News & Trending Jobs & Career News

20 Jobs That Give You the Best Odds of Working from Home

Apply to these jobs if you’re chasing the location-independent lifestyle.

entrepreneur working from home
Updated May 31, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Working from home seemed like a far-fetched dream before the pandemic. Now, we know just how feasible it is to fulfill our job duties from the comfort of our couches. 

However, some roles are better suited to remote work than others. Some jobs are being required to go back to the office while others will likely still allow remote work for years to come.

Consider one of these 20 careers that will let you make some extra money while working from home in your pajamas. 

Get paid up to $225 a month while watching viral videos

Instead of sitting around watching viral videos on YouTube, you could be getting paid actual cash taking surveys for InboxDollars instead.

It's simple. You sign up here and confirm your email. Then you watch videos and take surveys. Then you earn cash (yes, actual cash … not "points"). Log in during your spare time and see how you can earn up to an extra $225 every month.

BONUS: Free $5 when you sign up, confirm your email and phone.

Sign up and start getting paid today

News analysts

Rido/Adobe Indian man typing on laptop while working from home

Some remote news analysts work for broadcast studios, writing newscasts for on-air reporters. Others go corporate, aggregating the latest industry news into digestible reports for company leadership.

The only caveat? You may be asked to provide a report on breaking news at a moment’s notice.

Financial analysts

SFIO CRACHO/Adobe finance market analyst in eyeglasses working

Financial and investment analysts evaluate and present data to guide business decision-making. It’s actually a fun gig — if you love numbers.

The best part of a career in financial analytics, however, is its location independence. Since financial analysts rely more on software and data than on face-to-face interaction, it’s easy to perform this job from home.

STEM professionals

Ngampol/Adobe professional developer programmer working a software website

There’s no shortage of remote work for computer enthusiasts and mathematicians. Whether your background is in IT, statistics, or web design, you have a fair shot at finding work-from-home opportunities in your field.

Even if you don’t have a formal education in a computer-related industry, don’t count yourself out. There’s plenty of room for self-taught tech wizards, too.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1

How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.

Try it

Claims adjusters

utah51/Adobe claims insurance

Remote insurance investigators perform many of the same functions as investigators in the field. They analyze claimants’ coverage, determine liability, and review and process claims.

You don’t typically need a four-year degree to snag a remote job as a claims adjuster, but you may need to pass a licensing exam. Check your state regulations to be sure.

Compensation managers

smolaw11/Adobe signing paperwork near payroll salary binder

Compensation and benefits management is complex and involved. Employees who bear these titles are tasked with developing salary scales, analyzing competitor compensation packages, and coordinating benefit distribution.

Taking on these duties without in-house oversight requires a high level of trust between employer and employee. As such, this high-stakes role is best suited for candidates looking to level up an existing career in human resources or corporate finance.

Editors

eldarnurkovic/Adobe entrepreneur checking email while drinking coffee

Long gone are the days when editors spent hours chained to desks at large publishing houses. Now, they can work for anyone, from anywhere.

As a remote editor, you’ll do more than proofread. You’ll also keep up with marketing trends in your industry, create content calendars, and manage teams of writers. 

It’s a more varied role than you might think — and one that can be done from wherever you want to be.

Non-lawyer legal occupations

kenchiro168/Adobe consultant working with laptop in office

Paralegals, too, can get in on the work-from-home action. Research, transcription, and client contact can all happen off-site, letting you ditch the office without ditching your legal career.

As a virtual legal assistant, you could work full-time for one law firm, performing these and other duties.

Alternatively, you might decide to focus on one or two of these skills and provide them to multiple firms at once on a part-time or freelance basis.

Advertising sales agents

iana_kolesnikova/Adobe female graphic designer working in modern studio

Advertising sales reps typically work for publishers or public relations firms, selling print and digital ad space to businesses. 

Since the role revolves around building relationships with clients and closing leads, there’s no real need for these reps to work from an office.

If you have a knack for sales and enjoy the challenge of a commission-driven role, this might be the perfect remote gig for you.

Criminal justice professors

Nazzalbe/Adobe law books and law codes for lawyers

If you have a background in law enforcement or corrections, you could teach criminal justice courses online.

Since most criminal justice professors work for community colleges and universities, you’ll likely need at least a graduate degree — in addition to on-the-job experience — to get hired.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

Marketing managers

JustLife/Adobe man talking on phone at work

Marketing managers direct promotional campaigns, overseeing everything from budgeting and recruitment to visual design. Think of them as advertising specialists, project managers, and industry researchers all rolled into one.

Admittedly, this may not sound like a job you can do from home. But if you’re comfortable supervising teams through video meetings and online chat channels, it’s completely doable.

Computer systems analysts

rh2010/Adobe man working with analytics

You know that IT professionals have a plethora of work-from-home options at their disposal. What you may not know is that even within the IT industry, some careers are more likely to be remote than others.

Computer systems analysts, for example, test and improve companies’ technology systems. Because this involves testing software and applications and not necessarily physical devices, it’s possible to do this job without stepping foot in the office.

Sales managers

gzorgz/Adobe businesswoman sitting at office desk in front of laptop and making call

Unlike sales reps, sales managers take more of a supervisory role. They determine quotas, monitor employee performance, and analyze sales data to guide inventory decisions.

Thanks to cloud technology, sales managers can access the reports they need remotely. And with sales performance software, they can track their teams and keep them on target without ever leaving the living room sofa.

Computer and information systems managers

deagreez/Adobe programmer editing framework web design

Not to be confused with computer systems analysts, computer systems managers direct and oversee organizations’ IT efforts.

Information systems managers might coordinate large-scale hardware upgrades, for example, or supervise analysts and developers. Because the role is so varied, it’s plenty adaptable to remote work.

Computer programmers

rh2010/Adobe programmer writing program code sitting at the workplace with three monitors

If you know programming languages like Python or C++, you could start working from home as a computer programmer.

You’d spend your days writing and testing code, making sure software applications do what they’re supposed to, and debugging them when they don’t.

Fundraisers

Rawpixel.com/Adobe fundraising funding finance economy donation concept

Fundraisers might work for corporations, politicians, or nonprofits. Regardless of the employer, the goal is the same: Bring in as much money as possible.

To that end, fundraisers are essentially event organizers. They manage online and in-person fundraising campaigns, contact donors and vendors and maintain compliance with financial reporting regulations — all of which can happen remotely.

Lawyers

itchaznong/Adobe lawyer reading lawbook in office

Nothing says your law degree’s only good in the courtroom. Just like paralegals, licensed attorneys can make the switch to telework. You might draft contracts for remote clients, for example, or provide virtual consulting services.

What a remote law practice looks like for you will depend in large part on your practice area. Patent attorneys might be able to work entirely from home, while family lawyers may need to adopt a hybrid arrangement.

Computer network architects

deagreez/Adobe female web designer writing binary java script code in workstation

Computer network architects are instrumental in network design and development. While some work in on-site server rooms, others can perform their duties remotely.

Remote computer network architects may assist with network testing and optimization, or they might collaborate with senior leadership to develop long-term technology growth plans. As such, they usually need extensive experience in both computer science and business.

Software developers

wutzkoh/Adobe software developer analyzing data on the computer screen

Where computer programmers build apps, software developers design them. They often need some coding and software programming knowledge, but their primary focus is on seeing new applications through from inception to launch.

This usually includes creating detailed models and working with other tech experts to bring those software blueprints to life. 

Despite how collaboration-heavy software development is, it’s relatively simple to move through the implementation process completely online.

Pro tip: When you work remotely you could use your normal commute time to work on a side hustle and earn extra income

Market research analysts

PR Image Factory/Adobe female stock analyst working

Market research is another data-driven field that’s a prime candidate for remote work.

Market research analysts and marketing specialists keep tabs on industry trends and sales metrics, compiling this data into reports and infographics. 

Much of that work can be completed solo, making this one of your best career choices if you’re set on working from home.

Technical sales reps

fizkes/Adobe businessman talking on phone

Out of all the careers on our list, sales reps who work for technical or scientific product manufacturers tend to work from home more often than employees in other positions.

As an added bonus, you don’t necessarily need a four-year degree to get started. A couple of years of education or experience in a field like engineering or chemistry could be enough to land you a job as a work-from-home technical sales rep.

Bottom line

Monkey Business/Adobe woman working from home using laptop on dining table

Regardless of your educational or professional background, there’s a remote role out there for you.

Keep in mind, though, that working from home doesn’t mean working whenever or however you want. Some virtual positions require you to keep standard office hours, while others use accountability software to monitor you while you work.

Before you accept a remote job offer, get clear on your schedule and expectations. That way, you can hold out for a position that provides flexibility while helping you pay your rent or improve your overall financial picture.

Find Paying Caregiver Jobs in Your Area

Connect with families looking for child care, pet care, housekeeping, and more.

Join today
Earn Up to $75/Hour Working From Home

Free 3-class intro teaches you how to launch a bookkeeping business — avg. hourly rate for this skill is $75/hour.

Access the training
Earn Money Online by Taking Surveys

Get your share of $55,000 paid out daily to Survey Junkie users.

Sign up for free


Author Details

Sarah Sheehan

Sarah Sheehan is a writer, educator, and analyst who focuses on the impact of health, gender, and geography on financial equity. Her ultimate goal? To live beyond the confines of chasing the next dollar — and to teach everyone else how to do the same.