helping middle school, high school, and college students with their classwork. You do need a college degree to get hired.
- Elevate K-12: If you have teaching experience, but want to get out of the classroom, try Elevate K-12. They’ll set you up to work with a group of students every week, and offer free training to help you get started.
Market research sites:
If you’re interested in taking surveys or testing products, you might want to consider subscribing to a market research site. This won’t be a full-time job, but it’s a fun way to make some easy money.
A few of the most popular sites include:
- Swagbucks: Swagbucks offers tons of easy ways to earn points, including taking surveys and playing games. The points you earn can be exchanged for PayPal cash or gift cards.
- Vindale Research: This site will connect you to local research platforms, provides user opinion surveys, and has a program to test products. You’ll earn direct cash that can be paid out through PayPal or by check.
The bottom line: online work is more accessible than ever before
Even before the global pandemic, tons of young professionals were choosing to quit their nine-to-five jobs and seek online work. Today, a profitable online job is more accessible than ever before.
The highest-paying jobs on this list take a little dedication. That’s why I recommend finding something that you love and sticking with it. The more experience and skills you gain, the more you’ll earn.
With the right online job, you’ll be free to travel, spend time with your family, or whatever! Now is the best time to find your passion and go for it.
