Do you have aspirations of leading the life of a digital nomad, enabling you to work from a nearby café or during your ventures to captivating and cost-effective cities? This vision can come to fruition, but it primarily hinges on financial resources as a starting point.
In this guide, we will provide information on earning money as a digital nomad and offer tips for effectively working from any location.
How to Make Money as a Digital Nomad
There are seven methods digital nomads use to generate an online income while being location-independent.
1) Work Online as a Self-Employed Freelancer
Becoming a self-employed freelancer is among our preferred methods for obtaining digital nomad work. Self-employed freelancers earn income based on individual projects and work independently. As your own boss, you have the freedom to decide when and where you work.
Freelance work is available in both short-term and long-term durations, contingent upon the service you offer and the clients you serve. The multitude of freelancing job opportunities is why numerous digital nomads opt for this path.
2) Start a Blog and Work Towards Passive Income
Starting a blog has become a popular method of making money as a digital nomad in a manner similar to freelancing. Your blog can be focused on any topic that you find interesting.
Starting and managing a blog requires significant effort and may not yield immediate earnings, however, there exist numerous approaches to monetizing a blog and generating passive income. Furthermore, several bloggers opt to enlist the assistance of individuals to further amplify their business growth.
One effective method to generate income from blogging is through affiliate marketing, which involves endorsing products or services you approve of to your audience. By using your affiliate link, you receive a commission for every purchase made by your readers.
One way for bloggers to earn passive income is by placing ads on their site, which can be done by signing up for an ad network such as Google AdSense or Ezoic (who don’t require a minimum page view count). These ads are typically tailored to suit the blogger’s audience.
3) Become Online English Teacher
When I entered the digital nomad world a few years ago, I started as an online English teacher and enjoyed it. This industry is bigger than people think, and there are numerous chances to find an online teaching or tutoring job. The great thing about this opportunity is that prior teaching experience is not necessary. However, most online teaching jobs usually require a Bachelor’s degree and some form of English teaching certification.
4) Monetize a Podcast
Were you aware that over 80% of podcast listeners spend more than 7 hours per week listening to podcasts? It is quite a substantial amount of time dedicated to podcast consumption! Consequently, turning a podcast into a source of income is an enjoyable and distinctive approach to earning money as a digital nomad.
Although creating and running a successful podcast may appear complex, it can actually be quite simple and uncomplicated.
To begin with, simply find a subject you are knowledgeable about and that will be appealing to others. This implies that there are numerous possibilities available to choose from!
With the rising popularity of remote work, the range of opportunities for digital nomad jobs is continuously expanding. Freelance services, blog creation, remote employment with companies, and various other possibilities are available.
5) Start a YouTube Channel
As we witness YouTube’s continued growth in popularity, there is increasing potential for numerous digital nomads to utilize this platform as a means of income generation.
YouTube provides various ways for creators to generate income, such as utilizing its YouTube Partner Program, developing sponsored content, collaborating as an affiliate partner with brands of interest, and utilizing their channel for merchandise sales.
Becoming a YouTuber does not guarantee quick wealth, as many creators rely on their fans’ support through platforms like Patreon and merchandise sales to earn a substantial part of their income. Nonetheless, with dedication and perseverance, it can be an enjoyable and fulfilling endeavor.
Top Paying Digital Nomad Jobs
If you are curious about how nomads earn money, we have several job examples to provide inspiration. Making money as a nomad has become increasingly convenient with the abundant availability of remote jobs following the pandemic.
UX/UI Designer
In recent years, a relatively new role known as user experience (UX) or user interface (UI) design has gained prominence. This position involves the creation of user-friendly designs for websites, platforms, applications, and other digital products.
Due to being a relatively new position, there is a strong demand for the role, making it an ideal time to start. Salaries are currently high, making it a favorable opportunity. The job involves utilizing design programs to fulfill customer needs, which bears resemblance to graphic design. If you are a graphic designer and seek increased earnings or a career change, opting for a path as a UX or UI designer should be considered.
Based on Glassdoor, the average base pay for UX designers in the US is currently $109,776 as of May 2022, equivalent to an hourly rate between $41 and $56.
Shopify Developer
The increase in the usage of e-commerce sites and online shops has led to the need for e-commerce administrators to seek the aid of a Shopify developer in order to handle and establish their storefronts. By enrolling in specialized courses and building a portfolio as a freelancer, one can acquire the skills and become a Shopify developer.
Shopify is a widely used and popular platform among e-commerce administrators. However, a significant number of them lack knowledge on how to fully utilize its potential. In order to optimize the functionality of UX design, customize the design, and perform other tasks, they rely on Shopify developers.
SEO Specialist
If you have a website and want to be seen on the front page of Google, it is essential to utilize search engine optimization (SEO). Becoming adept in SEO involves working alongside businesses and bloggers to enhance the content, metadata, and keywords of their websites, enabling Google to discover and endorse them.
In order to become an SEO specialist, it is important to have an appreciation for studying and analyzing data and trends. Despite the abundance of figures and graphs in this profession, it can be highly fulfilling to see your client’s website begin to rank.
To keep up with the ever-changing nature of SEO due to Google’s algorithm, it is necessary to remain updated with the latest trends and knowledge. To venture into this field, one can begin by taking online courses and conducting practical exercises on their own blog, which can serve as an additional source of income.
When you start your SEO career, your salary will be around $52,400. However, as you gain more experience, your salary can increase to $75,067 and beyond. According to Salary.com, the average hourly rate for this profession is $34.
How Much Do Digital Nomads Make? – Average Salary
According to FlexJobs poll, CDC International Shipping statistics, and findings by Project Untethered, it is generally agreed that digital nomads typically earn an annual income ranging from $50,000 to $99,999. These income statistics pertaining to digital nomads also indicate that most remote workers earn between $10 and $30 per hour based on factors such as their qualifications, experience, and industry.
If you are working for a remote company, there might be a limit to your income, as 49% of digital nomads earn the same salary as their previous office job. However, if you are an entrepreneur, there are no restrictions on your earnings. Your income increases as your enterprise expands.
Leave a Reply