Living and working in the country of your dreams has never been more achievable.
As long as you have a job that allows you to enjoy the benefits of being a digital nomad, and a strong desire to travel and adapt — the world is yours.
However, not all jobs bring the same benefits.
Some allow you to earn more, while others enable you to visit more countries. The hidden catch is to find a job that combines both.
Therefore, in this article, we will analyze the best jobs for digital nomads and help you learn more about the following:
- The most common digital nomad jobs,
- The best jobs to work remotely and travel,
- The best way to start your digital nomad career,
- The best-paid digital nomad jobs,
- The best non-tech digital nomad jobs and many more topics.
Let’s dive into it!
Table of Contents
What is a digital nomad job and why do you need one?
A digital nomad job is a job that allows you to work from anywhere you want, as long as you have a stable internet connection and laptop/PC.
Marketing Executive at Matchable and our contributor, Oliver Farmiloe, describes a digital nomad job as a job that brings many advantages:
”Working as a digital nomad gives me the ability to manage my own time and give attention to other areas of my life aside from just my career. Being a digital nomad means getting the opportunity to live in different countries while continuing to progress in your career. It can also mean discovering new business opportunities in new locations through traveling.”
From sunny Bali to cold Estonia — digital nomads are everywhere. And most of them enjoy their life to the fullest.
Digital marketers and the digital nomads behind Two Tickets Anywhere, Ashley and Matthew Metcalfe, agree that freedom is one of the things that make a digital nomad job attractive:
“As self-employed digital nomads, we have experienced true work freedom because we are in charge of our time and schedule and are free to travel anywhere in the world. It’s given us the most flexibility because we aren’t restricted by time zones or stuck in certain regions of the world.”
Some digital nomads prefer to travel and relocate often, while some pick a country according to their preferences and live there for years.
It is up to you to choose the path you will follow.
🎓 Pumble Pro Tip
If you are wondering what steps to take to become a digital nomad, take a look at the following guide:
In case you are already an expat or you want to work abroad as a digital nomad, the following guides for digital nomads might be useful:
5 Top digital nomad jobs
The best digital nomad job is the job that allows you to enjoy life.
By enjoying life, we mean:
- Having enough time for your dear ones and yourself,
- Loving what you do,
- Earning well enough, and
- Meeting different people and cultures.
Hence, here are the 5 top digital nomad jobs from every industry that, in most cases, allow you to achieve everything mentioned above.
🎓 Pumble Pro Tip
Enjoying life is preconditioned by setting a work-life balance. To learn how to do so, check out our article:
#1 Software engineer — Best for digital nomads in the tech industry
One of the best jobs for digital nomads in the tech industry is software engineer.
Firstly, software engineering is one of the best-paid professions (around $122,645 per year) in the tech industry and will remain so in the foreseeable future.
In line with that, as a software engineer, you have plenty of job opportunities.
Hence, you can save a lot of money to travel all around the world or make your home somewhere abroad.
Furthermore, a university degree is not needed, but it is a bonus.
🎓 Pumble Pro Tip
Traveling all around the world is fun. However, that means you will meet a lot of different people who have different customs and belong to different cultures.
Hence, I recommend checking the following article to learn how multicultural workplaces work:
#2 Graphic designer — Best for digital nomads in the design industry
Being a graphic designer is one of the best digital nomad jobs as long as you have a strong laptop to perform various tasks designers have to do.
Graphic designers create visuals and illustrations for various companies that will enrich their websites or promote their products and service.
Furthermore, it is well-paid ($50,600 per year), meaning you will have enough funds to travel or settle in a foreign country.
A lot of employers prefer graphic designers with a certified degree in graphic design.
However, if you have relevant experience and knowledge, there is a high chance that you will find a job anyways.
🎓 Pumble Pro Tip
If you want to become a graphic designer and don’t know where to start, we recommend you start from the very beginnings — visual communication:
#3 Content creator — Best for digital nomads in the digital marketing industry
Content creators create images, articles, guides, and videos that promote ideas and brands worldwide.
Companies’ success often depends on the skills of content creators to create content that will efficiently promote ideas, brands, and products.
Hence, the companies are ready to pay well ($51,664 per year) if your work will bring them profits or promotion.
Content creators can easily find job opportunities online, and in most cases, they work independently without conventional working hours.
Depending on the agreement, content creators might even not need the Internet all the time.
Internet access may be needed only when they need to submit their work, attend meetings, or receive feedback.
Doubtless, it is one of the most creative jobs for digital nomads in the marketing industry.
#4 Online teaching — Best for digital nomads in the online education sector
Online teaching is one of the most attractive jobs for professionals outside the IT industry, marketing, or design.
Native or non-native English speakers can earn around $72,000 per year if they find students or schools that prefer online education.
The best aspect of this job is that you are the master of your time — in most cases, you can work when it fits you.
Furthermore, transferring knowledge to others is one of the noblest things you can do.
Hence, no worries.
As long as you have a strong internet connection and an English language degree, you can become a digital nomad even if you are not in the IT industry.
#5 Virtual assistant — Best for digital nomads in the administrative sector
If virtual assistants were around us 18 years ago, it would be doubtful whether Jim would meet Pam in the popular series “The Office”.
However, times change.
Nowadays, virtual assistants:
- Help with everyday tasks,
- Schedule appointments, or
- Send emails on behalf of their employers.
Depending on the agreement, assistants might also have some more demanding duties.
A virtual assistant is one of the best digital nomad jobs for beginners or expats who don’t want to work in some of the aforementioned sectors — IT, design, or marketing.
Furthermore, it gives you an opportunity to earn around 39,000 per year.
🎓 Pumble Pro Tip
Although sending an email sounds easy, it is not.
Namely, if you have to send hundreds of emails on a daily basis, you might lose inspiration at some point.
To help you perform your duty well, our team has created the following article:
What are common digital nomad jobs?
Digital nomads come from various industries and sectors.
Hence, in case you meet a digital nomad and ask them about what they do, there is a huge chance they will work in either:
- The tech industry,
- The digital design sector,
- The digital marketing industry,
- The online education sector, or
- The online administration sector.
Since these industries and sectors are the most popular, let’s learn more about them.
Common jobs for digital nomads in the tech industry
Since the majority of digital nomads work in the tech industry, it is tough to decide which IT jobs deserve to be on the list.
However, careful research shows that these are the most common occupations for digital nomads in the IT industry.
Tech job #1: Software engineer
As mentioned above, software engineering is one of the best digital nomad jobs.
At the same time, it is one of the most common digital nomad jobs.
Since IT infrastructure is of paramount importance for almost every company, it is no surprise that software engineers are highly appreciated and well-paid.
However, with great benefits come great responsibilities.
And, great responsibilities often produce stress. So, there is an increased risk of burnout for software engineers.
Since one of the ways to fight stress and avoid burnout is traveling, a nomadic lifestyle might be even the best option for software engineers.
Tech job #2: Web developer
What do we do when we need some information or help? Do we go to the doctor’s office, ask a friend, or check the encyclopedia?
Unfortunately, many times, we don’t! We ask Google and get the info we need on various websites.
And, there are a lot of websites on the internet — making web developers, who are in charge of creating and maintaining websites, highly sought after.
Therefore, it is no surprise they can easily find a job and work from anywhere in the world.
Tech job #3: QA tester
No apps, games, or systems would function without QA testers.
They are the professionals who check whether the products run without any problems or if they need some additional changes.
Now, imagine yourself sitting somewhere on a tropical beach and testing the latest video game that will put smiles on the faces of millions worldwide. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
Another great thing about this digital nomad job — it is never too late to start a career as a QA tester. Various companies worldwide offer certifications and employment after completing online courses.
Hence, many professionals pick a career in QA testing as their ticket to living and working abroad.
Tech job #4: Programmer
Another branch of the tech industry that is very popular among digital nomads is programming.
Bear in mind not to confuse it with software engineering since many still do that.
Software engineers develop software systems, while programmers write programs.
Many companies constantly look for programming services since there is always some software to be written or updated.
Therefore, programmers find well-paid jobs easily.
Furthermore, don’t be surprised if one of the most common answers of digital nomads to the question about what they do is: “I’m a programmer.”
Tech job #5: Database administrator
In the 21st century, security is one of the biggest concerns of every IT company.
Hence, companies value digital nomads who know to collect, secure, and organize data.
Although it is a job with huge responsibilities, there are no obstacles for you to work from anywhere in the world.
Common jobs for digital nomads in the digital design sector
Since visual communication is of utmost importance for many companies worldwide, it is no surprise that quality digital designers and video producers find jobs easily.
Therefore, let’s learn more about the most common jobs in the digital design sector.
Digital design job #1: Graphic designer
Graphic designers are people responsible for the look of visuals you find online.
They can cooperate with other designers (about whom you will learn more below) or work alone.
Since visual communication is getting increasingly important, it is no surprise this is one of the most common jobs you can do from anywhere.
Furthermore, by traveling often, you foster your inspiration. Hence, your work can only benefit from your nomadic lifestyle.
Digital design job #2: Brand designer
Unlike graphic designers, who are mainly responsible for a brand’s visual communication, brand designers create a unique visual identity of a company or brand.
Brand designers carefully pick colors, fonts, or other details which align with the idea behind the brand or specific campaign.
They work closely with brand strategists and turn their ideas into reality.
Digital design job #3: Brand strategist
If you are a skillful and goal-oriented strategist, congratulations, you have met the main requirements for the role of a brand strategist.
Namely, brand strategists are responsible for the long-term plans of a company’s/brand’s visual representation.
They need to collaborate with the managers and leaders of other branches to deliver results in line with the company/brand plans.
Digital design job #4: Video producer
Although it sounded impossible a few years ago, these days, even a video producer can pursue a digital nomad career.
Namely, they can enjoy the benefits of living as digital nomads as long as they:
- Cooperate with other members of the team via team collaboration tools,
- Create on-point scripts,
- Have the ability to perform remote interviews, and
- Possess the skills for audio and video editing.
Common jobs for digital nomads in the digital marketing industry
Design and digital marketing sectors work closely to ensure that a company’s visual identity leads to better marketing results.
Thanks to modern collaboration tools, colleagues from these two sectors can be miles away and still deliver positive results.
Hence, many professionals from the digital marketing industry choose the nomadic lifestyle.
Let’s see the most common digital marketing jobs you can do remotely while traveling.
Digital marketing job #1: Content creator
Working as a content creator means you will write or film the content your company uses for, in most cases, marketing purposes.
Apart from the ability to research industry-related topics, you have to be creative and find out what content will be the most suitable for the product or company you are promoting.
And, what is better for creativity than traveling?
Hence, many content creators decide to work as digital nomads and look for inspiration in different destinations.
Digital marketing job #2: SEO Specialists
SEO specialists are responsible for the positive user experience and increase of brand awareness, among other things.
In other words, they are trying to sell the company’s products or services by increasing the website’s visibility.
As someone said, “The skills of SEO Optimization are easy to learn but difficult to master.”
As a result, skillful SEO specialists are well-paid and wanted worldwide.
Digital marketing job #3: Digital marketing specialist
A digital marketing specialist is for marketing what a brand strategist is for the digital design sector — responsible for the long-term strategy.
Marketing specialists:
- Research the trends in digital marketing,
- Plan future campaigns and content, and
- Create a marketing strategy for the future in cooperation with other team members.
Although they have a lot of demanding duties, they can still enjoy the vast benefits of digital nomad jobs if they organize their time well.
Digital marketing job #4: Social media marketing specialist
Since the 21st century is the era of social media, companies need social media marketing specialists.
Social media marketing specialists know what kind of content goes well on social networks and promote their goods or service in the best way possible.
They are also responsible for choosing the right timing for digital campaigns.
Finally, this profession requires digital nomads to follow trends in the marketing industry and constantly improve their skills.
Common jobs for digital nomads in the online education sector
For a long time, people thought only IT personnel could become digital nomads.
But, thanks to contemporary learning platforms and various video conferencing options, those viewpoints have changed.
Namely, more and more teachers and educators decide to go to a foreign country and teach via the Internet.
In most cases, they need only basic knowledge of modern technologies and use laptops solely to connect with their students or tutees via video links.
“What do they do, and how does it function?” you may ask. Well, the answers are below.
Online education job #1: Online teacher
According to the RAND study — Remote learning is here to stay — around 20% of 288 district administrators in the USA have started or will create an online school system in these post-pandemic times.
That means there is an increased need for online teachers.
Therefore, online teachers can count on more and more remote job opportunities in the future.
That opens the doors to digital nomad careers and better salaries for professionals who want to work in education.
Online education job #2: Course creator
One of the newest occupations suitable for digital nomads is the so-called course creator or designer.
Namely, if you have a relevant experience in some areas and want to share the knowledge with companies or other individuals, there is a market for that.
Many individuals and businesses look for course creators to help them or their employees improve skills or develop new ones.
Furthermore, they are prepared to pay well if the courses materialize into concrete results.
Hence, if you are an experienced professional, go to a beach or chalet in the mountain (depending on your preference), write the curriculum, and offer it to entities that need it.
Common jobs for digital nomads in the online administration sector
The administration has changed a lot during the last few years.
Before, administrative workers had to work strictly on-site. They were responsible for answering emails, scheduling meetings, and completing various administrative tasks.
Also, they needed to be close to their boss and accompany them on business trips and meetings.
However, how the turntables!
Nowadays, a person located miles away can do all the tasks mentioned above equally efficiently remotely.
Most importantly, you can choose whether you work full-time or part-time.
Here are the jobs in the administration sector you can do while enjoying snowy Estonia, sunny Costa Rica, or some other exotic destination such as Taiwan.
🎓 Pumble Pro Tip
If you are interested to learn more about the aforementioned countries’ digital nomad visas, check out the following guides:
Online administration job #1: Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant position/job might be a good choice If you are a beginner in the digital nomad world or looking for the best part-time job.
Depending on the agreement with the employer, your main tasks are:
- Scheduling appointments,
- Answering emails,
- Making phone calls,
- Organizing social media accounts, and
- Completing other administrative tasks.
Furthermore, you can even become a full-time virtual assistant if you know a few things about design or programming.
Naturally, those qualifications lead to a better salary and the opportunity to earn enough money to live comfortably as a digital nomad.
Online administration job #2: Office manager
Although it sounds slightly strange, you can organize your office without even being there in person.
Namely, there are a lot of open positions for remote office managers all around the world.
Your duties will be to do what the virtual assistant does (see above), but in addition, you will also have to:
- Make sure that everything in the office functions well,
- Purchase equipment,
- Work closely with HR to create and update office policies, and
- Pay the office bills.
An office manager must be conscientious, take their job seriously, and foster good communication with other team members.
However, one of the disadvantages is that you might have to show up at work from time to time to check if everything functions properly.
Hence, if you plan to travel constantly, this job might not be for you.
🎓 Pumble Pro Tip
As an administrative worker, you might find yourself in various types of interactions with people from various sectors/branches. It is good to be prepared in case something unplanned happens:
Vlogger
Vlogging is one of the most common digital nomad jobs in the 21st century.
Since vloggers make videos from attractive destinations or places, it is necessary to be creative and have the following:
- Enough money to finance travel,
- A good camera, and
- A laptop to edit videos.
Youtube is full of people traveling around the world and filming what they see.
Most vloggers monetize their videos or collaborate with brands/companies that fit into the context of their videos.
Hence, they can earn well if they plan their business venture carefully and have a little luck.
Blogger
Although it is slightly less popular than vlogging, blogging is another great way to share your opinion about a place, product, or social phenomenon.
Unlike vloggers who film what they see, bloggers write about them in their blog posts, articles, or on social networks.
They might include some short videos or images in their blogs, but it is up to them to decide whether they will add them or not.
There are many bloggers who live around the world and whose blog posts are highly successful.
Therefore, companies looking for promotion see their chance to collaborate with them and advertise their goods.
So yes, bloggers can live comfortably if their content attracts enough views and attention.
E-Commerce entrepreneur
Hustle is one of the most popular words in the 21st century. People in e-commerce know why.
Namely, there is no strict working time for those into e-commerce — they need to be attentive and look for business opportunities almost always.
However, they can work from anywhere. That is one of the main advantages of this job.
Their main occupation is to buy and sell goods, services, or shares online.
And the best part?
They only need a laptop and a strong internet connection.
Therefore, many entrepreneurs who earn well decide to travel around the world and work via laptop.
🎓 Pumble Pro Tip
If you are an entrepreneur, the skills of asking for advance payment might come useful.
So, we recommend you take a look at the following article:
What job allows you to travel the most?
One of the greatest advantages of digital nomad jobs is that they allow you to travel all the time.
So, if you like to travel, check out our list of the best remote jobs for travelers.
Best job for traveling #1: Vlogger
The more you travel as a vlogger, the bigger the chances you will create quality videos that your audience would like.
You might get in touch with hotels, airlines, and other companies willing to make a sponsorship deal or other type of lucrative arrangement.
Also, being a vlogger allows you to do some other jobs at the same time. Therefore, you can diversify your income sources while enjoying the benefits of traveling.
Best job for traveling #2: Job in the tech industry
Any of the aforementioned most common jobs in the tech industry allows you to travel.
Since the salaries in the IT industry are mostly higher than average, you will have enough money to arrange trips whenever you have spare time.
Furthermore, you can often relocate and enjoy the benefits of living as a digital nomad to the fullest extent.
🎓 Pumble Pro Tip
Before deciding to move to another country as a digital nomad, it would be wise to check whether the preferred country has a digital nomad visa or not.
You can find more information about that topic here:
Best job for traveling #3: E-Commerce entrepreneur
Since E-commerce entrepreneurs have an average salary of around $90,000 per year and most of their business ventures are performed online, they are free to travel and work from anywhere they want.
Of course, as long as they have a proper internet connection and follow the ever-changing trends in e-commerce.
Therefore, you can spend time in the luxurious resorts in Thailand and plan your trip to Greece, while selling or buying products or stocks via your laptop.
Sounds nice, doesn’t it?
🎓 Pumble Pro Tip
In case you like it in Thailand or Greece, you might apply for their digital nomad visas.
You can find out more about them by visiting the following links:
Best digital nomad jobs for beginners
Every beginning is hard. Especially for digital nomads.
However, as Ashley and Matthew Metcalfe pinpoint, if there is a will to become a digital nomad, it is crucial to make that huge first step and start the adventure:
“No matter how you choose to create an income stream, the most important thing to do is to just start! As the world becomes more digital, the list of jobs for digital nomads is becoming endless.”
The job at the beginning of your digital nomad career might open the doors to unlimited possibilities.
Therefore, to help you have a perfect start, here are the best digital nomad jobs for beginners.
Beginner friendly job #1: Virtual assistant
Being a virtual assistant is a remote job that doesn’t require a lot of experience.
With a good internet connection and clear communication with your employee, there is no doubt you will perform your duties well.
Our contributor, Oliver Farmiloe, agrees that administrative jobs such as virtual assistance might be the best starting point for expats:
“I would say some of the best starting jobs for people wanting to become a digital nomad are those more administrative tasks that are always in high demand and don’t necessarily require a tone of experience.”
So, if you are looking for your first digital nomad job — being a virtual assistant might be the perfect choice.
Beginner friendly job #2: Vlogger
Vlogging has various benefits. One of the main advantages is that even the absolute beginners can do it.
As long as you have enough inspiration and the proper equipment that we mentioned above, you can succeed.
If you ever tire of freelance vlogging, you can join a company and become a content creator for marketing purposes.
Beginner friendly job #3: Proofreader
Do you have a passion for reading and attention to detail? If the answer is “Yes”, you might enjoy the role of a proofreader.
Most proofreaders read articles, books, or other text forms before publishing and, if needed, correct mistakes.
As an entry-level proofreader, you look for spelling or grammar mistakes.
In case you are slightly more experienced, you have more responsibilities. You check if paragraphs are spaced well, whether the text is positioned correctly or not, and if other things important for the text appearance look good.
Proofreading might be your full-time or part-time job.
Whatever you choose it to be, it is one of the best remote jobs for beginners.
Best-paying digital nomad jobs
Living as a digital nomad is not cheap, particularly in the beginning.
So, it is good to have a high salary to cover all the expenses of moving and settling at a new location.
Here are some of the best-paying digital nomad jobs that will ensure you have financial security.
Best-paying job #1: Software engineer
For software engineers, the median salary per year in the USA equals $122,145
As previously said, they are some of the best-paid professionals among digital nomads.
Since their creativity and skills make software unique, companies pay them well.
Best paying job #2: E-Commerce entrepreneur
Median salary per year in the USA: Around $90,000
The average salary of entrepreneurs in E-commerce depends on what they do.
According to some sources, entrepreneurs in the USA earn around $90,000 per year.
However, that doesn’t mean you will make the same. As an entrepreneur, you can earn even more.
Best paying job #3: Web developer
Median salary per year in the USA: $92,501
If you are a successful web developer, you can earn around $92,000 per year.
That is more than enough to live comfortably anywhere in the world.
🎓 Pumble Pro Tip
In case you hold any of the aforementioned best-paying positions, you can live comfortably in some of the most beautiful countries of Europe (whose digital nomad visas are a bit on the costly side):
Best non-tech digital nomad jobs
As you have learned above, you don’t have to be into IT to be a digital nomad.
You can also choose some of the following best non-tech digital nomad jobs.
Non-tech job #1: Virtual Assistant
Apart from the fact that this is one of the best digital nomad jobs for beginners, this is also one of the best non-tech digital nomad jobs.
Although you need specific skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or similar apps, you don’t need to be an IT engineer to do your job well.
Non-tech job #2: Online teacher
With the proper collaboration tools, your students wouldn’t notice a difference between on-site and remote learning.
Furthermore, you don’t have to be a high-skilled programmer to know how to use the popular conferencing tools.
Hence, that is why an increasing number of teachers actually like online teaching.
Non-tech job #3: E-Commerce entrepreneur
Turn on your laptop. Log in to your e-commerce platform. Buy or sell the goods, services, or shares you work with.
When you finish your work, log out of the platform, and turn off your laptop.
That’s it — the short story about how e-commerce entrepreneurs work.
Most entrepreneurs don’t need to know much about programming if they don’t work with it.
Therefore, this would be one of the best non-tech digital nomad jobs if you have a talent for trading, a business plan, and enough money in savings.
How and where can you find jobs as a digital nomad?
We have asked our contributor and experienced digital nomad, Oliver Farmiloe, to give us a few tips about finding jobs as a digital nomad.
Here is what he says:
“I’ve found that typically start-ups, and younger, more forward-thinking companies are far more open to the idea of remote working and hiring digital nomads.”
Luckily, nowadays, many companies support the idea that remote work will benefit both them and their employees.
Also, Oliver advises us to filter jobs carefully before applying for any digital nomad role.
He states:
“For me, I prioritized the ability to remote work in my job search, and utilized job sites dedicated specifically to remote positions.”
Now, the question is — where to find the best digital nomad jobs?
Well, some of the following websites might be helpful:
Why do digital nomads pick certain jobs?
The best explanations for why digital nomads pick particular jobs come from digital nomads themselves.
A founder and editor at Boundless Roads, Isabella Biava who also works in tourism, says:
“The reason why we have picked certain digital nomad jobs is to travel and learn.
If you are a freelancer and work by project, or, even better, if you have your own business, you can manage your time and work on your own schedule. That is the best possible option as a digital nomad as it gives you freedom.”
Oliver Farmiloe pinpoints that digital nomads pick specific jobs because of flexibility, among other things:
“I think the key thing digital nomads value when searching for a new position is the flexibility that comes with a completely remote job that allows you to travel (and work) from any location.”
He also adds that digital nomads have a unique approach when it comes to choosing certain professions:
“I believe digital nomads are looking for jobs in companies that understand that not being physically present in the office doesn’t negatively affect an individual’s quality of work, their motivation, and shouldn’t impact on their ability to progress within the business and in their careers.”
Finally, Ashley and Matthew Metcalfe summarize why they have become self-employed digital nomads:
“Aside from everything, it’s important you choose something you simply enjoy doing!”
Conclusion: A right digital nomad job brings happiness
All contributors to this article agree — there is no alternative to the freedom provided by digital nomad jobs. Freedom to choose when and where you work.
With the right digital nomad job, you ensure you’ll be happy while doing it and have enough time for your dear ones.
Now, it is impossible to say: “Hey! You should become XYZ! That is the best job for digital nomads, and you’ll surely be happy”.
But, we can tell you to pick a job you love doing.
Finally, to quote Confucius: “If you choose the job you like, you will never have to work a day in your life.”
✉️ What do you think about digital nomad jobs? What are the advantages and disadvantages of digital nomad jobs? If you become a digital nomad, what job would you choose? Finally, what is your favorite digital nomad job from the list above?
Let us know at blogfeedback@pumble.com for a chance to be featured in this or future blog posts. Also, if you found this blog post useful, share it with someone you think would also benefit from it.
