Best Jobs for Digital Nomads: Don’t Wait to Take Your Vacation Days

Last Updated on October 24, 2023 by Kirsten Raccuia

You know all those pictures of people working from their hammocks on a beach in Thailand? Or sitting in a café in Amsterdam with their laptops. That could be you. I know it sounds like a dream, but it could be your reality with these jobs for digital nomads. Don’t Wait to Take Your Vacation Days

There is no better time to become location independent than now.

Covid has changed the face of the traditional workplace – it will never look the same. Long gone are the days when you need to check-in at the office and sit behind your computer screen all day.

So now, there are more jobs for digital nomads than you can shake a stick at.

Let’s get started…

What is a digital nomad?

A digital nomad is someone who can work from anywhere in the world as long as they have an internet connection. Some are remote workers, and others are freelancers. They may be traveling from city or city or slow traveling and living somewhere for months at a time.

One thing they all have in common is the freedom to travel and live wherever they desire.

Where to Find Jobs for Digital Nomads

There are a few different ways to start your digital nomad journey.

Work Remotely

If you love your job, ask about working remotely. There is no better time than now to do so.

For the last year, if you’ve been working from home, you already have a proven track record of getting the job done while not in the office. If there is any way to keep your job and take off to Costa Rica, Greece, or Croatia, now is the time.

If remote work is not in the cards for you, becoming a freelancer is the way to go.  

Freelancing

When I first started freelancing, I had no idea where to begin. I knew I liked to write, but that’s about it.

I bought a course by Sean Ogle called Location Rebel Academy. It’s massive and has modules on different location independent careers from copywriting and e-store commerce to social media and affiliate marketing. It’s one brilliant course, with a bunch of smaller courses within it.

It’s so packed with info that it can be a bit overwhelming figuring out where to begin. Sometimes too many choices give me analysis paralysis.

However, I think it’s one of the best all-around how to become location independent courses out there.

What is the best job search site?

There are so many job search sites it’s impossible to say which is the best. They all have their pros and cons. Some are just for quick gigs, and others are for full-time remote jobs. It just depends on what you need.

But here is a list to get you started:

• FlexJobs
• We Work Remotely
• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• Fiverr
• Upwork
• Working Nomads
• Guru

Best digital nomad jobs for beginners:

These jobs are the best digital nomad jobs without experience because there isn’t much equipment or upskilling needed. Don’t get me wrong, neither of these is piddly jobs. They both take work and skills. However, they just aren’t something you necessarily need to take a course for, so they are the easiest to hop into without a degree or certificate.

• VA
• Online English teacher

Non tech digital nomad jobs:

Not all the jobs for digital nomads are tech-centered. It’s totally possible to become a successful digital nomad without skills like coding or web development.

I can assure you I am not a techie. But being a blogger means having to do all my own website stuff, which I’m constantly learning and being challenged by.

These are the best non-tech location independent jobs:

• Virtual Assistant
• Online English teacher
• Content Writer

Top paying digital nomad jobs:

Like any career, if you’re insanely good at what you do, you can make good money.

There are bloggers out there that make 5 to 6 digits monthly. Yes, I meant to write monthly.

Sadly, I’m not one of them, but a girl can dream, right?

These digital nomad or remote jobs are generally the most lucrative on this list

• Website developer
• Copywriter
• SEO Specialist
• Graphic designer

Best Jobs for Digital Nomads

Digital nomad jobs in the tech niche

Website developer and web designer

Technically, these are different jobs, but they overlap.

A website developer (sometimes generically referred to as a programmer) works on the style, layout, and code of a site and the big picture. They make sure the building blocks of the site are set up correctly. They are responsible for the core of the website – its functionality. For web developers, code is everything.   

A website designer may not use a lot of code to build beautiful websites. For them, user experience is as critical as design. Most often, they know some code, but it’s not the basis of their design.

A successful web designer has a slew of creative, graphic, and technical skills.

How do Web Developers and Designers make money?

They work on a client-by-client basis unless they work for an agency. They are paid by the project. And usually paid very well.

How to get started as a web designer or developer:

If you are a newbie, the best thing to do is take a course. There are zillions out there on Udemy, Code Academy, Skillshare.

Jobs for Digital Nomads in the Writing Niche:

Copywriter

Copywriters write with the sole purpose of marketing and sales. Every time you buy something online, there is a good chance you bought from a sales page. That sales page was written by a copywriter.

Copywriters write to convert and compel people to take action.

Content writer

A content writer is someone who writes for brands, websites, bloggers, and magazines. Their purpose is to tell a story, educate and inform. The idea is to build brand awareness, so their readers become clients, but there is no direct sales agenda to the text.

As a freelance content writer, I’m hired to write for other blogs, businesses, websites, and magazines. I write on all different topics with a variety of styles that represent the brand best.

How do copywriters and content writers make money?

Unless they work solely for one company, they will most likely be working freelance. They are usually paid on a per-project basis but also may charge by the word, especially when just starting out. They can have multiple clients or a long-term partnership with one or two companies that they write for.

How do writers start in the biz?

Unless you have some writing background, it’s a good idea to take a course. Especially if you want to be a good copywriter. Location Rebel Academy has a module on both copywriting and content writing. Also, CopyHour is a top copywriting course.

For content writing, Nomadic Matt has a Superstar Writing Class.

One of the best travel writing programs in the biz is The Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program by Great Escape Publishing. I took it and it was instrumental in my mad travel writing skills. I’ll be writing a full review of the course soon.

Blogger

So, obviously, since you are reading this, you’ve probably figured out that I’m also a blogger.

A blogger is someone who has a website and shares info about a specific niche. My niches are traveling and expat lifestyle.

But there are blogs about parenting, finance, beauty, apparel, cooking. You name it, there is a blog about it. I assure you. If there isn’t, get on that. Create one, and you’ll be able to gain readership and monetize quickly. Or email me, let’s talk!

Anyway, I digress.

The thing about being a blogger is that there is a lot more to it than writing. Yes, I have to write my weekly blogs, but I also have to market them, do all my own social media, and know SEO like the back of my hand.

Not to mention all the back-end stuff like building and maintaining a website, answering emails and comments from my readers, building a newsletter and email list. Honestly, I’m exhausted just from writing that list.

It’s easy to start a blog, but it’s challenging to do it well and master it. I’m speaking from experience.

How to get started as a blogger

I took the Nomadic Matt Superstar Blogging Course and think it’s really fantastic. It’s very comprehensive, and you get tech support along the way, which is fab.

Another free option is Ahrefs Blogging for Business.

How do bloggers make money?

Hell if I know! Ha! Just kidding!

Affiliate marketing, sponsorships, partnering with brands and selling their own products.

And advertising – the ads you see on my site, I get paid just by having them displayed.

Nomadic Lifestyle Jobs in the Visually Creative Niche

Graphic Designers

Graphic design is everywhere. That logo you like, that advertisement you saw on the side of a bus or magazine, that iPhone case, the T-shirt you are wearing – everything has a graphic design element to it.

How do graphic designers earn money?

Many are freelance and are paid on a per-project basis.

How do graphic designers get started in the biz?

Start by going to Skillshare or Udemy and taking a few classes to get your feet wet. Then there are official certificate programs you can take online through various universities. The University of Colorado (my alma matter) offers a free one through Coursera.

Another option is Canva. Which is my absolute favorite design tool. I use it daily and constantly get lost playing on the site. I jokingly refer to it as graphic design for dummies because it’s so intuitive. It makes you feel like you know what you’re doing even if you haven’t a clue or a background in design.

And it’s free.

They offer loads of tutorials and graphic design theory classes. It’s a great place to poke around and see if graphic design is for you.   

Vlogger/YouTuber

A vlogger is a video blogger.

So, ya know, when you are stuck in a YouTube or internet K-hole mindlessly watching video after video about travel. Or is that just me?

Those videos are usually of vloggers telling their story via video.

A lot of bloggers also create videos for their sites.

How do vloggers make money?

Most vloggers use YouTube as their primary platform. They make money from advertising, affiliate marketing and selling their own products like courses, eBooks, Patreon etc.

They also get paid sponsorships and partnerships, which can bring in a lot of money.

How do vloggers get started?

First, you must have a love for being on camera. If not, this is not the gig for you.

You don’t need any fancy equipment to get started. A smartphone will absolutely work initially, but you’ll probably want to invest in better equipment as time goes on.

No matter what, you’ll need to learn how to edit videos. You’ll never just stand in front of the camera and talk without making mistakes or starting over, so video editing and production are essential. It’s not impossible to learn, and there are heaps of courses out there.

Whatever editing software you decide to use, free or not, will have tutorials and/or courses. Start there.

Digital nomads jobs in the marketing and business niches

Search Engine Optimization or SEO Specialist

Basically, an SEO expert helps websites rank higher on Google.

When looking for info on Google, do you ever go to the second page? The third page? Probably not. SEO experts help your content get to the first page, the only page that matters.

There is no point in writing if no one is going to see it. I do hours of SEO research for every post I write to make sure I’m using the right keywords and have the best info. If I properly optimize my post for SEO, there is a better chance that Google will like it and scoot it to the front page.

Without proper SEO, a website might never get any traffic because it never shows up on the first page of Google.

How do SEO experts make money?

Well, good ones can make a great living. They are sought after. It’s finding the good ones that’s a challenge. Typically, companies hire them to work on a specific project or website. It can be a one-off project or employed to make sure everything that goes up on their website is optimized.   

How to get started as an SEO Expert?

SEMrush Academy, Neil Patel, and MOZ all have free courses and are the bee’s knees in SEO. There really are no better sites to learn SEO from.

Social Media Manager or Social Media Marketer

Social media is everything right now. And it’s here to stay. Companies, large and small, need someone to manage it. They are instrumental in building brand awareness and customer engagement through various social medial channels.

Social media managers wear a lot of hats. But their primary responsibilities are:

• Creating a social media strategy
• Designing social media posts
• Responding to any comments and messages
• Engaging with other brands to enhance their standing
• Analyzing what works and what doesn’t
• Understanding all the social media platforms and knowing the best practices of each

How do social media managers make money?

Sometimes they are hired by one company and work solely for them. Otherwise, they freelance and get paid by project rates, monthly rates or hourly rates. It depends on how they set up their business.

How do social media managers get started?

As with most digital nomad jobs, you’ll need some proof that you can do this job. Nowadays, every Sheila, Susie, and Karen is on social media, but that doesn’t mean they should be social media managers. If you are just starting out, take a certification course with HubSpot, Hootsuite Academy or Coursera.

Digital Marketing Consultant

Digital marketers help grow a brand using various channels of digital media but not limited to social media. It can be anything from SEO and search engine marketing to email marketing.

They can work with small brands and bloggers, as well as large worldwide companies.

How do digital marketing consultants earn money?

Most of the time, they are paid per project. It could be a monthly retainer or a one-time project.

How to get started as a digital marketing consultant

Neil Patel and HubSpot are tops in the biz, so start there. They both have super informative sites and various courses, free and paid.

Digital Marketing Institute has professional online courses if you are ready to take that step.

Virtual Assistant

This is a great digital nomad job for beginners because you can start right away once you assess your skills.  

A VA is basically a personal assistant whose tasks are online. They can do anything from answering emails and admin to creative jobs and technical work.

Some but not all their jobs are:

• Creating social media content
• Transcribing videos or podcasts
• Answering comments on a blog
• Scheduling meetings
• Making travel arrangements
• Personal tasks like reserving restaurants and booking hotels
• Preparing reports and excel sheets
• Updating databases
• Data entry

The list really is endless.

How do VA’s make money?

It depends. Some charge by the hour, others have a monthly retainer, and some have packages.

How to get started as a virtual assistant

The Virtual Savvy is a website full of free and paid resources for anyone wanting to start s a VA.

You need to market yourself and your skills, so the first thing is to talk to your friends. See if they need any help with any of the tasks you want to focus on. Business owners always need admin stuff, so chat with them first.   

Other great options are Upwork, Fancyhands, and Fiverr.

Digital nomad careers in the teaching niche

Online English Teacher

Teaching English online is another excellent digital nomad job for beginners. You’ll work for an online school and teach via a video chat to people around the world.

You don’t have to find students; the school will connect you. Usually, the school provides lesson plans, but you have to have the appropriate internet set up and meet all the school’s requirements.

For native English speakers, it’s one of the easiest gigs to fund your digital nomad lifestyle.  

How do virtual English teachers make money?

You get paid by the class.

How to get started teaching English online

The good thing about being an English teacher is you will always be in demand.

VIPKID, Say ABC and GoGo Kid are just a few companies to work for.

The Wrap Up

There are so many digital nomad jobs that there is no need to fit a square peg into a round hole. For me, the thought of learning to code is mind-numbing. For others, the idea of blogging is only incrementally better than gouging their own eyeballs out with a spoon.

The Location Rebel Academy really helped me get started and find direction. Since then, I’ve upskilled to things like Pinterest Management and editing. Find more about what I do on my Hire Me page.

So, even though Mark and I have been living in Malaysia, our careers are both online. So, when the time comes for a change, we can continue working as digital nomads from anywhere.

Hungry for more info on laptop lifestyles? Have a gander at How do digital nomads support themselves?

Have I given you food for thought? Tell me in the comments below.

PS: This page contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and buy something from this page, I may receive a commission (at no extra cost to you!) This doesn’t affect my opinions or my reviews. Everything I do is to benefit you as the reader, so all my reviews are honest and unbiased. I know you wouldn’t expect anything less from me? Ya know, I like to keep it real.

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