Digital nomad jobs are jobs that can be done while traveling, from anywhere. Here are five primary ways that digital nomads earn their living:
- Remote employment: being a salaried part-time or full-time employee
- Freelancing: doing independent, contract work for other people or companies
- Online business: any type of business you can do on the Internet, from starting a small business to building a large company or founding a startup
- Passive income: living on income from investments or automated income streams
- Multiple income streams: a hybrid model in which you combine two or more jobs to generate multiple revenue streams
By utilizing your skills, you have various opportunities to make money online. For instance, if you have experience in marketing, you can pursue a remote position as a marketing manager, work as a freelance marketing consultant, establish your own digital marketing or advertising agency, or engage in affiliate marketing.
If you are employed in video production, you have various options for remote work, such as working for a company or providing freelance video editing services. Alternatively, you can establish your own film production business or earn passive income by creating YouTube videos. Another possibility is working as a YouTuber while freelancing in a different field simultaneously.
Becoming a remote employee
The largest group of digital nomads in terms of population has shifted from online freelancers to remote workers since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The graph provided illustrates the comparison between the number of digital nomads in the United States who work independently and those who are employed by companies.
The University of Chicago conducted a study which found that 37 percent of jobs in the United States have the potential to be done remotely. As we transition into a post-COVID-19 world, this percentage is anticipated to rise further. A recent assessment by CRBE, a commercial real estate firm, indicates that 87 percent of major companies intend to incorporate a hybrid work model in the future, representing a significant increase from 40 percent in 2018.
Remote job opportunities can be found across various industries, encompassing nearly all sectors.
- Accounting and finance
- Administrative
- Business development
- Consulting
- Creative: writing and design
- Customer service
- Education and training
- Engineering
- Human resources
- Information technology
- Legal
- Managerial
- Marketing and advertising
- Medicine and health
- Project management
- Public relations
- Sales
- Software and programming
- Sports
- Web and app development
Two examples of job boards that have a category or search filter for “non-technical jobs” are NoDesk and RemoteOK.
A job title or skill for a remote job can also be utilized as a freelancing opportunity or serve as the foundation for an online business.
Freelancing your way to freedom
If you desire the ability to control your time and income, freelancing is something to consider. In 2021, approximately 53 million people in the United States, which accounts for one in three workers, engaged in freelancing. Among remote workers, freelancers constituted 47 percent.
Pieter Levels, the founder of Nomad List, has suggested that the global number of digital nomad freelancers and independent workers could reach 1 billion by the year 2035.
Freelancing can be considered as one of the quickest methods to begin generating an online income due to its high adaptability and minimal entry requirements.
If you think about it carefully, you can actually start working as a freelancer right now. All you need to do is decide on a service you can provide or a problem you can solve, and then let everyone know that you are ready to be hired. It only takes a few minutes to create a freelancing profile on the internet.
When freelancing, you have the advantage of flexibility, which is the most significant benefit. You can decide on your own time and schedule, set your own rates, choose the services you want to provide, and select the clients you prefer to work with.
According to Upwork, there is a possibility of earning a higher income freelancing compared to working in an office job, as indicated by 44 percent of freelancers who reported higher earnings when working independently rather than as employees receiving a salary.
If necessary, seek advice from your accountant or tax advisor regarding the appropriate business structure for you to establish. Inquire whether it would be more advantageous to register a business entity or operate as a sole proprietor and seek assistance with tax filing, if necessary.
Some of the popular categories in freelancing are:
- Accounting and finance
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Coaching and consulting
- Computer and information technology (IT)
- Customer service and virtual assistance
- Engineering
- Graphic design and web development
- Human resources and recruiting
- Legal and administrative
- Music and audio production
- Photography and videography
- Sales and marketing
- Social media management
- Software development
- Writing and editing
There are some downsides to freelancing, however. Freelancers’ incomes typically fluctuate from month to month. They don’t receive the same benefits or compensation packages that many full-time employees enjoy.
Freelancers are generally responsible for covering the costs of healthcare, managing their own retirement savings, and paying taxes for self-employment.
In addition, freelancers often face the challenge of managing administrative tasks and finding new clients while balancing their workloads. Additionally, working alone can lead to feelings of loneliness, which can be detrimental.
Top Paying Digital Nomad Jobs
If you are curious about how nomads earn a living, we can provide you with some job examples to spark inspiration. It has become increasingly convenient for nomads to make money, thanks to the abundance of remote job opportunities following the pandemic.
UX/UI Designer
The emergence of a relatively new position, known as user experience (UX) or user interface (UI) design, has occurred in the past few years. The need for this position lies in creating user-friendly designs for websites, platforms, applications, and other digital products.
Due to its novelty, the position has a high demand, making it an ideal time to begin as the salaries are currently lucrative. You will utilize design programs to fulfill customer needs, which bears resemblance to graphic design. If you are a graphic designer seeking higher income or a career switch, considering becoming a UX or UI designer would be advisable.
As of May 2022, the job listing website Glassdoor states that the average base pay for UX designers in the US is $109,776. This equates to an hourly wage between $41 and $56.
Shopify Developer
The demand for Shopify developers is increasing due to the rise in e-commerce platforms and online stores. To become a Shopify developer, one must attend specialized courses in this field and establish a freelance portfolio.
SEO Specialist
SEO, also known as search engine optimization, is a crucial tactic for individuals or companies operating websites, as it enables them to be visible on the first page of Google search results. Being skilled in SEO involves working with businesses and bloggers to enhance various aspects of their websites such as content, metadata, and keywords. This aids in ensuring that Google identifies and endorses their websites.
If you hope to be an SEO specialist, you must develop an appreciation for studying and analyzing data and trends. Despite the abundance of figures and graphs in this field, it can be highly gratifying once your client’s website begins to climb the rankings.
In order to keep up with the latest trends and knowledge in the field of SEO, it is important to continuously stay informed due to the constant changes brought about by Google’s algorithm. To begin learning about this profession, one can opt for online courses and gain hands-on experience by practicing on their own blog, which can also serve as an additional source of income.
Online Personal Trainer
In recent times, there has been a notable shift among numerous personal trainers from working in gyms to utilizing online platforms. While some trainers continue to provide face-to-face consultations or training sessions, a significant number of them have enhanced their services by developing online programs, mobile apps, or providing online coaching.
Online personal trainers have the option to either create exercise videos and distribute them to their clients or conduct real-time training sessions through platforms like Zoom. There are also those who produce videos for popular YouTube channels, just like the globally renowned Caroline Girvan.
The annual pay for online personal trainers is approximately $72,436.00 this year, similar to the salary of traditional private personal trainers. Nevertheless, the amount you earn is reliant on the structure of your approach and the kind of training you provide.
It is essential to have an excellent website and maintain an active presence on social media in order to engage with your existing followers and acquire new customers. Consider the outstanding content you can produce as you explore various breathtaking destinations around the globe and capture captivating workout moments.
Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) Specialist
To enhance conversion and engagement rates, an individual in this role will assess a company’s website and experiment with different features. Consequently, they refine the website in order to prompt a greater number of visitors to convert into leads and subsequently become customers.
Possible rephrasing: The website optimization tests could include changes to the language or color of the call to action button. Additionally, they might focus on improving the website’s loading time and implementing pop-up windows for users to share their contact information.
After gaining experience and expertise, it will be easy to find clients to help with their conversion rate optimization, especially with a few case studies and a strong technical background. This position emphasizes the need for extensive testing and analysis of user data.
The average yearly income for this position is $71,343, as per ZipRecruiter. On average, the hourly rate for this position is $34.30. One major benefit of this job is the flexibility to schedule your own hours and work remotely from any location in the world.
Accountant
An individual or a business can seek the assistance of an accountant or bookkeeper to ensure proper record-keeping of their expenses and preparation of tax filings at the year-end. It is important to identify the most suitable accounting specialty for your specific needs, as there are multiple options available.
Most accountant digital nomads work as freelancers for multiple clients. While some seek advice, others rely on them solely during tax season. Another option is to work remotely for a larger accounting firm if you prefer not to seek out clients on your own.
It is important to understand that in order to work as an accountant, you need to possess a degree and successfully clear the CPA examination. As per Talent, accountants typically earn an hourly wage ranging from $26 to $31 or an annual salary between $59,972 and $82,500.
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