I frequently get email asking what is the best work-at-home job. If you’ve been visiting this site or listening to the podcast for any length of time, you’ll know that my response to the best work-at-home job for you is one that you can and will do. Finding a way to work at home involves tapping into skills, experiences and interests you have and finding or creating work that use them. However, when it comes to work-at-home jobs, I tend to find the most work in the following 9 areas:
Customer Support
Have you ordered from Home Shopping Network, booked a flight on Delta or made a reservation at Hilton? Odds are you talked to a home-based customer service rep. Many big companies use work-at-home employees including U-Haul, 1-800 Flowers, Capital One and more. These jobs require you have a pleasant speaking voice, a quiet area where you can work uninterrupted, high speed Internet and a phone headset. Customer service jobs vary in salary with an average of $9 to $15 per hour. Some may also offer bonuses or commissions.
Design
Are you creative? Many employers are looking for people who can create graphics and website designs. This is one job in which education isn’t as important as experience. If you know how to use Photoshop, In Design and other design software, graphic and web design could be the job for you. Even though you can learn design on your own, because it does require special knowledge in software and skill, it pays fairly well. The median web design salary is $62,000 per year, according to Salary.com. Home-based jobs may pay less for several reasons. For example, many people who need designers take them on part-time or as contract as-needed.
Foreign Language
Are you fluent in a foreign language? There is a large need for interpreters and translators of all language types. Companies like Berlitz and Rosetta Stone take on bilingual speakers for online education or customer service. Most employers look for interpreters or translators who have a mastery of English and a second language. You can expect pay to range from $10 to $20 per hour, depending on the type of work you’ll be asked to do.
Marketing
There is a lot of competition to get consumers’ attentions. Businesses hire marketing experts to help them get their message in front of their market. Marketing jobs vary from copy writing, public relations, social media and more. Marketing can be a lucrative job area if you are able to create results.
Nursing
Most nursing jobs I find are with insurance companies either answering medical questions by phone or screening forms. Other nursing jobs require home visits or field work, but allow your home to be the base of your operations. Pay and benefits vary.
Teaching
If you’re a licensed teacher or professor, or if you can tutor, there are many opportunities to work from home teaching. Many teaching resources use online platforms and/or web conferencing to provide services. Teaching jobs range from elementary to high school, up to graduate school. The topics are varied as well. Because teachers are required to meet educational requirements and state licensing, the pay tends to be pretty good with a low salary of $30,000. Depending on the class, the company you work for and the amount of time you teach, this income can be lower or higher.
Virtual Support
Virtual support encompasses any work that provides assistance to other business whether its clerical work, such as transcription, email management and research, to financial management help, such as bookkeeping and invoicing, and more. Companies hiring virtual staff usually hire part-time, 10 to 20 hours per week and pay $10 to $15 per hour on average. Virtual support workers who have their own business tend to earn higher rates of $15 to $25 per hour.
Writing/Editing
If you can string words together coherently, you can make money as a writer. Content is key to attracting business, so many companies hire writers to blog, draft articles and more. Proofreaders, editors and other writing-related skills are in demand as well.
Computer/IT
In this virtual world we live in, businesses need tech savvy people to create and manage programs that make their websites function. Jobs in this category include programmers, systems analysts, technicians and more. Because these jobs require specific skills and knowledge, they usually pay pretty well. Many jobs pay $50,000 per year or more.
If you don’t have skills or education in any of these areas, don’t think you won’t be able to find a work-at-home job. There are jobs in many different areas, requiring just as many varied skills and experiences. However, when I search for jobs to post here at Work-at-Home Success, I tend to find the most jobs in the above areas.
