Best Freelance Jobs You Can Work From Home

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The overwhelming majority of remote workers want to continue working from home at least part-time for the rest of their careers, according to research from Buffer and AngelList. But what if your boss isn’t on board with you telecommuting forever?

In that case, depending on what you do, a transition to freelance might be for you.

Note

Your odds of finding a freelance job you can work from home are better than you think.

Top Freelance Job Options

FlexJobs, a subscription service for job seekers, noted several fast-growing flexible career categories, including marketing, advertising, non-profit, HR, and search engine optimization.

In other words, freelancing isn’t just for writers and other creatives. (Although there are plenty of opportunities for those folks, too.) Here's a roundup of several freelance jobs—some you'd never expect.

Writing

Let's start with the obvious: freelance writing is the classic work-from-home job. If you're not already working at home as a writer, however, you might not realize how many different types of freelance writing jobs there are. From journalism to copywriting, blogging to social media, there are writing jobs for every temperament and type of experience.

Typical Pay: $41,000 per year

Editing and Proofreading

Freelance editing jobs aren’t just for seasoned grammarians. If you have a degree in English, communications, or journalism and an eye for detail, you may be able to parlay your skills into an entry-level gig as a proofreader or assistant editor.

Typical Pay: $46,000 per year

Marketing and PR

If you have a phone and an internet connection reliable enough to sustain a video call, you can do your marketing or PR job from the comfort of your own home. Just be prepared to take the occasional on-site meeting. In many cases, the client will want to look at their marketing or PR pro in the eye once in a while—and not just on Zoom. Social media coordinator and manager jobs also fall under this umbrella.

Typical Pay: $55,000 per year

Transcription

Transcription jobs generally come in three types: medical, legal, and market research. The latter requires the least amount of study, in terms of familiarizing yourself with the specialized technical language of the field. In most instances, transcription jobs are meted out by an agency, which will require you to take a typing test and then set you up with jobs as needed.

Typical Pay: $32,000 per year

Data Entry

If you can type 60 words a minute or more, and find repetitive work more Zen than dull, data entry jobs might work for you.

Note

Beware of ads for data entry jobs that promise big bucks or ask for bank account numbers or other personal info before allowing you to get started.

These are red flags for scams. (More on work-from-home job scams at the end of this article.)

Typical Pay: $34,000 per year

Virtual Assistant

If you have experience as a personal assistant, administrative assistant, or office manager, you can do a similar job for a variety of clients from the comfort of your own home. Virtual assistants provide administrative support over the phone and internet, often working through an agency that connects them with clients.

Typical Pay: $41,000 per year

Call Center Jobs

Virtual call center jobs are the same gig as the in-person job, minus the trip to the call center. One caveat: make sure you know if the company will provide paid training, or if you're supposed to pony up for your own start-up costs. The latter scenario could cost you a pretty penny or turn out to be a scam.

Typical Pay: $30,000 per year

Online Tutoring

Coach elementary, middle school, high school, or college students on a variety of subjects, via the internet. Most companies will want teaching experience in the subject you're tutoring, plus a college degree.

Typical Pay: $39,000 per year

Your Full-Time Work, as a Freelance Job

Don't assume that your current occupation is incompatible with freelance life. Many jobs that seem firmly rooted in the brick-and-mortar world of physical offices and facilities are perfect for freelancing.

For instance, registered nurses can find a variety of freelance gigs or part-time work that require their licensure, skills, and experience, including case management for insurance companies, telephone triage, and medical call center work.

Note

Check out these work-from-home computer jobs for more options to consider.

Beware of Scams

Hidden among the many legitimate work-from-home job listings are scams of varying degrees of cleverness and malicious intent. To avoid getting caught by a work-at-home job scam:

  • Always research companies before you commit.
  • Don't send money, account or social security numbers, or any information that would make it easier to steal your identity.
  • Beware of organizations that require you to buy a kit before you can get started or promise to help you get rich in a hurry.
  • Bottom line, remember the adage: if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Buffer. “The 2020 State of Remote Work.” Accessed May 18, 2021.

  2. FlexJobs. “13 Fast-Growing Careers for Flexible Jobs in 2021.” Accessed May 18, 2021.

  3. PayScale. “Average Freelance Writer Hourly Pay.” Accessed May 18, 2021.

  4. PayScale. “Average Proofreader Hourly Pay.” Accessed May 18, 2021.

  5. PayScale. “Average Consultant, Public Relations Hourly Pay.” Accessed May 18, 2021.

  6. PayScale. “Average Medical Transcriptionist Hourly Pay.” Accessed May 18, 2021.

  7. PayScale. “Average Data Entry Clerk Hourly Pay.” Accessed May 18, 2021.

  8. PayScale. “Average Virtual Assistant Hourly Pay.” Accessed May 18, 2021.

  9. Glassdoor. “Call Center Representative Salaries.” Accessed May 18, 2021.

  10. Glassdoor. “Online Tutor Salaries.” Accessed May 18, 2021.

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