Boost Your Income With the Highest Paid Home-Based Gigs in 2017

Does all the recent talk about virtual jobs have you thinking about working from home, but you’re not sure where to start? Do you need a full-time virtual job that guarantees a decent income with lots of opportunities?

According to the Gallup report, State of the American Workplace, the number of people who work remotely most of the time jumped 7 points to 31% last year. That means more businesses are willing to accommodate the flexible needs of a growing workforce. So, you’re in luck!

Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, a baby boomer seeking another income source, or someone who needs more flexibility for whatever reasons – there’s a perfect virtual career fit out there for you! Check out the 3 top-paying virtual jobs in major industries and the skills you need to do them from the comfort of your home.

*Data is cross-referenced with the latest occupation growth estimates and industry information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and leading virtual job search website, FlexJobs.com. Positions listed require at least an Associate’s degree and have a job growth rate of at least 10%.*

Virtual Computer and Information Technology (IT) Jobs

Job title: Computer and IT systems managers

• Growth Outlook: Expected to grow 15% by 2024
• Median pay: Anywhere from $80,000 to over $187,000 per year
• In-demand skills and/or education: Bachelor’s degree; heavy technical, web programming, coding, cybersecurity and/or other computer science experience usually spanning several years.

Job title: Computer and Information Research Scientists

• Growth Outlook: Expected to grow 11% by 2024
• Median pay: Anywhere from $53.18 per hour to $110,620 per year
• In-demand skills and/or education: Master’s or Doctoral degree; heavy technical computer and science experience, may also require applying these solutions to business, medicine, and/or science fields.

Job title: Software Developers

• Growth Outlook: Expected to grow 17% by 2024
• Median pay: Between $48.41 per hour and $100,690 per year
• In-demand skills and/or education: Bachelor’s degree at minimum; computer, and network systems development skills are essential.

Virtual Arts, Media, & Design Jobs

Job title: Videographers, Film and Video Editors

• Growth Outlook: Expected to grow 11% by 2024
• Median pay: Ranges from $26.80 per hour to $55,740 per year
• In-demand skills and/or education: A degree is not always needed for videographer positions, especially if you want to freelance or have experience featuring a very impressive portfolio of well-shot, well-edited material. As with most professional jobs, it’s easier to get noticed if you have at least a 2-year Associate’s degree in Media, Filmography/Cinema, or a related field. Depending on the specific role, writing skills may also be needed for more comprehensive, scripted video projects you have to manage from start to finish. This is often the case if the company doesn’t already have a communications specialist with script-writing experience.

Job title: Technical Writers

• Growth Outlook: Expected to grow 10% by 2024
• Median pay: Between $33.77 per hour and $70,240 per year
• In-demand skills and/or education: Bachelor’s degree; typically requires at least 5 years of experience in engineering, a technical field, and/or technical writing and may also include on-the-job training for legal, compliance, or branding purposes. For engineers or those with more technical backgrounds, online training courses are available to help develop written communication skills necessary to succeed.

Job title: Web Designers or Web Developers

• Growth Outlook: Expected to grow whopping 27% by 2024
• Median pay: Varies widely depending on company and skills; can often range from $31.23 per hour to well over $65,000 per year based on the employer
• In-demand skills and/or education: Usually requires an Associate’s degree at minimum – and some employers may care more about a great portfolio rather than a degree at all – but Bachelor’s degrees are much more competitive. Having graphic design knowledge and experience in developing mobile applications is very desirable, and Web designers must constantly keep up with ever-changing internet design languages and trends. That means continuous formal or casual education is essential. You can find many cheap certificate course options available online at websites like Udemy, Lynda, Envato Tuts+, Code School, or Coursera.

Virtual Business, Sales, & Marketing Jobs

Job title: Personal Financial Advisors, Analysts, or Consultants

• Growth Outlook: Expected to grow a substantial 30% by 2024
• Median pay: Between $42.86 per hour and $89,160 per year
• In-demand skills and/or education: Usually requires a Bachelor’s degree in fields like finance, economics or accounting, but advanced professional certifications, training, or Master’s degrees help virtual workers stand out; this is also a popular choice for entrepreneurs or freelancers who want to assist wealthy clients or contract with companies.

Job title: Market Research Analysts, or Big Data Analysts

• Growth Outlook: Expected to grow 19% by 2024
• Median pay: Ranges from $29.88 per hour to $62,150 per year
• In-demand skills and/or education: Bachelor’s degrees are a given, and Master’s degrees are much more desirable along with a strong background in compiling, sorting, and analyzing data to provide unique business and consumer insights to companies; it’s frequently a great choice for those who want to freelance or contract themselves out at premium salaries; without at least a 3 to 5-year work history, a portfolio or case studies of projects that relied upon data insights is extremely useful.

Job title: Management Analysts

• Growth Outlook: Expected to grow 14% by 2024
• Median pay: Anywhere between $39.10 per hour to $81,320 per year
• In-demand skills and/or education: A Bachelor’s degree is a basic requirement; however, an MBA or Master’s degree coupled with measurably successful work experience is most impressive; many skillful analysts prefer to freelance as consultants, so future clients or employers will love seeing specific cases where you have made an impact.

Wrapping Up

Still think you can’t land a work-from-home job that provides living wages? Don’t sell yourself short, especially if you have any past work history at all. Explore these and other virtual job options by translating your strengths, skills, and previous work experience into what the employer is seeking.

Once you’ve thoroughly vetted that the job is legitimate, it’s critical to stand out from the sea of applicants who also want well-paid remote positions. The best skillset in the world won’t make up for a lack of confidence, so dig deeper to find what makes you the perfect hire.

Chances are you have a compelling story your future virtual job employer can’t wait to hear!