How to Make Money While Traveling: 73 Travel Jobs

People ask me all the time how I afford to travel so much. The answer is boring: I work.

I’ve been living abroad since 2011, and I’ve worked 11 different travel jobs to make it happen. Along the way, I’ve met people making money on the road in ways I never would have guessed.

So here they are. 73 travel jobs that let you earn money while you travel or live abroad. Some are full-time careers. Some are side gigs. All of them are real ways to fund a life on the road.

How this list works:

• Jobs 1 to 31 are remote. You just need a laptop and Wi-Fi.
• Jobs 32 to 48 are jobs you physically do abroad. Most need a visa.
• Jobs 49 to 53 work either way.
• Jobs 54 to 73 are a quick list of more niche options.
• ✅ means I’ve done it myself.

Quick Picks: Where Should You Start?

Don’t want to read all 73? Start here based on where you’re at:

• No experience: #16 Virtual Assistant, #17 Customer Service, #32 Bartender or Server, #33 Retail, #35 Hostel Staff
• Want money fast: #22 Online English Teacher, #32 Bartender or Server, #49 English Teacher
• Want to stay put somewhere: #45 Au Pair, #49 English Teacher, #36 Tour Guide
• Want to keep moving: #2 Freelance Writer, #16 Virtual Assistant, #40 Cruise Ship Crew
• Have professional skills: #11 Developer, #18 Bookkeeper, #44 Skilled Worker Visa Jobs, #46 Travel Nurse, #53 Transfer With Your Company

Still not sure? Here are the easiest travel jobs and online jobs that need no experience. Don’t worry, I have more guides as you read below for other jobs too!

Remote Travel Jobs: Writing and Content

Remote work is the most flexible way to make money while traveling. Your job goes wherever your laptop goes. For an even deeper dive, see my list of digital nomad jobs.

1. Blogger ✅

This is what I do now. You can blog about anything, and if you do it well, people will find you.

Real talk: it’s slow money. It took me years before my blog paid me anything real. Start it on the side while another job pays the bills.

This job is actually about 23 jobs wrapped into one, but that’s a story for another day!

Start here: The gear I actually use as a travel blogger

2. Freelance Writer ✅

Businesses, blogs, and brands all need content. If you can write clearly, you can get paid for it from anywhere. This is the job that got me into blogging.

Start with smaller gigs to build a portfolio, then raise your rates.

Start here: How to be a freelance content writer | Find openings on FlexJobs

3. Editor, Proofreader, or Formatter ✅

Lots of people can write. Fewer can write cleanly. Editors and proofreaders fix grammar, flow, and structure for writers, blogs, and businesses.

Formatting is an easy add-on. Plenty of bloggers hate putting posts together in WordPress and will happily pay someone else to do it. AI has been helping, but you still need a human touch.

Start here: Find openings on FlexJobs or Upwork

4. Social Media Manager ✅

Businesses know they need social media. Most don’t have time for it. You plan, create, and post content for them across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Start here: How to become a social media manager

5. Social Media Influencer ✅

Build an audience, and brands will pay you to reach it. It’s harder than it looks, and it takes time. But it’s a real business once you get traction.

Tip: pick one platform and get good there before trying to be everywhere.

6. YouTuber

Teach, entertain, or document. YouTube pays through ads once you qualify, plus sponsorships and affiliate links. Like blogging, it’s slow to start and powerful once it grows.

Start here: How to become a travel videographer

7. Podcaster

If you can talk about one topic forever, start a podcast. You earn through ads, sponsors, and paid subscribers. All you need is a decent mic and a quiet room.

Start here: Podcasting 101: mistakes to avoid

8. UGC Creator ✅

UGC means user-generated content. Brands pay you to make short videos and photos of their products that they post on their own accounts and ads.

Here’s the best part: you don’t need a big following. Brands care about the content, not your follower count. I’ve done UGC myself, and it’s one of the easiest ways into content creation.

Start here: Build a small portfolio of sample videos, then pitch brands directly or join UGC marketplaces.

9. Affiliate Marketer ✅

You recommend products, and when someone buys through your link, you earn a commission. It costs them nothing extra. This is a big part of how I make money now.

On my sites, one of my steadiest earners is Stay22. It turns regular hotel links into affiliate links automatically, so I earn when readers book stays. If you write about travel, it’s one of the easiest affiliate tools to set up. Here’s my full Stay22 review.

Start here: Start with programs for things you already use, like Amazon Associates and Stay22.

Remote Travel Jobs: Tech

10. Web Designer

Every business needs a website. Offer your design skills on freelance platforms, set your rates, and work from anywhere. Charge less at first to build reviews, then raise your prices.

Start here: How to start freelancing | Upwork | Fiverr

11. Developer or Programmer

Coding is one of the highest-paying remote jobs out there, and demand isn’t going anywhere. Build apps, websites, or software from a beach, a mountain town, or a coworking space.

Start here: Learn free on freeCodeCamp | Find jobs on We Work Remotely

12. SEO Specialist

Every website wants more traffic from Google. If you understand search, you can help them get it. Many SEO pros start by growing their own site, then sell those skills.

Start here: Find openings on FlexJobs

13. Tech Support

Lots of people and businesses need help with their software, websites, and devices. Offer support remotely or join a company’s support team.

Start here: Find openings on FlexJobs

14. Website or App Tester

Companies pay people to test their websites and apps and share honest feedback. It won’t pay your rent on its own, but it’s easy side money on the road.

Start here: UserTesting

15. AI Trainer or Data Annotator

AI companies need humans to review, rate, and correct AI responses. It’s flexible, fully remote, and often needs no special degree. Specialized knowledge, like coding, math, or a second language, pays more.

Heads up: work comes in waves. Projects dry up and pick back up, so sign up for a couple of platforms and treat it as flexible side income, not a guaranteed paycheck.

Start here: DataAnnotation is the most-recommended place to start (open to workers in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand). Outlier hires worldwide. For more options, see this roundup of data annotation platforms.

Remote Travel Jobs: Business and Admin

16. Virtual Assistant ✅

Be someone’s remote right hand. Scheduling, email, research, social media, bookkeeping, whatever they need. I did VA work for another blogger, and it’s one of the best entry-level travel jobs.

Start here: Digital nomad jobs for beginners | Find openings on FlexJobs

17. Customer Service Rep

Lots of companies hire remote support reps to answer emails, chats, and calls. It’s one of the easiest remote jobs to land with no experience. Just check the time zone requirements.

Start here: We Work Remotely | FlexJobs

18. Online Bookkeeper

Small businesses need help keeping their books straight, and most don’t need someone in the office. Get certified in QuickBooks or Xero and you’re employable pretty much anywhere.

Start here: Look into QuickBooks or Xero certification, then find clients on freelance platforms.

19. Recruiter

Companies always need good people, and recruiters find them. Much of recruiting is now fully remote. Work for an agency or directly for a company’s hiring team.

Start here: Search remote recruiter roles on LinkedIn or FlexJobs

20. Sales

Almost every company has a sales team, and a lot of that work happens on Zoom now. If you can talk to people and close, you can do it from anywhere.

Start here: Find openings on FlexJobs

21. Create Your Own Remote Job

Don’t see your skill on this list? Make it a job. Almost anything you’re good at can be turned into a service you offer online: organizing, planning, design, research, consulting, you name it.

Figure out who needs what you do, package it into a clear offer, and start pitching. That’s basically how every freelancer and online business starts. Mine included.

Start here: How to start freelancing | Legit remote work websites to find clients

Remote Travel Jobs: Teaching and Language

22. Online English Teacher ✅

This is how I first learned I could work from anywhere. You teach English to students around the world over video. Many companies hire without teaching experience, but a TEFL helps a lot.

Start here: How to teach English online | Teaching online without a degree | Get myTEFL 50% off with code NINA50

23. Online Course Creator

Turn a skill into a course. Photography, design, language, fitness, whatever you know well. You build it once and sell it over and over.

Start here: Teachable

24. Coach

Fitness, business, career, life. If you’ve got expertise and can help people get results, you can coach them over video from anywhere.

25. Translator

Speak another language fluently? Translate documents, websites, and books for clients around the world.

Start here: How to be a translator and travel

26. Transcriptionist

Listen to audio, type what you hear. All you need is a laptop, headphones, and fast fingers.

Start here: TranscribeMe

Remote Travel Jobs: Creative

27. Graphic Designer

Logos, social graphics, websites, book covers. Businesses always need design, and it’s easy to deliver remotely.

Start here: How to be a graphic designer while traveling

28. Travel Photographer

Competitive, but doable if you’re great at it. Most travel photographers earn from a mix of brand work, stock sales, and selling prints.

Start here: How to make money with travel photography

29. Stock Photographer

Upload your photos to stock sites and earn every time someone licenses one. Small money per photo, but it adds up with a big library.

Start here: Shutterstock | Adobe Stock

30. Video or Podcast Editor

Creators make a ton of content, and most hate editing it. If you’re good at it, you’ll always have work.

Start here: Find openings on FlexJobs

31. Online Artist

Sell prints, digital downloads, illustrations, or commissions online. Build a shop and let your art pay for your travels.

Start here: Etsy

Work Abroad Travel Jobs

These jobs happen in person, in another country. Most need a work visa. If you’re 30 or under (or 35 in some cases), a working holiday visa is the easiest way in. That’s how I worked in Australia.

Want more? Here are jobs abroad that include accommodation and how to work abroad without experience.

32. Bartender or Server ✅

High turnover means there’s almost always a job. I waitressed and bartended in Australia and saved a ton. Apply in person, and show up before tourist season starts.

Start here: How to live and work in Australia | Working holiday visas for Americans

33. Retail Worker ✅

I worked at a surf shop in Darwin for six months. Easy work, decent pay, no experience needed. Walk in with a resume and a smile.

Start here: My time working and living in Darwin

34. Barista

Coffee shops in tourist areas hire travelers all the time. In coffee-obsessed places like Australia, knowing your way around an espresso machine gets you hired fast.

35. Hostel or Hotel Staff

Staying somewhere? Ask if they’re hiring. Hostels need front desk, cleaning, and event staff. Sometimes it’s paid, sometimes it’s a free bed and meals.

Pro tip: check the hostel’s community board and local cafe boards too. You’ll find job postings you’d never see online.

Start here: Worldpackers lists hostel work exchanges. Use code NINA10 for $10 off.

36. Tour Guide

Fall in love with a place? Stay and show it to others. Work for a local tour company or build your own tours.

Start here: Check local certification rules first. Some countries require a license.

37. Farm Worker

Picking fruit and working farms is hard, physical work. But it’s easy to get, and in Australia, farm work can qualify you to extend your working holiday visa.

Start here: The Australian working holiday visa guide

38. Ski Resort Worker

Lift operator, instructor, rental shop, restaurant. Resorts hire tons of seasonal staff, and you often get a free season pass.

Start here: How to become a ski instructor

39. Camp Counselor

Summer camps around the world hire counselors to work with kids outdoors. Housing and food are usually included.

Start here: Seasonal and temp jobs abroad

40. Cruise Ship Crew

Waitstaff, bartenders, entertainers, housekeeping, spa, and more. You get paid, fed, and housed while the ship moves you around the world. Long hours, though.

Start here: Check the careers pages of major cruise lines.

41. Yacht Crew

Deckhands and stewards on superyachts earn good money, plus tips, with room and board covered. It’s long hours, but the views are unreal.

Start here: How to become a yacht stewardess

42. Flight Attendant

Fly for work, then use your layovers and flight perks to explore. Competitive to get into, but a classic travel job for a reason.

Start here: Apply directly through airline careers pages.

43. Event and Festival Staff

Music festivals, concerts, and big events need setup crews, bartenders, and vendors. Some roles are volunteer in exchange for free tickets.

Start here: More seasonal jobs

44. Skilled Worker Visa Jobs

If you work in a field a country is short on, like healthcare, tech, engineering, trades, or teaching, that country may sponsor your visa. It’s one of the best ways to move abroad long term with a real salary.

I met an Irish radiologist in Australia who was there on a skilled visa. Your profession might be your ticket out too.

Start here: Skilled work visas: how to move abroad with your profession

45. Au Pair or Nanny

Live with a family, help with the kids, and get housing, food, and a stipend. One of the most affordable ways to live abroad long term.

Start here: How to be a travel nanny | How to be an au pair in Spain

46. Travel Nurse

Nurses are in demand worldwide. With the right credentials, you can take contracts in other countries and get paid well to travel.

47. Massage Therapist

Resorts, spas, and cruise ships hire massage therapists all over the world. You’ll need proper training and certification.

48. Peace Corps Volunteer

Not a big paycheck, but your living costs are covered and you get a deep experience in another country. A great option for Americans who want to make an impact.

Start here: Peace Corps

Travel Jobs That Work Online or Abroad

49. English Teacher (Abroad or Online) ✅

This is how my whole life abroad started. I taught in Thailand with zero experience and got hired days after landing. It’s still my top recommendation for getting abroad fast.

Start here: How to teach English abroad | Best online TEFL courses | Get myTEFL 50% off with code NINA50

50. Personal Trainer

Train clients at resorts and gyms abroad, or coach them online. Once you have an online client base, you can take it anywhere.

51. Instructor (Yoga, Dive, Surf, and More)

If you’re great at an activity, you can teach it in the places people travel to do it. Yoga retreats, dive shops, and surf schools hire all over the world.

Start here: How to become a scuba instructor abroad

52. Videographer

My partner Garrett does this. He films for clients, then edits from wherever we are. Weddings, brands, and tourism companies all need video.

Start here: How to become a travel videographer

53. Transfer With Your Company

Already have a job you like? Ask about working remotely or transferring to an international office. It’s the fastest way to keep your income and benefits while moving abroad.

Start here: How to get a job in Europe as an American | How to work in the UK

20 More Ways to Make Money While Traveling

These are more niche, need specific credentials, or work better as side income. Still legit ways to earn on the road.

54. E-book author: Write it once and sell it forever on Amazon or your own site.
55. App creator: Build an app that solves a problem and sell it or monetize it with ads.
56. Financial consultant: Help clients with budgets and money plans over video.
57. Day trader: Risky, but some people fund their travels this way. Know what you’re doing first.
58. Dropshipper: Run an online store without holding inventory.
59. Airbnb host: Rent out your place back home while you’re away.
60. Legal consultant: Lawyers can offer remote legal advice and contract work.
61. Telehealth provider: Licensed medical pros can see patients online.
62. Small online tasks: Surveys and micro tasks. Pocket money, not rent money.
63. Personal shopper or stylist: Style clients online over video calls.
64. Kitchen staff: Restaurants abroad need cooks and dishwashers as much as servers.
65. Cleaner: Hotels, vacation rentals, and locals all need cleaners.
66. Construction worker: Some countries have labor shortages and special visas for trades.
67. Antarctica worker: Yes, really. The US Antarctic Program hires cooks, techs, and support staff every season.
68. Pilot: You’ll need the certifications, but you’ll see the world.
69. Doctor: Organizations like Doctors Without Borders send doctors worldwide.
70. Travel agent: Plan trips for others, and score perks for yourself.
71. Music or dance teacher: Teach lessons to locals or online students.
72. Film extra ✅: Films and shows need background actors all over the world. I was an extra in a German movie in Thailand. Watch local flyers and Facebook groups.
73. Car or RV relocation driver: Rental companies need vehicles moved between cities. Sometimes they pay, sometimes you just get a cheap road trip.

Bonus: Cut Your Costs So Your Money Goes Further

Whatever job you pick, your money lasts longer when you spend less. These are the tricks I use:

• Pet sitting ✅: Free place to stay plus a temporary pet. I use TrustedHousesitters, and you’ll get a discount at checkout with my link. Read my TrustedHousesitters review.
• Work exchanges: Trade a few hours of help for free rent. Worldpackers is the one I recommend. Use code NINA10 for $10 off.
• The right travel card: My Venture X card earns points for flights and hotels and gets me into airport lounges.

More: How to travel for free (or close to it) | My best budget travel tips | Why traveling is cheaper than living in the US

Things to Know Before You Start

• Every job here is real and pays. Some are full-time careers. Some are side gigs. It depends on the opportunity.
• Work abroad jobs usually need a work visa. Check the destination’s government site. A working holiday visa is the easiest option if you qualify. I only recommend working legally.
• Remote work is a visa gray area in many countries. Read up on tourist visas and digital nomad visas before you go.
• It’s easier to get hired abroad once you’re there. Do your research, then go. Showing up in person makes a huge difference.

Travel Jobs FAQ

What’s the easiest travel job with no experience?

Hospitality, retail, virtual assistant work, and customer service are the easiest to land. Teaching English is close behind, especially with a TEFL.

Can I make money while traveling without a degree?

Yes. Most of the jobs on this list don’t require one. Here’s a list of online jobs that need no experience.

What’s the best travel job?

The one that fits your skills and your timeline. If you need money fast, go with hospitality or teaching. If you want long-term freedom, build a remote skill like writing, design, or VA work.

Feeling lost? Grab my free guide to picking the best travel job for YOU.

Pick one, start small, and go. That’s honestly all I did.

Keep Reading

• 11 travel jobs that got me here
• How I really afford to travel and live abroad
• Digital nomad jobs you can do from anywhere
• How to work abroad and travel the world
• Legit remote work websites

Pin this post for later!