A successful career doesn’t have to mean staying in the same office or city for decades. With the rise of remote work and freelancing, more careers support travel than ever before. Even traditionally location-bound roles now offer mobility, from teaching to administrative support. If wanderlust has been pulling at you, these ten versatile careers can help you see the world while earning a living. Some of them might surprise you.
Table of Contents
- 1. Writer or Author
- 2. Illustrator
- 3. Tattoo Artist
- 4. Programmer
- 5. Educator
- 6. Travel Nurse
- 7. Flight Attendant
- 8. Tour Guide
- 9. Virtual Assistant
- 10. Airline Pilot
1. Writer or Author
Writing rarely requires a specific location. All you need is your software, a reliable portable laptop stand for working from cafes and co-working spaces, and a creative mind. That flexibility makes writing one of the most popular careers for digital nomads. The options are broad, too. You can work as a novelist, journalist, blogger, copywriter, or children’s book author. You can even hire a remote editor for a children’s book or novel if you want to stay fully nomadic. Freelance writers, in particular, can set up shop wherever they please.
2. Illustrator
Like writers, illustrators can work from any location for clients around the globe. Many collaborate with authors to illustrate novels or children’s books. Most illustrators are self-employed freelancers serving a wide variety of clients across different regions. Unless you’re on staff at a television or video game studio, illustration work is extremely travel-friendly, even for digital nomads.
3. Tattoo Artist
Tattoo parlors exist in nearly every corner of the world. Most tattoo artists settle into one shop, but the profession offers built-in travel opportunities. You can attend tattoo conventions or work as a guest artist at parlors in other cities. For a truly nomadic lifestyle, you can apply to a new shop each time you relocate.
4. Programmer
IT careers like programming, coding, and tech support are often fully remote, which means you can work from anywhere in the world. You can also accept tech positions abroad if you want to experience living in another country for a stretch. Programmers typically set their own hours and choose their clients. Writing, testing, and troubleshooting code only requires a laptop and an internet connection. The pay is often generous enough to support a traveling lifestyle comfortably.
5. Educator
Education is needed everywhere, and depending on your subject, you can find work in almost any location. English or ESL educators can help students worldwide improve their language skills. Tutors can apply their expertise to help learners in any setting. Remote and virtual tutors connect with students through voice and video chat, making it possible to teach from wherever you happen to be.
6. Travel Nurse
Travel nurses take on temporary nursing assignments in a different city, state, or country from where they live. Travel nursing is tailor-made for nomads, as each new assignment means a new destination. You don’t have to be a nurse specifically to enjoy a traveling healthcare career. Physicians, dentists, and medical assistants can also move between locations for their patients. The work can be demanding, though, which sometimes leaves less energy for recreational travel on days off.
7. Flight Attendant
Flight attendants serve and assist airline passengers during their journeys, and the job itself is constant travel. Flying to multiple destinations in a single day is routine. Certain airlines also offer travel benefits and recreational perks for their crew. The average salary falls under $50,000, so it won’t make you rich. But you’ll see new airports and explore destinations during layover periods that most people only visit on vacation.
8. Tour Guide
Tour guides lead tourists and guests through specific places, landmarks, or activities. Every city worldwide has attractions, historical landmarks, and visitors who want someone to show them around. Your experience transfers easily to any city you’d like to try living in, no matter how far away. As a bonus, you’ll regularly meet fellow travelers and people who share your enthusiasm for exploring new places.
9. Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants help individuals and businesses book appointments, manage calendars, handle communications, and coordinate tasks. Demand for virtual assistants has grown steadily, since administrative work can be done from anywhere with an internet connection. Remote assistants also tend to offer more flexible scheduling. That means you can take on virtual assistant work from a beach in Bali or a cafe in Lisbon just as easily as from your home office.
10. Airline Pilot
Like flight attendants, airline pilots travel as part of their daily routine. Schedules tend to be flexible, and the compensation is strong for those working regularly with a major airline. In your downtime, you’ll have both the finances and the freedom to travel or settle anywhere you choose, since airports connect virtually every corner of the globe. Pilots earn significantly more than flight attendants, though the role requires considerably more schooling and training to reach the cockpit.
