The Best Location Independent Jobs And How To Find Them In 2021
Working remotely is becoming more and more attainable in all types of industries and fields. The COVID-19 pandemic only accelerated what was an already ongoing trend towards an increase in location independent jobs and a desire to work remotely.
Working a traditional 9-to-5 in an office building is simply not something that seems attractive anymore especially for the younger generation. While this alternative lifestyle might have appeared unusual only a few years ago more and more people are choosing to work remotely and proving why the best location-independent jobs are in such high demand.
Remote workers are not bound to a single location and can essentially travel as much as they like even when they are working. Living costs might be a lot cheaper in some locations than in others which could result in reduced costs of living for remote workers. Those working in location independent jobs are also said to have a much better work-life balance as they can often choose their own hours and have a lot more freedom over their daily lives. Working remotely has many benefits and will likely continue to be more and more popular in the future.
So what exactly is a location independent job?
Location independent jobs essentially fall into the following three categories.
1. Fully location independent jobs
This category falls mostly into the tech industry which can include some of the best location independent jobs in demand. However, there are a lot of different fields where you can work remotely. The truth is that a large number of corporate, tech or even creative jobs can be done from anywhere in the world. If all your meetings are taking place online then why are you still coming to the same office every day?
The main benefit of having a location independent job with a large company is that you will most likely still receive benefits such as health insurance, retirement and even time off. However, you might have to adhere to the company’s time zone which could cause some problems.
2. Remote freelancers
Remote freelancers have a lot more freedom than those working for a company remotely. As a freelancer, you will be able to decide your own hours while still keeping in mind which time-zone most of your clients are in. If your job requires you to have a lot of regular contact with clients you might face the same time zone issues as a regular location independent worker.
Remote freelancers are responsible for their own insurance, funds and might find themselves under a lot of pressure to work and earn enough money. A high level of discipline is required to be successful as a freelancer, however, once you’ve gained some success you’ll be able to enjoy considerable freedom.
3. Online business owners
Online business owners operate somewhat similar to freelancers in the sense that they are completely responsible for themselves and can control how much or how little they work. However, as a business owner, the responsibilities will increase a lot and to truly be successful a lot of hard work is necessary. Less client or customer interaction will most likely be necessary which will mean more freedom, however, there will also be added pressure to perform especially as the business grows. Online business owners only work for themselves though which puts them in complete control and can reap many benefits.
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PLUS top advice on everything related to location independence lifestyle:
- Coliving
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- Making money online
- Travel advice
- Nomad interviews
What location independent jobs can I do?
While some location independent jobs require a lot of qualifications, it’s actually not that difficult to find a remote job if you’re really interested in working remotely. One of the easiest to get started with is working as a virtual assistant. In this field, you’ll complete all sorts of tasks like admin work, scheduling or even specialised work such as SEO, digital marketing or design. While initial rates can be fairly low it’s possible to earn six figures per year as an experienced virtual assistant.
If you’re looking for some of the best location independent jobs that are in high demand at the moment you should consider the consultancy niche. This can be applied to many industries including marketing, social media presence, SEO or even web design. As a consultant, you’ll be able to set your own rates and work flexible hours. The payment can be quite high and over time you could even build your own agency.
Another top location independent job that you could get started with today is working as an editor or copywriter. This job offers a lot of flexibility and could potentially earn you a considerable sum of money in the long run. Check out 17 other awesome non-tech location independent jobs here.
The best location independent jobs
It’s no secret that the money for the top location independent jobs lies in tech. However, there is actually a wide variety of location independent jobs that pay well and will give you plenty of opportunities to develop and improve your skills. Here are some of the best location independent jobs with opportunities for high salaries.
1. Software developer
As a senior software developer you’ll be able to work from almost anywhere. Of course, a stable internet connection is an absolute must and you might have to consider what gear you’ll be taking with you. Once your setup is sorted you’ll get to enjoy working from wherever you want. Salaries can vary between 150,000$ to 200,000$ per year.
2. Technical support engineer
Tech support might not initially sound like a high-paying remote job but if you’re working for a large company fixing the problems of their clients will be their first priority. This especially applies to B2B relations. For a highly experienced tech support engineer in a specialised field the salary could go as high as 100,000$ per year.
3. Project Manager
Project managers carry a high level of responsibility and require a diverse set of skills. Tasks might include managing employees, delegating tasks, monitoring progress and reporting results within a set time-frame. Project management is common in all sorts of different niches and usually has high pay rates starting at 80,000$ per year with a lot of potential to grow.
4. Graphic Designer
Location independent graphic design jobs don’t necessarily always pay well but once you have gained experience and a sizeable portfolio your rates will skyrocket. The best, highly experienced and qualified graphic designers are in high demand and in most cases, these jobs are location independent. A great place to start growing your portfolio are sites like Upwork or Fiverr. Rates will vary a lot according to the project but annual salaries can be as high as 180.000$.
5. Virtual Attorney
If you have a background in law one of the top location independent jobs for you might just be working as a virtual attorney. This job is still up and coming and will most likely be very popular in the future. It pays especially well in specific niches such as patent law, estate law or even remote research. Even as a paralegal you might be able to work online. Lawyers are also in high demand in the remote work community as many remote workers can struggle with navigating issues like paying taxes while working remotely or even simple things like how to set up terms and conditions for a new website or how to draft a remote work contract. Here are some top tips on how to get started working as a remote attorney.
The salary for working as a location independent lawyer can be upwards of 150,000$ per year.
6. Senior iOS Developer
Mobile apps are still very popular and there is still demand for people do develop this app.
If you know how to code Java, Swift or React Native, then these are highly-desired skill in the mobile app development world.
Have you done this type of job before? Then you might know that a lot of companies will let you work remotely on the development of the apps. Just have a look at the bottom of the page and find the websites to land a job like this.
According to the website Flexjobs, the annual salary can be between $130,000-$160,000.
7. UX/UI Analyst
Are you fascinating by how people behave and act online ?
Do you also fancy computer user interfaces? Then maybe the UX/UI Analyst role is for you.
This roles is part of the team that looks at online visitors move through the funnel and design the interface so they can find what they want easier. You’ll work with clients or withing the company to analyze their current website, apps and and sales processes online and recommend solutions that will increase conversion rate and ultimately sales. Since this job is entirely digital, it can be done remotely without any extra requirements. Look up for full remote jobs in the job description.
Estimated Salary: $100,000 – $120,000 according to Flexjobs
Tech Jobs leading the location independent job market
Finding a location independent tech job might sound daunting but it’s one of the best ways to earn a decent salary and work remotely with very flexible hours. There are a variety of different jobs to choose from in this field and most only require you to have a reliable internet connection as well as the necessary hardware of course.
One of the most popular location independent tech jobs is a web designer. There is always a high demand in this field, however, wages can be very low initially. There is a lot of competition at the lower end of the scale so a high experience level and impressive portfolio is needed to obtain higher-paying clients.
There is also considerable work in programming or backend development. If you have a background in these fields you should focus on expanding your skills and then building a portfolio. More and more large companies are hiring remotely which can have incredible benefits. With set tasks and hours you’ll get to enjoy a flexible work-life balance and working from different places around the world. Of course, you could also work as a freelancer which might give you even more freedom.
Another popular remote tech job is a systems administrator. In this field, you’ll monitor computer systems and identify any possible disturbances or bugs. By finding possible problems and fixing them as well as monitoring day-to-day operations this job is quite reliable and may be a good fit even if your experience is not very extensive yet. Of course, there is always room to grow.
Here is where you can find location independent jobs
Freelancing websites to find location independent jobs in freelancing
Get our best tips FOR FREE and learn how to become a successful digital nomad and work from anywhere!
PLUS top advice on everything related to location independence lifestyle:
- Coliving
- Working locations
- Making money online
- Travel advice
- Nomad interviews
