12 Legit Work-from-home Jobs That Actually Pay Well

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by Tiffany Walking Eagle | 7-minute read

This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure here.

1. Virtual assistant.

 Working as a virtual assistant can be lucrative and rewarding, and it can be done from the comfort of your home. Types of tasks VA's may do on the daily include:

  • managing scheduling & calendars

  • record keeping

  • data entry

  • billing

  • updating social media accounts

  • answering & directing calls

Check out this article to learn more about working as a virtual assistant. 

2. Transcriptionist.

Are you a good listener that can type fast? If so, transcription may be an awesome remote career opportunity for you. All you need is high-speed internet and a computer, and you're ready to go. Some companies may require you use a special foot pedal that controls audio playback as well as transcription software, but not all will. Many transcriptionists earn between $15 and $25 per hour or more.  Check out more info about transcription here

3. Virtual bookkeeper. 

You don't have to be a CPA to work as a bookkeeper, and starting a virtual bookkeeping business can be a fantastic career choice. Excellent virtual bookkeepers can earn up to $60 an hour or more. Plus, bookkeeping services are always in demand, so finding work won't be difficult. More info on virtual bookkeeping here and here.

4. Customer service agent. 

In this day and age, more and more companies are moving toward hiring remote workers. There are tons of companies hiring for remote customer service positions that only require internet, a computer, a phone line, and decent writing skills (for emails). You can typically make between $10 to $15 per hour in virtual customer service. Check out this article to learn more. 

5. Proofreader.

Proofreading is a WAH (work-at-home) job is near and dear to my heart because it served as my launchpad into the online business world. Whether you want to proofread web copy, magazines, books, transcripts, or otherwise, it's a completely virtual job you can take anywhere! I took the route of proofreading transcripts for court reporters, and I absolutely love it.

If you're a fast reader with an eye for errors that's looking for a flexible job you can do from literally anywhere (with internet), this might be the career for you.

I took an amazing online course to learn all about how to build a business and what transcript proofreading entails. There's a great course for general proofreading as well. Click here to learn more about proofreading and whether you could turn it into a successful business. 

I bought and took the transcript proofreading course, and I can vouch for how awesome it is! It teaches you all you need to know about transcript proofreading as well as how to set up and market your business. Keep in mind that you must have an eagle eye for spelling, punctuation, and other errors, and you need to be decent at research too.

This job isn't for everyone, but if you're a word nerd with eagle eyes, it can be incredibly rewarding. 

If you have any questions for me about my proofreading journey, leave me a comment or shoot me an email! I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. 

6. Scopist.

What does a scopist do, you ask? Scoping is very niche and highly underrated! Few people have even heard of scoping, but it is a great way to make a living. Scoping is one step above transcript proofreading. It commands higher pay, but it also takes more in-depth training. Still, it's a fantastic career that will always be in demand.

Scopists edit transcripts for court reporters and research spelling, fill in missing words, correct punctuation and format errors, and occasionally listen to audio to make sure transcripts are accurate. Learn more about scoping here, and check out Darcy’s story to find out how she’s made scoping her career.

7. Virtual Travel agent. 

Virtual travel agents do everything regular travel agents do, just from anywhere they please. They book airline travel and hotels for their clients, and they can work part-time or full-time.

Check out this opportunity if you already have experience as a travel agent. Don't worry if you don't have experience in this industry, since there are entry level positions available with training provided. 

8. Online teacher or tutor

Are you currently a teacher looking for a change of pace? Teaching online may be the perfect option. A company called K12 hires virtual teachers, and the pay and work is similar to what you'd be doing in the classroom. If you prefer to work from home, check them out. Here is a video talking about what it's like teaching for K12. Check out other opportunities here and here

If you have a passion for teaching but you don't have a teacher's degree, virtual tutoring can be a great way to make money and do what you love.

Generally, you'll need a bachelor's degree, and you should be a native English speaker. Companies like Chegg, Qkids, and Revolution prep are hiring online tutors, and you can earn $20 an hour or more!  There are plenty of other sites hiring as well. Learn more here

You can also offer ESL tutoring on websites like this one

9. Website tester. 

Making sure websites are user-friendly and visually appealing is more important than ever, which is why some sites will pay you to visit their site or app, complete a few simple tasks, and give your honest thoughts about it.

Testing a site typically takes between 10-20 minutes, and you're usually paid between $5 and $15 per test. Visit a couple of well-known sites here and here.  

Just so you know, this generally isn't full-time work, but it is an easy way to make some extra cash in your spare time. I included it in this list because the rate of pay for just 10-20 minutes of work is pretty dang good, in my opinion! 

10. Blogger. 

If you want to build an online business and you love creating content, blogging could be the way to go. A few main ways to make money blogging is through ads, affiliate marketing, and sponsored posts.

Setting up a blog takes quite a bit of work up front--you have to build a site, create content, and grow your audience--but it can be a real source of income if you stick with it and provide value to your readers. 

If you're truly interested in learning how to turn blogging into a business, I recommend checking out the helpful info from the following blogs:

Chasing Foxes

Making Sense of Cents

The Busy Budgeter

11. Social media manager. 

Do you know your way around Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn? Do you have a good understanding of the importance of branding and audience engagement? Social media management may be perfect for you.

You can start your own business offer services like setting up social media accounts, managing and updating social media accounts, and growing the number of followers for all types of businesses. 

Learn more about starting a social media management business here. Check out these video courses to learn more about social media management. 

12. Freelance writer.

Freelance writing can be a lucrative, flexible career you can take anywhere. In this age of the internet, content is king, and written content is no exception.

Many firms or individual businesses will pay for content like blog posts, web copy, press releases, ebooks, and more to help boost their online presence and market their services. You don't necessarily need a degree to work as a freelance writer, so long as you have a good grasp of English writing and can meet your deadlines. 

If you're interested in making writing a career, I highly recommend checking out the info from inkwelleditorial.com. She offers loads of helpful advice for newbies and experienced writers alike.

Take her free writing course to find out if this gig is right for you, and I highly recommend her more in-depth writing course as well. (Note: it's not currently open for enrollment, but should reopen in September of October of 2018.) 

The benefits of working remotely are unmatched. Remote work translates to flexibility, autonomy, and often less time on the clock. Here is a comprehensive overview of high paying remote jobs that offer the standard benefits of working remotely as well as high pay.

Have you experienced success in a work-from-home career? Share your story in the comments!

Want more? Check out 7 Free Job Boards for Legit Writing Gigs or read Darcy’s story on how she makes great money scoping for court reporters.