Do You Dream Of Traveling The World While Still Earning A Living?
For many people, the idea of traveling jobs is a lifelong dream. The thought of exploring new cultures, trying new foods, and seeing breathtaking sights is enough to make anyone’s heart race with excitement. But for most of us, traveling is just a hobby that we indulge in during our few vacation days each year.
However, there is a growing movement of people who have found a way to turn their passion for travel into a career. These are the lucky few who have discovered the world of traveling jobs. From digital nomads to backpackers and expats, there are a variety of travel jobs that allow you to earn a living while exploring the globe.
Whether you’re looking for a way to escape the nine-to-five grind or simply want to combine your love of travel with your career, there is a travel job out there that is perfect for you. So, let’s dive in and explore the exciting world of travel jobs!
Types Of Traveling Jobs That Allow You To See The World
Not all travel jobs are the same. In simple words, there are broadly 2 kinds of jobs. The jobs that allow you to travel and the jobs that make you travel. The former gives you more freedom, while the latter shows you the world even if you don’t want to.
But on a deeper level, there can be about 5 types of travel jobs.
Digital Nomad Jobs
Digital nomad jobs are perfect if you want to work remotely and travel the world. These jobs allow you to work online and make money while traveling. They can include anything from freelance writing and graphic design to web development or online tutoring. The only thing to consider in these jobs is to have a reliable internet connection and the right equipment (laptop, headphones, etc.)
💡Note: If you’re interested in this nomad life, we recommend you to read our in-depth guide on the must-have skills every digital nomad needs and how to become one.
Backpacker Jobs
If you’re on a budget, this is what you can consider. Backpacker jobs typically involve working in the hospitality industry, such as in a hostel or a bar. They’re ideal for those who want to immerse themselves in the local culture and meet new people. These include bartenders, hotel managers, skiing instructors, tour guides or foreign language teachers.
Expat Jobs
Expat jobs are ideal if you’d want to move out of your home country. They typically involve working full time for companies or organizations. Expat jobs can range from teaching English to working in a multinational corporation.
✅ Tip: As moving to a new country is a complex decision, we recommend you read our expat checklist which includes everything you should consider before moving abroad.
Freelance Jobs
These are the best kind of jobs if you want to be your own boss and travel as you like. They include anything from freelance writing and editing to web development and graphic design. While most freelancers in the digital space can be digital nomads, not all digital nomads are freelancers. Some can also have a full-time job at a firm.
Adventure Jobs
With these jobs, you can blend your love to travel and explore the outdoors. These jobs can get the best of both worlds together. They include anything from working as a tour guide to working as a scuba diving instructor.
21 Best Traveling Jobs In 2023
1. Digital Marketing Specialist
As a remote digital marketer you are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns across digital channels such as social media, email, and search engines. Since this can be done remotely, it makes sense to travel when you’re working.
If you’re into this, you might need a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications or in a related field. Some employers may also require experience in digital marketing or specific certifications.
Salary: $63,000/ year
Perfect for: Digital Nomads and freelancers
2. Freelance Writer
This is the best option if you enjoy writing and want to work while traveling. You can write anything from articles to blog posts. You can also create content for social media and marketing campaigns.
Typically, freelance writers do not usually require a degree. However, a degree in journalism is often always a plus.
Salary: $48,000/ year
Perfect for: Freelancers and digital nomads
3. Travel Blogger
Travel bloggers are one of those professions that require you to travel. This job is for you if you’re keen to share your travel stories. Apart from this, you’d also be sharing travel recommendations with your readers through blog posts, photos, and videos.
Salary: $87,000/year
Perfect for: Backpackers and adventurers
📚 Related: Where Can I Get A Visa For Digital Nomads In 2023
4. UX/UI Designer
If you’re into building scalable, intuitive, easy-to-use products, you should consider UX/UI as a career option. You can focus on studying user behavior and work towards enhancing user experience. Apart from that, you can pay attention to detail and try to understand what works for your clients. Most of your job is behind the screen, reviewing numerous user feedback documents to understand what works.
Average Salary: $76,000/year (Glassdoor)
Perfect for: Freelancers and digital nomads
5. Graphic Designing
The demand for graphic designers is on the rise. From designing thumbnails for YouTube videos to creating infographics for news websites, graphic designers are needed everywhere.
If you have an in-depth understanding of industry-standard software like InDesign or Adobe Illustrator, consider becoming a graphic designer.
Average Salary: $52,000/year (Glassdoor)
Perfect for: Digital nomads and freelancers
6. Photographer
The best part about traveling is that you get to see new places every day. Most often, these places are picturesque and photo-worthy. Why not capitalize on this opportunity and become a photographer? You can either sell your good pictures to well-known stock photo websites or sell them to collectors.
You can sell your pictures to stock photo websites or sell your photos to individual buyers through printable copies.
Average Salary: $49,000/year
Perfect for: Digital nomads and freelancers
7. Virtual Assistant
As a virtual assistant, you schedule meetings, write emails, make phone calls, make travel arrangements, and manage email accounts. It is a generalist role and allows you to don multiple hats. Although the job is mostly administrative, knowledge of SEO and industry-standard applications like Illustrator and InDesign is always a plus.
To become a virtual assistant, you only need a laptop and a stable internet connection, apart from, of course, the skills.
Average Salary: $59,000/year (ZipRecruiter)
Perfect for: Digital nomads and freelancers
8. Video Editor
With the rise in YouTube channels and OTT platforms, the demand for Video editors is fast increasing. You can work in various sectors like entertainment, education, or even the infotainment space.
To become a video editor, knowledge of working in industry standard applications like Adobe Premiere Pro or After Effects is a must.
Average Salary: $68,000/ year (Glassdoor)
Perfect for: Digital nomads and freelancers
9. Captioner
As a captioner, you’ll be responsible for transcribing audio-visual data from videos. If you can type fast and put ideas into words, this is the job for you.
Captioners usually have time and location independence when they work. With communication tools like Slack and Zoom, collaborations with others in the team become easier.
Average Salary: $52,000/ year
Perfect for: Digital nomads and freelancers
10. Accountant
If you’re interested in working as an accountant, a bachelor’s degree is usually a basic requirement. Your daily tasks would include analyzing your company’s or client’s financial statements. Apart from this, you’d also help make important financial decisions. This way, you’d play a part in the functioning of the company.
Average salary: $61,000/year
Perfect for: Expats and digital nomads
11. Human Resources Manager
As an HR manager, your primary responsibilities would include overseeing and managing various aspects of the employee lifecycle, such as recruitment, hiring, training and development, performance management, compensation and benefits, and employee relations. You would also be responsible for ensuring compliance with labor laws and company policies and working closely with other departments to support the overall goals and objectives of the organization.
Interactions with employees form the core of your work. So, having good communication skills to engage with your employees and conduct daily meetings is vital.
Salary: $75,000/year
Perfect for: Expats and digital nomads
12. Online Tutors
With the rise of EdTech startups and companies, the demand for remote teachers is rising. Online teachers are paid significantly higher than their offline counterparts as they have access to students who are willing to pay more due to their cost of living.
While this job can be independent of time and space requirements, you might have to suit the time zones of your students to host live classes.
Average Salary: $40,000/year
Perfect for: Expats and digital nomads
13. Computer Programmer
As a computer programmer, you’d be responsible for coding, designing, and testing computer software.
To become a computer programmer, you’d need knowledge of computer programming languages like Java, C++ and others. You should also keep interested in updating your skill set.
You can start by learning a programming language of your choice. This can be done either by obtaining a degree or by taking a course on Coursera, upskill or other platforms.
Average salary: $81,000/year.
Perfect for: Digital nomads and freelancers
14. Customer Service Representative
A stable internet connection and good communication skills are necessary to become a remote customer service agent. You’ll be the face of the company to address customer grievances. You’ll need in-depth knowledge of the company’s work to address customer questions and apprehensions.
To become a good customer service executive, you’d need to become empathetic to your customer’s concerns. Your communication skills come in handy while providing solutions to customers calmly.
Average Salary: $35,000/year.
Perfect for: Digital nomads
15. Travel Nurse
To become a travel nurse, you typically need a degree in nursing, a registered nurse (RN) license, and at least one year of experience in your specialty area.
You should also be willing to travel frequently and work in various healthcare settings.
Travel nurses typically work for a specific amount of time, often 8-13 weeks, in various healthcare settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities.
Average salary: $31,000/ year
Perfect for: Expats
16. Event Planner
If you’re aspiring to become an event planner, get ready to pack your bags to plan destination weddings and events in different locations. The best part about the job is the travel itself.
As an event planner, it is vital to have strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. You must be able to work under pressure and adapt to circumstances quickly. This is because event planners work in a deadline-driven environment.
Average salary: As an event planner, you can typically charge 15 to 25% of the cost of the event as your fee.
Perfect for: Backpackers
17. Diplomat
As a diplomat of a country, you’ll be responsible for representing your country in a foreign land. You’d be hosting foreign delegates at your residence, negotiating treaties and agreements and promoting the interests of your home country.
Having good communication skills, negotiation and interpersonal skills is vital to becoming a diplomat.
Average Salary: $94,000/ year
Perfect for: Backpackers
18. Pilot
If you’re interested in becoming a pilot, you should be ready to go into rigorous training and licensing to obtain your certification. The best part of this career is that you travel from one airport to another. If you’re in charge of long-haul flights, you will typically have long rest periods. These rest periods are when you can get out of your hotel rooms and explore different cities.
Besides technical knowledge of the aircraft, you should also have good communication skills to work with the ground staff and also with the passengers.
Average Salary: $134,000/ year
Perfect for: Backpackers
19. Cabin Crew
As cabin crew or flight attendants, you’d be in charge of ensuring the safety and comfort of your passengers. You work as a team with pilots and other crew members.
Your primary duties include conducting pre-flight checks to ensure safety, welcoming and ensuring all passengers follow the rules of the cabin. During emergencies, you’d be tasked with evacuating the aircraft and handling the situation under pressure.
Average Salary: $82,000/ year
Perfect for: Backpackers
20. Merchant Navy
If you’re interested in working for the merchant navy, you should undergo specialized training and education. Many officers even hold degrees in maritime fields. In addition to technical skills, you must be able to work as a team, communicate effectively and be comfortable with spending long hours at the sea.
Average salary: $70,000/ year
Perfect for: Backpackers
21. Tourist Guide
To become a tourist guide, you’ll need deep knowledge of the area you’ll be guiding in, good communication skills, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Many tourist guides have a degree in history, geography, or a related field, and some obtain a license or certification from a professional organization.
As the travel and tourism industry continues to grow, there is a positive job outlook for tourist guides. You can work for tour companies, museums, or travel agencies, or you can work independently as a freelancer. So if you’re looking for a job that allows you to travel and share your passion for culture and history with others, consider becoming a tourist guide.
Average Salary: $29,390/ year
Perfect for: Backpackers
What Are The Best Job Sites For Travel Jobs?
ThinkRemote
Looking for a job board that caters to your flexible lifestyle and offers diverse opportunities from reputable companies across various industries? Look no further than the TR job board, your go-to source for legit, flexible job opportunities that cater to digital nomads, freelancers, and full-time remote workers alike. Start your journey to a fulfilling career on your own terms with the TR job board.
FlexJobs
FlexJobs has almost 30,000 remote opportunities listed on its site from almost 6,000 employers. To check out your options, you’ll have to sign up to FlexJobs. But from multinationals to startups, there are many remote work opportunities.
Jobspresso
Jobspresso has a wide range of jobs. If you’re looking for top companies like Trello, Mondays.com and Hotjar, this is the place for you. Apart from this, even job boards like Indeed advertise their jobs here
Crossover
They have over 70 employers on board and call themselves the best in the market. The website gives you an idea of a starting salary for almost every role.
Let’s Work Remotely
If you like your job search simple, then this is the site for you. In a few clicks, you can look at a list of roles matching your criteria. Combining freelance and employed roles, there’s something for everyone on this site.
Ready To See The World?
There are many travel jobs available that offer the opportunity to earn money while exploring new places. Whether you’re a digital nomad, backpacker, or expat, there’s a travel job that’s right for you. So, are you ready to pack your bags and see the world while earning a living?
