14 Interesting Jobs That Let You Make Your Own Schedule

Americans quit their jobs in droves during the Great Resignation and are still making changes in their work lives. Reasons for changing jobs may include wanting better pay, the ability to work from home, or a more flexible schedule.

So if you’re one of those people who is ready to break free from your 9-to-5 job, whether you want to go rogue full-time or just add some extra income, check out a few of these jobs that can allow you to set your own hours and make some smart money moves. 

Income statistics are courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

A consultant can work in almost any field and can be brought in by a company to help them with a specific task or project as well as get detailed help and expertise in a particular field.

As a consultant, you can decide which projects to take on and how many hours you want to devote to each project depending on your client’s flexibility. 

Your pay may also depend on your particular field. A business or finance consultant, for example, can make more than $90,000 in median annual income.

Web developers can create websites, blogs, and other internet-facing products for clients. Projects might allow you to work your own hours, although you may have to be available to clients at specific times.

You may need a bachelor’s degree, but it’s not necessary as long as you have the design and computer skills to build websites to a client’s specifications. 

Web developers can expect to make a median annual salary of $80,730, and the BLS expects a 16% growth rate of jobs in the field.

Travel nurses can work in homes and private settings as well as hospitals and other healthcare areas. Their work is still in demand after a surge in the need for travel nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nurses usually need a postgraduate degree or training program to get a position in the field. According to the BLS, registered nurses make a median annual salary of $81,220, but travel nurses could make more than that.

Being a real estate agent could be a good career, especially if you like meeting people. You can choose different specialties like residential or business real estate and can focus on particular areas of interest. 

And while you may be able to work your own hours, be aware that agents may have to work on nights and weekends to show homes and retail spaces to potential buyers.

Agents make a median annual salary of $52,030, but that could fluctuate depending on whether you earn a commission for the sale or purchase of a home or office space. You’ll also need a license from your state in order to work as an agent.

Graphic designers use visuals to help convey a client’s need for things like website graphics, marketing pieces, and other necessary art direction for client projects.

You may need a bachelor’s degree to be a graphic designer, but it might not be necessary if you’re working as a freelance designer. Taking on this job and its flexibility could earn you a median annual salary of $57,990.

Students need tutors for all kinds of topics, and you can advertise your expertise and set your own hours depending on the student’s needs. A background in education is helpful but not necessary.

Tutors can expect a median wage of $36,680, according to the BLS. You may be able to build on that depending on how in-demand your specialty is or how in-depth your knowledge goes.

If you like working out or staying in shape, you may be able to make it into a career with flexible hours as a fitness trainer. Your work may include teaching classes to a group of students or working one-on-one with individuals on a structured training plan.

Fitness trainers can make a median annual income of $45,380 and usually only need at least a high school diploma to start working in the field.

Freelance editors may review content for publication using communications skills for print, online, or broadcast media, as well as other venues that need concise wording to convey a message.

Editors usually need a bachelor’s degree in journalism or communications, but it may not be necessary for freelance work. You can expect to make a median annual income of $73,080 while setting your own hours, depending on your clients.

A medical transcriptionist specializes in transcribing recordings for medical professionals and medical records. You may need specific certification in medical transcription, but you can work for a variety of medical professionals in different healthcare settings.

Medical transcriptionists make $34,730 in median annual salary, but you may be able to get a higher price for your work depending on where you work and, of course, how many hours you put in.

Becoming a tour guide may be a great option if you enjoy history and showing off different locations to guests. Perhaps you live in an area with museums or historical sites that lend themselves to having visitors you can show around. 

You also may want to consider becoming a guide who works on a regular basis with traveling tourist groups.

A tour guide’s salary can vary depending on location, but you can earn a median annual income of $34,440.

Can you speak another language fluently? If so, you might want to consider becoming a translator. Translators take information in a foreign language and change it into a language a user can better understand. 

You can translate in places like a courtroom, school, healthcare setting, or other types of business or service.

Translators can earn a median annual income of $53,640 and can certainly work as freelancers or for a more established company.

Photographers use their skills to take pictures for publications, personal use, or other professional or personal needs. You’ll have to be proficient in understanding photo composition as well as different types of camera equipment and different techniques.

Photographers can work on a freelance basis or get a position with a specific company. You can expect a median annual wage of $40,170.

Interior designers can work as freelancers or with a company executing a vision for clients for their interior spaces. You may work with clients by designing spaces or sourcing materials such as flooring, paint, furniture, or accessories.

You can design your own hours depending on your client’s needs and expect a median annual income of $61,590.

Want to work from home and set your own hours? Look for a position as a virtual assistant. You can perform administrative and clerical tasks for your clients, such as scheduling appointments, making travel plans, responding to emails, and more.

Virtual assistants might expect to be paid similarly to administrative assistants, with a median annual income of $44,080.

A job change may be a good way to set your own hours and find ways to make extra money in addition to — or instead of — your current job.

Before you start looking for a job with flexible hours, it’s a good idea to identify skills and topics that are best suited for you and see if you can find a way to fit those skills into a position that will turn your hours into earnings and make your time more your own.