20 Of The Best Work-From-Home Jobs For 2021
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Remote work has risen in popularity over the last decade. And due to circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this trend has only continued to skyrocket.
The benefits of remote work are evident for both employees and freelancers. They can wake up later in the day and spend less time commuting to and from their workplaces. Plus, money typically spent on gas and car maintenance stays in their pockets!
Businesses also benefit — namely, through increased worker productivity. Companies can also slash office expenses such as rent, utilities, and equipment by keeping employees remote.
Many businesses are making positions remote, creating plenty of opportunities to make money working from home.
Consider These Work-From-Home Jobs
Gain a second stream of income or skip the daily commute with these work-from-home jobs.
1. Proofreader
Do you exhibit sharp attention to detail and enjoy reading? Proofreading is one of the easiest work-from-home jobs to start. Find a part-time or full-time freelance gig for job security or launch a freelance career to earn more.
A proofreading course like Proofread Anywhere can give you some momentum. This free workshop will teach you the necessary skills you need to start your own proofreading business from home.
2. Teach English Online
English is the global language of business, so teaching it to students worldwide is in high demand. Fortunately, you can jump into this lucrative and fulfilling market right from home on VIPKid.
VIPKid teachers can earn up to $22 per hour. Plus, VIPKid provides you the curriculum and materials — you just have to show up and teach English to your students.
3. Bookkeeper
Bookkeeping is a function that every business needs, and it’s a role that many companies will hire someone to handle remotely.
You don’t need a college degree or extensive work experience to land a bookkeeping job, either. You just need basic bookkeeping skills and some experience with accounting software to start.
Ben Robinson, a former CPA and accounting firm owner, teaches how to launch a bookkeeping business in his free, 3-part class on Bookkeepers.com. You’ll learn key skills that help you stand out from the market and make good money bookkeeping from home.
4. Transcriptionist
Are you a fast typist? Consider looking for transcriptionist work. Transcriptionists convert audio recordings — such as interviews —into text. Some transcriptionists work for transcription agencies, others work in-house at companies, and many land remote jobs that allow them to work from home.
You can launch a career as a transcriptionist by taking Transcribe Anywhere’s free, 7-part mini-course. You’ll learn the skills you need, the keys to success, where to find work, and much more!
5. Blogger
Blogging is an excellent work-from-home job if you enjoy writing and expressing your thoughts. If you dedicate time to growing your blog over several months, you might even be able to quit your day job!
And even with the high income potential, getting started is easy and inexpensive. You’ll need to invest in a domain and web hosting. Fortunately, Bluehost offers hosting for only pennies a day — and they’ll throw in your domain name for free. Plus, with 1-click WordPress installation, you can get your blog off the ground as soon as today.
Once you have a steady traffic stream, you can earn money through ads, affiliate marketing, informational products (books and courses), and more.
Need help taking the first step? Read our article on how to start a blog in 8 steps.
6. eCommerce Store Owner
Online shopping is as popular as ever, so there’s plenty of opportunity to make a full-time income by selling products online.
Do some research on a niche, find a market of hungry buyers, and then start selling products to your market. With a little hard work, you could create a substantial income stream working from home.
Fortunately, you don’t need to be a tech genius or hire employees to build an online store. Just sign up with BigCommerce, a platform that allows you to manage your store’s operations in one intuitive interface. You’ll even get to try it for free for 30 days!
7. Tutor
Students often need a little extra help earning that elusive A in their classes. You can be that extra help by working from home as a tutor.
Finding work is easier than you think. Most of the time, you only need to be a 4-year college student or have a bachelor’s degree in any subject.
With these simple qualifications, there are websites that let you sign up as a tutor and find work through their platform. Launching a freelance tutoring business can become even more lucrative if you’re willing to handle the other aspects of running a business.
8. Writer
Writing is a broad field with plenty of work-from-home opportunities. You can write about nearly any subject you want and get paid for it.
Plus, there are different types of writing you can specialize in:
- Academic writing
- Content writing
- Copywriting
- Fiction writing
- Technical writing
- … and others.
When you’ve chosen a niche and type of writing you want to pursue, launch your career on platforms like Upwork and other job boards. Score some portfolio pieces, collect testimonials, network, get referrals, and soon, you’ll have a thriving writing business.
9. Web Developer
As more and more commerce moves to the online arena, many businesses are in need of websites — making web developers highly sought after.
As a web developer, you’ll bring a business’s website design to life using programming languages and technical skills. If you don’t have the skills necessary to become a web developer but want to learn, there are tons of free resources online.
And the best part? This is a job you can do from the comfort of your own home.
10. Virtual Assistant
The role of a virtual assistant is one of the most flexible and in-demand work-from-home jobs. Businesses of all sizes need virtual assistants to help them handle many of their administrative functions.
As a virtual assistant, you’ll perform a wide range of tasks, such as:
- Answering phone calls
- Booking travel
- Email management
- Data entry
- Scheduling
- Social media
11. Customer Service Representative
Customer service has become one of the most outsourced jobs. If you’re empathetic, can multi-task, and have strong problem-solving skills, this could be the work-from-home job for you.
You’ll need a laptop and Wi-Fi at the very least for most of these jobs, but some companies may require you to buy a headset. You might also need to become proficient in certain technologies and products for tech-oriented customer service roles.
You can find customer service work online — either through a customer service agency or for a specific company.
12. Graphic Designer
Graphic design could be your next work-from-home job if you enjoy creating visual art while earning some income. In addition to developing your artistic talent, you’ll need to learn programs such as Photoshop and Adobe Creative Cloud.
You can create logos, album covers, web pages, product packaging, brochures, and more for companies. You can also launch an online business where you sell products with your designs on them.
13. Video Editor
Video editing can be an exciting job if you have the technical skills and software know-how.
Video editors can work on films, TV shows, YouTube videos, video tutorials for various companies, and more.
14. Voice Actor
Ever been told you have a voice for radio? Consider monetizing your vocal talents with some voice acting work.
There are plenty of places to find voice acting work from home. For example, audiobook sites often need new narrators to narrate books. YouTube channels need voiceover artists for explainer videos as well. You might even be able to find work on ad campaigns as a voice actor.
15. Photographer
Have an eye for a picture-perfect moment? Photography is a fun work-from-home job, as you have the freedom to be creative while also getting paid. To get started, you’ll need to develop photography skills and purchase the necessary editing software and equipment.
As for work, you can work for an agency or freelance. Additionally, you can build a portfolio of photos on photography licensing sites and earn passive income through royalties.
16. Social Media Manager
If you have a knack for marketing and are able to multitask, consider becoming a social media manager. For this job, you’ll need to be familiar with most major social media platforms. You’ll be responsible for engaging with customers online, planning social media campaigns, and evaluating analytics.
Social media management positions are often full-time or part-time jobs, but you can also freelance if you choose.
17. Translator
Know multiple languages? You can use these skills to land remote work as a translator.
As a translator, you might choose to translate documents, audio files, books, and more. Being multilingual is a valuable skill in our global economy, so there should be no shortage of work.
18. Stylist
Believe it or not, you can become a stylist from home if you have an eye for fashion and can put together a fashionable wardrobe for people.
Formal online stylist jobs aren’t common, but you could launch a stylist business by working through Stitch Fix.
19. Software Developer
Know how to code? If not, are you willing to learn? With tech booming, software development is one of the most in-demand and lucrative jobs. And given its technical nature, plenty of work-from-home opportunities are available.
Alternatively, you can use your programming skills to create an app or software product and sell it. More work is involved, but this comes with more income.
20. Data Entry
If you pay great attention to detail, can type fast, and are willing to put up with some monotony, data entry makes for a straightforward method of earning money from home.
Data entry jobs are everywhere. You can run a Google search and finds hundreds of opportunities all over job boards, freelance marketplaces, and more.
Other Ways to Make Money From Home
You don’t need to find a job or start a business to earn extra cash from home. Here are some ways to supplement your income without leaving the house.
Listing Your Room/Home
If you have an extra room in your home, you’re sitting on a fantastic income stream. Consider renting out that extra room to people using VRBO. Book enough guests each month, and you could cover most of your rent or mortgage payment.
Check out how much you can make with your extra room on VRBO today.
Listing Your Extra Space
Perhaps you don’t have an extra bedroom available, but you have some spare room in a closet, your garage, or your driveway. You can squeeze some money out of this extra space by listing it for rent on Neighbor.
Listing your space is free, and you can sign up and start making money in as little as 5 minutes.
See how much your extra space could make you on Neighbor today.
Taking Surveys
Want to earn cash for your thoughts? Survey sites pay you to give your opinions in surveys and polls. Some of the top survey sites include:
Where Do You Find Work-From-Home Jobs?
You can find work-from-home jobs on all sorts of job sites, but your time will best be spent on remote-focused job boards, such as FlexJobs.
FlexJobs curates top work-from-home jobs from thousands of companies across dozens of industries. Plus, they offer job search resources like career coaching to help you land that next remote job.
Be Wary of Work-From-Home Scams
Working from home is the dream for many. Unfortunately, there are plenty of scammers that prey on those seeking that next remote opportunity.
These scammers will ask for information you’d typically give to a new employer — such as your bank account number or Social Security number — to steal your money or identity. Consequently, you have to be on your toes when looking for remote work.
Claims that you’ll earn a lot of money for little work or see huge leaps in your income, or demands for upfront fees are telltale signs of a scam. If they offer you a job without an interview, it’s likely that they aren’t a real company, either.
Here are some signs that a company is legitimate:
- You find numerous mentions of the company online
- They don’t ask for bank information or your Social Security number until you’re hired
- Pay is reasonable, relative to job requirements
- No mention of benefits
- They request samples and/or references
Work and Earn From the Comfort of Your Home
Whether you’ve lost your job, are looking for a side hustle, or want to spend more time with family, look into some of the jobs above. Remember to be wary of scams while you’re searching. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.