30 Digital Nomad Jobs: Best Remote Jobs for Travelers
If I had a dollar for every time someone told me “I want to be a digital nomad!” I’d be rich by now.
Here’s the thing: a digital nomad isn’t a job. It’s a person with a job they can do from anywhere. So the real question is, what job will you take with you?
I’ve been working remotely around the world since 2011. These are 30 digital nomad jobs that actually work on the road, plus where to start with each one.
Heads up: you don’t need years of experience to get started. You need a skill, some motivation, and a willingness to hustle. Here’s how to get started without experience.
Quick Picks: Where to Start
- Need money soon: Virtual Assistant, Customer Service, Online English Teacher, Transcriber
- Have a creative skill: Freelance Writer, Graphic Designer, Social Media Manager, UGC Creator
- Have a tech skill: Developer, Web Designer, SEO Specialist
- Playing the long game: Blogger, YouTuber, Podcaster, Influencer. These take time to pay, so start them on the side.
Looking for jobs abroad too? Here’s my big list of 73 travel jobs.
Digital Nomad Jobs for Writers
1. Blogger
Yes, the blogger is telling you to blog. You can write about anything, and if you love it, your people will find you.
Bloggers earn through display ads, sponsored posts, their own products, and affiliate marketing (more on that in #9).
The catch? Blogging takes years to pay real money. Start it now, but pick up another job on this list to pay the bills in the meantime. That’s exactly what I did.
Start here: Host with SiteGround | The gear I use as a travel blogger
2. Freelance Writer or Copywriter
Businesses and blogs always need content. Content writers create articles and blog posts. Copywriters write words that sell, like product pages, emails, and ads.
Pick a niche. There are a million writers out there, and knowing a topic well is how you stand out.
First step: Write 2 or 3 sample pieces in your niche, publish them (a free Medium or LinkedIn post works), and use them as your portfolio when you pitch.
Start here: How to be a freelance content writer | FlexJobs
3. Editor or Proofreader
Not a writer but great at spotting mistakes? Editors and proofreaders polish other people’s work, from blog posts to books to business documents.
Content Creation Jobs for Digital Nomads
Heads up: content creation looks fun and easy. It’s not. Most of these take time before they pay, but the ceiling is high once they do.
4. Social Media Manager
Businesses know they need social media. Most don’t have time for it. You plan, create, and post for them, and you can do it from anywhere with Wi-Fi.
First step: Run the accounts for one small local business or friend’s brand for a couple of months. Real results and a testimonial will land you your next clients.
Start here: How to become a social media manager
5. UGC Creator
Brands pay you to create short videos and photos of their products that they use in their own ads and social accounts. You don’t need a big following, just good content. I’ve done UGC myself, and it’s one of the easiest ways into content creation.
First step: Film 3 to 5 sample videos of products you already own. Unboxings, quick reviews, and “how I use it” clips are what brands want to see.
Start here: Build a few sample videos for a portfolio, then pitch brands directly or join UGC marketplaces.
6. Influencer
Build an audience, and brands will pay you to promote their products to it. It takes a lot longer than people think, and it’s more work than it looks. But it can pay very well once you grow.
7. YouTuber
Teach, vlog, review, or entertain. YouTube pays through ads once you qualify, plus brand deals and affiliate links. It’s slow to start, so film because you love it.
Start here: How to become a travel videographer
8. Podcaster
Love to talk but don’t want to be on camera? Start a podcast. Podcasters earn from ads, sponsors, and paid subscribers once they build an audience.
Start here: Podcasting 101: mistakes to avoid
9. Affiliate Marketer
Recommend products you actually use, and earn a commission when people buy through your link. It works best with a blog, social following, or email list, and it’s a big part of how I make money today.
One of my steadiest affiliate earners is Stay22. It turns regular hotel links into affiliate links automatically, so I earn when readers book a stay, without building links by hand. If you create travel content, it’s one of the easiest tools to set up. Here’s my full Stay22 review.
One rule: always disclose your affiliate links. It’s required, and it keeps your readers’ trust.
Start here: Start with programs for things you already use and love. Recommend what you’d tell a friend to buy anyway.
⚠️ ARE YOU COVERED? ⚠️
Travel insurance isn’t just an extra—it’s a must.
SafetyWing’s travel insurance is designed for adventurers, covering everything from minor mishaps to major emergencies around the world.
Whether you’re hitting up busy cities or remote beaches, travel insurance helps you manage those “what if” moments that can otherwise throw a wrench in your trip.
With affordable, flexible coverage, SafetyWing makes it easy to stay protected wherever you roam and for however long. This is all I use to stay covered anywhere in the world!
Before you pack up and head out, make sure you’re set with the essentials—starting with the right insurance.
This guide gives you the *exact* steps, visa options, and decision tools to pick the best country for *you*.
No fluff. No BS. Just straight-up ✨virtual hand holding✨ so you can stop dreaming and get out of the US!
Creative Digital Nomad Jobs
10. Photographer
Competitive, but doable if you’re great at it and pick a niche. Travel photographers earn from brand work, destination weddings, stock sales, and prints.
Start here: How to make money with travel photography
11. Videographer
Brands, tourism companies, and couples all need video. My partner Garrett taught himself videography and now films for clients, then edits from wherever we are.
Start here: How to become a travel videographer
12. Graphic Designer
Logos, social graphics, websites, ads. Every business needs design, and it’s easy to deliver remotely. Build a portfolio, then find clients on freelance sites.
Start here: How to be a graphic designer while traveling
Digital Nomad Jobs for the Tech-Savvy
13. Web Designer
Businesses and bloggers are always looking for someone to build or fix their website. A portfolio of live sites you’ve built is your best sales tool.
First step: Build 2 or 3 real sites, even for friends or a made-up business, so you have something to show.
Start here: How to start freelancing | FlexJobs
14. Developer or Coder
Coding is one of the best-paying remote jobs out there. Build websites, software, or apps. Plenty of developers are self-taught, and there are great free resources to start with.
Start here: Learn free on freeCodeCamp or The Odin Project
15. SEO Specialist
Every website wants more Google traffic. If you understand how search works, businesses will pay you to get them there. (If you found this post on Google, hi!)
Start here: FlexJobs
16. Tech Support
Lots of companies hire remote support staff to fix software, hardware, and network issues over chat or phone. I had a friend who did this while living abroad.
Start here: FlexJobs
17. AI Trainer or Data Annotator
AI companies pay people to review, rate, and correct AI responses. It’s flexible and fully remote, and specialized skills like coding or a second language pay more. Work comes in waves, so treat it as side income.
Start here: DataAnnotation (US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand) | Outlier (worldwide)
Teaching Jobs for Digital Nomads
18. Online English Teacher
This was my first remote job, and it’s still one of the easiest ways to start working online. You teach students around the world over video. A TEFL certificate helps a lot, and you can teach other languages too.
First step: Get a 120-hour TEFL, record a short, friendly intro video, and apply to several platforms at once.
Start here: How to teach English online | How to teach any language online
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19. Online Course Creator
Know something well? Turn it into a course. Build it once, sell it over and over.
Start here: Teachable
20. Coach or Consultant
Fitness, business, marketing, yoga, life coaching. If you have expertise, you can sell it over video calls from anywhere. I have friends coaching surf in Costa Rica and life coaching in the Netherlands.
Language Jobs for Digital Nomads
21. Translator
Fluent in another language? Translate documents, websites, and books. Pick a niche like legal, medical, or marketing to earn more.
First step: Proof matters here. A certification or official proficiency test makes clients trust you a lot faster.
Start here: How to be a translator and travel
22. Transcriber
Listen to audio, type what you hear. All you need is a laptop, headphones, and fast fingers. It’s one of the easier remote jobs to start with no experience.
Start here: TranscribeMe
This guide gives you the *exact* steps, visa options, and decision tools to pick the best country for *you*.
No fluff. No BS. Just straight-up ✨virtual hand holding✨ so you can stop dreaming and get out of the US!
“Desk Jobs” for Digital Nomads
Love your office job but hate the office? These are regular jobs, minus the desk.
23. Virtual Assistant
Handle emails, scheduling, research, social media, and admin tasks for busy business owners. I did VA work for another blogger, and it’s one of the best entry-level remote jobs out there.
First step: Pick 3 specific services you’re good at (like inbox management or Pinterest scheduling) and pitch them to bloggers and small business owners. Specific beats “I can do anything.”
Start here: Digital nomad jobs for beginners | FlexJobs
24. Customer Service Rep
Tons of companies hire remote reps to answer emails, chats, and calls. It’s one of the easiest remote jobs to land without experience. Just check the time zone requirements.
Start here: We Work Remotely | FlexJobs
25. Sales
A lot of sales happens on Zoom now. If you can pitch, handle objections, and close, you can sell from anywhere.
Start here: FlexJobs
26. Online Bookkeeper
Small businesses need their books kept straight, and it doesn’t need to happen in an office. Get certified in QuickBooks or Xero and you can work from anywhere.
Start here: Look into QuickBooks or Xero certification, then find clients on freelance sites.
27. Work Remotely for Your Company
You might not need a new job at all. Ask your boss about going remote. Come with a plan for how you’ll stay productive and reachable, and you might be surprised by the answer.
Start here: How to get a job in Europe as an American
Entrepreneurial Digital Nomad Jobs
28. Day Trader
Risky, but some people fund their travels trading stocks from their laptop. Only try this if you really know what you’re doing, and never trade money you can’t afford to lose.
29. Dropshipper
Run an online store without holding inventory. You sell the products, and a supplier ships them to your customers. Success comes down to picking the right niche and marketing well.
Start here: Shopify
30. Spicy Content Creator
You know the ones. Subscription platforms for adult-leaning content are a real industry, and some creators out-earn their old salaries. Not for everyone, but it’s legit. If you go for it, protect your privacy and do your research first.
Before You Go Digital Nomad
Picked a job? Here’s what to sort out next:
- Know the reality: How to become a digital nomad covers the good, the bad, and the lonely.
- Sort out visas: Some countries offer digital nomad visas. Otherwise, here are the longest tourist visas for Americans.
- Pick an affordable base: Your money goes further in the cheapest countries in the world.
- Set up your money: Here’s how I handle banking and money abroad.
- Get your tools: Free online tools every remote worker needs and my travel home office setup.
Save on accommodation: Pet sit for free stays with TrustedHousesitters (discount at checkout with my link), or trade a few hours of help for free rent with Worldpackers (code NINA10 for $10 off).
Digital Nomad Jobs FAQ
What’s the easiest digital nomad job to start?
Virtual assistant work, customer service, transcription, and teaching English online have the lowest barrier to entry. You can start earning without years of experience.
Do I need a degree to be a digital nomad?
No. Most of these jobs care about skills, not degrees. Here are online jobs that need no experience.
Where can I find legit remote jobs?
FlexJobs screens every listing for scams. Freelance sites like Upwork and Fiverr are great for building clients. Here are more legit remote work websites.
Want to see how I did it? Here are the 11 travel jobs that got me here. Now pick one and start. That’s the only way this works.
Hi Nina,
Blogging seems interesting , especially the part about sponsored posts. So how would you get work writing sponsored posts? I am very interested.
Hi Nicole, lots of things go into it. First, you’d need a decent blog to start with which is not easy. There’s plenty of resources out there on how to go about it but many of the times you’re just approached.
Oh thank you for the response. I have a blog. I know what you mean when you say it’s hard. lol
Awesome! Thanks for the detailed post Nina. Hoping to start freelancing from next year and some of these options sound very exciting!
Thanks, Carryn! They are all so viable! 🙂 Good luck!