Remote work has transformed how we approach our careers in the last few years. Gone are the days when we had to sit at a desk for long hours, often in jobs we didn’t enjoy, just to make a living. Remote work has brought us the freedom and flexibility we all crave. Now, we can set our own schedules and focus on work that we love, all from the comfort of our homes or any location worldwide.
What’s even better is that there are plenty of easy remote jobs available that you can start today, even without prior experience. In this article, we've compiled a list of 17 simple remote jobs you can begin immediately, along with steps to get started and tips to enhance your chances of success.
Whether you're looking for a side gig or thinking about launching a new small business, you'll likely find something that fits your needs.
17 Easy Remote Jobs That Pay Well
1. Data Entry Operator
Earnings Potential: $15-$20 per hour, or about $30,000-$45,000 annually.
One of the simplest remote jobs you can start with is data entry. If you're new to working from home, this is a great place to begin.
As a data entry operator, your main task is to input information, like customer details or financial records, into computer databases. This might sound complicated, but it doesn't require advanced skills. If you can type quickly and accurately and have a basic understanding of spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, you're already equipped with what you need.
The best part about data entry is that you don't need prior experience. Many people start earning good money right away with just these basic skills.
Getting Started: To find reliable remote data entry jobs, consider using FlexJobs. Although it requires a subscription, it thoroughly screens job listings to ensure they are legitimate, saving you from scams. You can also explore other platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk or Clickworker for additional opportunities.
2. Transcription Job
Potential Earnings: $15-$25 per hour, $35,000-$55,000 annually
As a transcriptionist, your job is to listen to audio or video recordings and type out what you hear into a text document. It's a simple yet essential task, especially in today’s digital age.
Why Transcription is Lucrative
The demand for transcriptionists is booming. With the rise of podcasts, business meetings, academic conferences, and focus groups, there are endless opportunities to earn money by transcribing audio content. It’s no surprise that transcription has become one of the top online typing jobs available.
Essential Skills for Success
The key skill you need as a transcriptionist is the ability to type both quickly and accurately. The more proficient you are at typing without making mistakes, the higher your potential earnings.
Getting Started: To begin your journey as a transcriptionist, you can start by reading detailed guides online or watching YouTube videos on how to become one, even if you have no prior experience.
3. Remote Customer Support Representative
Earnings Potential: $15-$20/hour, $30,000-$45,000/year
Did you know that 94% of customers are more likely to buy again from a brand after a positive customer service experience? Moreover, 82% of people have recommended a company based on outstanding customer service.
This highlights how crucial customer service is for a company’s success. Nowadays, many businesses are moving away from traditional call centers and are instead offering customer support through remote workers.
As a customer support representative, your role will involve assisting customers with their questions and solving their issues. This can be done over the phone, via email, through chat, or even on social media.
To excel in this field, you need to have excellent communication skills, the ability to resolve conflicts effectively, and, importantly, the patience to handle upset and sometimes unfriendly customers.
Getting Started: If you're interested in starting a career in customer service, FlexJobs is a fantastic resource to find remote positions. But for a platform dedicated to customer service roles, TTEC is worth exploring.
4. Game Tester
Potential Earnings: $15-$25+ per hour, $30,000-$55,000+ per year
If you love spending time playing video games on your phone, computer, or console, this remote job might be perfect for you.
Before game developers launch new games, they need to ensure everything runs smoothly and provides a great user experience. This is where game testers come in. As a game tester, you get paid to play games and give feedback on your experience.
While game testing is often done on a contract basis and might not always offer high pay, there's a higher earning potential for those who have programming skills or prior experience in game testing.
Fortunately, you can gain game testing experience and earn money simultaneously through various apps.
Apps like Mistplay, Cashyy, and Money Well pay you in cash and gift cards just for playing games on your phone.
Getting Started: To find contract game testing opportunities, FlexJobs is a fantastic resource. However, if you're eager to start right away, try downloading Mistplay, Cashyy, and Money Well.
5. Virtual Assistant
Earning potential: $25-$50+/hour, $55,000-$100,000+/year
With the surge in remote work, the demand for virtual assistants has significantly increased. Virtual assistants perform a range of administrative tasks for businesses or individuals from remote locations.
These tasks can include booking appointments, writing emails, providing customer service, handling accounting duties, creating blog posts, and managing social media accounts. Due to the variety of tasks, virtual assistants need to possess a wide array of skills.
Being highly organized and having strong administrative abilities are essential. Additionally, knowledge of social media, blogging, and digital marketing can give you a competitive edge in this field.
6. Proofreader
How much you can expect to make: $15-$25/hour, $30,000-$55,000/year
Nowadays, there's a huge demand for written content, and everyone wants their writing to be flawless before it goes public. This is where proofreaders come in—they carefully review written work to catch any errors that slipped through the editing process.
Proofreading doesn’t require special certifications or previous experience, but you do need a strong command of written English. This includes being proficient in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and syntax. Attention to detail is crucial because you'll need to spot mistakes that others might have missed.
If you have a keen eye for detail and a solid understanding of the language, proofreading can be a great way to earn a steady income while ensuring that content is polished and professional.
7. Online Tutor
Potential Earnings: $20-$40 per hour, or $40,000-$85,000 annually.
If you’re knowledgeable in a specific subject, you can earn a substantial income by becoming an online tutor. This opportunity allows you to assist a wide range of learners, from school children and college students to adult professionals seeking to advance their careers.
Outschool is a fantastic platform where you can teach virtually any subject you're passionate about, whether it's academic subjects like math or English, or extracurricular activities like cooking, singing, or yoga. The best part? You don't need prior teaching experience or formal qualifications to get started on Outschool.
For those with some teaching or tutoring background, BookNook is an excellent choice. It focuses on teaching academic subjects to kindergarten through 8th-grade students. The convenience of BookNook lies in its ready-to-use learning platform, which eliminates the need for lesson planning. Everything you need is provided, enabling you to start tutoring and earning money immediately.
Getting Started: Ready to begin your journey as an online tutor? Start by planning your first class on Outschool, or sign up to teach with BookNook.
8. Micro Tasker
Expected Earnings: $15-$30/hour, $30,000-$65,000/year
If you're scanning this list and finding that several of these easy remote jobs catch your eye and align with your skills, becoming a micro tasker might be a perfect fit for you.
Microtasks involve completing small, temporary jobs across various fields. These tasks can range from data processing, research, and information gathering to image captioning, audio transcription, and proofreading.
Each microtask typically takes only a few hours to complete, and you can earn anywhere from a few dollars to $50-$100 or more for each one.
As you become more familiar with micro tasking, you'll be able to select the tasks that are not only the simplest but also the most profitable, allowing you to increase your earnings even further.
How to Get Started: To start earning money right away, consider exploring these platforms that offer remote microtasks: Clickworker, TaskRabbit, and Amazon Mechanical Turk.
9. Telemarketer
Potential Earnings:
You can expect to earn between $15 and $20 per hour, which translates to an annual salary of about $30,000 to $45,000.
Job Description:
Telemarketing is a growing field, much like data entry, where companies are increasingly hiring remote workers instead of staffing traditional call centers. As a telemarketer, your main task is to reach out to potential customers over the phone to sell products or generate leads. This process is often known as cold calling.
Skills Required:
To succeed in telemarketing, you need to be good at sales and sparking interest in what you're selling. This requires excellent communication skills. You should be able to speak clearly and convincingly, and be polite and personable. And above all, be persuasive. Your ability to engage and convince potential customers is crucial.
How to Begin:
If you're looking to start a career in telemarketing, there are several resources available. FlexJobs is a great general platform to find telemarketing positions. For more targeted opportunities, you might want to explore companies like Alorica and LiveOps. These companies offer remote telemarketing jobs that can be either part-time or full-time, giving you flexibility in your work schedule.
10. Website Tester
Potential Earnings: $15-$35 per hour or $30,000-$70,000 annually
Just like game developers need testers to ensure their games run smoothly, web developers require people to test their websites before they go live. As a website tester, your job is to make sure the websites are user-friendly and free of any hidden bugs.
You can find contract work as a website tester with various web development companies. While you don’t need any specific qualifications to start, having programming or coding skills will make you more sought after.
For those who are new to the field, platforms like UserTesting and BetaTesting offer a great way to get started. These platforms pay between $10-$25 for short tests, typically lasting around 20 minutes. This allows you to gain valuable experience and earn money at the same time.
Getting Started:
You can search for contract website testing jobs on FlexJobs. Alternatively, you can begin testing websites right away with platforms like UserTesting and BetaTesting.
11. Content Moderator
Earning Potential: $20-$30+ per hour, translating to $45,000-$65,000+ annually.
Brands are becoming highly concerned about their online presence and reputation. This has made content moderation one of the top remote job opportunities available.
A content moderator is someone who reviews and manages various forms of online content. This could range from comments on a company’s website or blog to interactions on social media platforms or discussions in online communities like Slack, Discord, or Reddit.
As a content moderator, your primary duties include ensuring that all content is appropriate and relevant, preventing spam and abusive behavior, and enforcing community guidelines. Essentially, you act as the eyes, ears, and voice of an online community for businesses and influencers.
Getting Started in Content Moderation:
To be a content moderator, you can explore job listings on FlexJobs and LinkedIn Jobs. Additionally, check out the remote job board at ICUC Social, and consider applying to join the team at ModSquad.
If you want to offer your services independently, you can post a gig on Fiverr, which can attract clients directly to you.
12. Voice Over Artist
Potential Earnings: $15-$50+ per hour, $30,000-$100,000+ per year
In today's world, where content is king, voiceover artists are highly sought after. Their talents are used for narrating YouTube videos, audiobooks, commercials, social media content, and even providing voices for characters in TV shows and video games.
To become a voiceover artist, you need to have a pleasant and clear voice. There's no age requirement, making this a fantastic opportunity even for teens looking to earn money online.
Keep in mind that initial earnings might be modest, but as you build experience, your potential income can grow significantly. While beginners might start with an annual income of around $30,000, seasoned voice actors often see their earnings soar into six figures or more.
How to Get Started:
To kickstart your career as a voiceover artist, consider posting your services on Fiverr. Additionally, Voices.com is a great platform to explore, offering a range of voiceover gigs across various genres.
13. Travel Agent
Potential Earnings: $15-$35/hour, or $30,000-$65,000/year
Do you have a passion for travel? If so, you can turn that enthusiasm into a profitable career as a virtual travel agent, helping others plan and book their dream vacations.
Getting started is simpler than you might think. Your main task will be to find great deals on travel sites like Hotwire and Travelocity and then create attractive vacation packages. These packages can then be sold on popular online travel platforms such as Expedia and TripAdvisor.
The best part? You don’t need any special certification to become a virtual travel agent. Your success will depend on your knowledge of various travel destinations, your ability to plan exciting trips, your creativity, and how well you keep up with the latest travel trends.
How to Begin:
First, get to know the most popular travel deal websites, such as Hotwire and Travelocity. Once you're comfortable with these, try creating your own vacation package. Finally, list your package for sale on online travel marketplaces like Expedia and TripAdvisor.
14. Social Media Manager
Potential Earnings: $25-$50 per hour, $50,000-$100,000 per year
Nowadays, having a strong social media presence is essential for almost every business, entrepreneur, and influencer. This necessity has made social media management one of the most rewarding remote careers available.
Simply put, social media managers are responsible for overseeing a brand’s presence on various social media platforms. Their tasks can range from creating engaging and relevant content to coordinating ad campaigns and interacting with followers and community members.
To excel in this role, social media managers need to know how to generate engagement and create content that has the potential to go viral. They must be skilled in adjusting their tone and style to match different brands and audiences. Additionally, understanding the nuances of various platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and others, is crucial for success.
How to begin:
You can find social media management opportunities on job boards like FlexJobs and LinkedIn Jobs, where numerous listings are available. Another effective way to grow your business is by offering your services on platforms like Fiverr.
15. Visual Interpreter
Potential Earnings: $15-$20 per hour, translating to $30,000-$45,000 annually.
This job is one of the most exciting new opportunities available remotely. Companies like Aira have developed services aimed at supporting visually impaired individuals by offering on-demand visual interpreting for various tasks.
Here’s a simple breakdown of how it works:
Using the Aira app, a visually impaired person can connect with an Aira agent through their smartphone camera. The agent then helps them interpret their surroundings. This could involve helping them navigate a new environment, assist with online shopping, or even read their mail.
While it might sound a bit complex, it's actually quite straightforward.
You don't need any special skills or technical expertise to become an Aira agent. Aira provides comprehensive training that covers everything you need to get started.
Taking on the role of a visual interpreter not only allows you to earn money but also contributes to making the world a more inclusive and accessible place. Your work can help remove barriers and enhance the quality of life for many people.
16. Blogging
Expected Earnings: $25,000 to over $1,000,000 annually
Let's talk about blogging and why it's a fantastic way to earn money…
Imagine starting a blog in your free time without needing any prior experience. Yes, it's possible! Blogging has the potential to bring in substantial income, sometimes even reaching six figures annually.
Why is blogging so appealing?
Blogging offers a unique opportunity to share your passions and interests with a global audience. You get to write about topics you love, engage with readers who share your enthusiasm, and build a community around your content.
Starting a blog can be life-changing. It's not just about the money, although the earning potential is impressive. Blogging allows you to do something you genuinely enjoy every day. It's a rewarding way to express yourself, and who knows, it might just turn into a full-time career.
17. Online Focus Group Participant
How much you can expect to make: $50-$450 per focus group
Imagine earning money just for sharing your thoughts—no special skills or experience needed!
Platforms like Respondent and User Interviews offer opportunities for you to join focus groups and get paid for your opinions. These sessions typically last less than an hour and cover a variety of interesting topics. Depending on the focus group, you can earn anywhere from $50 to $450. It’s a straightforward and enjoyable way to boost your income.
If you enjoy sharing your opinion but want more frequent opportunities, consider using online survey sites like Swagbucks and Survey Junkie. While these platforms may not pay as much as focus groups, they offer numerous chances to qualify and make some extra money.
How to get started:
To find high-paying focus groups, check out User Interviews and Respondent. With User Interviews, it's possible to earn over $500 in a single month. Start exploring these platforms and see how you can turn your opinions into cash!