13 High-Paying Jobs You Can Do From Home

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By Marilyn Lewis, Money Talks News

Can working from home work for you? In 2018, one-fifth of salaried workers and over half of self-employed workers worked from home during a typical workday, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There is lots to love about home-based work, including freedom and flexibility. But, how can you find work from home that pays?

If you’re dreaming of doing business in your bedroom slippers, here are some careers that offer good pay and a chance to be your own boss.

1. Web developers

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These digital pioneers have been working online from home since the dawn of the internet. They make better-than-decent money: a median salary of more than $69,000, according to the BLS. In addition, this field is projected to grow much faster than most other career paths.

You’ll probably need an associate degree, although some enterprising and savvy net-entrepreneurs are self-taught. 

2. Consultant

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Expertise in many areas may prepare you for working from home as a consultant. You’ll need a strong background in a field that’s in demand, such as: 

• Business

• Communications

• Financial services

• Insurance

• Internet technology

• Law

• Medicine

You’ll also benefit from self-confidence and communications skills, since your work will involve interaction with other professionals in your client companies. Pay can be great, depending on your field of expertise.

3. Grant writer

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If you love doing research and feel comfortable writing on deadline, you may find grant-writing to be the perfect job. In addition to researching subject areas, grant writers craft proposals for organizations or individuals who are applying for funding.

The BLS does not collect data on this profession. However, jobs website Indeed says grant writers earn around $42,000 on average.

4. E-commerce business

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Thinking of starting your own online business? When it comes to earnings, the sky is the limit.

But big dreams are only a small part of success. Getting started requires the same kind of research and preparation as the launch of any business.

5. Transcriptionist

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If you’re a whiz-bang typist, there’s work to be done transcribing, which involves listening to audio files and typing up the material you hear. The median pay for medical transcriptionists is around $35,000 a year the BLS reports.

Courts and attorneys also employ transcriptionists, although court reporting requires specialized training. The pay — around $57,000 a year — reflects the extra training.

6. Freelance writer

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Writing and editing content — online articles and commercial and educational materials — can be lucrative for a select group of professionals.

Back in 2016, just 13% of freelance writers reported incomes of $30,000 or more in freelance writing alone, according to one report. But the most successful freelancers can make six figures and beyond.

7. Technical writer

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Technical writing is a type of freelance writing that requires specialized skills. Technical writers earn more than most freelance writers; the median pay reaches nearly $72,000 annually, according to the BLS.

Many technical writers specialize in engineering, science or technology. They write materials such as white papers, documentation and user guides.

You’re likely to need training to find work, even if you are an experienced writer. Community colleges, universities and other accredited schools offer technical writing degree or certificate courses. Also, the Society for Technical Communication offers online certificate courses, webinars and conferences.

8. Computer programmer

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Working from home is an option for computer programmers, who earn a median annual income of more than $84,000, according to the BLS.

Browsing job listings for programmers at WeWorkRemotely will show you some of the skills and programming languages currently in demand. Some programmers are self-taught, but a bachelor’s or associate degree may be a more reliable path into the field.

9. Real estate agent

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Real estate sales offers motivated agents the chance to make a six-figure income — even more in a hot market. But that’s a long-term prospect. A more realistic goal for newbies may be the median annual income of almost $49,000.

Agents earn a percentage of a property’s sale price — a commission. They often are self-employed, with the freedom to choose where they work, including at home. Typically, agents find it useful to affiliate with a real estate company, and they may keep an office there too.

10. Pet walking and grooming

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The pet services industry is growing by leaps and bounds. You may be able to earn a share of that spending by offering popular services like pet-sitting, grooming and dog walking from your home.

Caring for animals, including grooming, pays a skimpy median income of around $24,000, the BLS says. But you may be able to earn far more with your own business.

Rover.com, a network that links pet sitters with pet owners, shows rates for doggie day care, dog walking and dog boarding in your area. Quick math shows that, if you charged $25 per day for day care for five dogs on weekdays, you’d bring in $625 a week, or $32,500 a year.

11. IT support

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If you like helping people and have a way with computers, internet technology support could be a satisfying career for you. The work earns a median salary of more than $53,000 a year, according to the BLS.

Computer support workers, as they’re sometimes called, may work independently or for a company like Apple or Dell. From your home, you offer phone support to help computer users solve their technical problems.

12. YouTube instructor

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If you’re an expert at something, it’s easy these days to take your talents and skills to the worldwide stage. Just sign up for a YouTube account and get started creating videos that feature you showing your expertise and teaching others how you do it.

YouTubers offer instructional videos on cake decorating, martial arts, home repairs, dog training, home decorating, hair styling and much more.

Your earnings will be based on your ability to attract viewers and advertising revenue. Influencer MarketingHub’s YouTuber calculator breaks down the math: “On average the YouTube channel can receive $18 per 1,000 ad views. This equates to $3 – $5 per 1,000 video views.”

13. Blogger

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There’s a lot of hype about the money to be made by blogging. Here’s the reality: Whether your topic is food, video games or bird watching, the ability to write will get you only part of the way to success. You’ll also need to understand and embrace the business side of your blog.

“Blogging is hard work and, like most writing-related fields, is supersaturated. One article by ProBlogger suggests that travel blogs alone number more than 1.2 million,” says an article on The Street.

Your first goal: Build an audience. Once you have that, you have what you need for sponsorships and other revenue-generating relationships. That’s the basis for a blogger’s success.