By Mike Simpson

Do you loathe heading to an office and dealing with an unending stream of distractions (like Janet and her bizarre Brazilian soap opera obsession)?

Does your commute give new meaning to the term “road rage”?

Do you wish you could sidestep all of that and and still have a successful career?

If the answer is yes to any of these, then our list of the 10 best remote jobs available might be a big help.

If you find yourself constantly wishing you could ditch the traditional work paradigm for something different, you’re not alone. Technology has made telecommuting incredibly simple, leading to the rise of the remote work revolution.

According to the annual survey of employers by the Society For Human Resource Management (SHRM) a stunning 69 percent of organizations let employees work from home, at least on occasion. They give their workers a taste of the lifestyle, though many want more.

Luckily, it is possible to have completely remote careers. With some of the best work from home jobs, you genuinely never have to set foot in an office. If you find that appealing, grab your reading glasses and get comfortable. It’s time to find out more about these opportunities.

What is a Remote Job?

A remote job is any position that can be performed from a location other than the organization’s offices or sites. It includes jobs where you can work from home as well as some traveling position like a regional sales rep.

In many cases, technology features strongly in remote work, even if the position itself isn’t technical. Internet-connected devices allow telecommuting employees to access company assets and systems, communicate with colleagues, and submit deliverables.

Additionally, many work from home jobs involve tasks that can be completed on a computer. The duties may be administrative, technical, or otherwise dependent on using software or computing systems to complete the work.

There are pros and cons to having a remote career. As for benefits, you don’t have to deal with a commute. Additionally, you can maintain a distraction-free environment, may have a flexible schedule, and could end up with more time to spend with friends and family. Many telecommuters say their work-life balance improves and that they’re more productive when working remotely.

However, there are also drawbacks. Even the best remote jobs can get a bit lonely, as you aren’t interacting with colleagues in-person or, at times, as often as otherwise would. Communication can be challenging, and you might have to navigate your own technical issues. There’s also a lack of visibility. Higher-ups might not be as aware of you, and that could hinder your career.

Additionally, there are a few things you need to consider before looking for remote work:

• • Are you self-motivated and highly focused?
  • Can you be accountable and reliable even if no one is standing over your shoulder?

If you can’t keep yourself on target, then remote work probably isn’t for you. But, if you are motivated by deadlines and want to exceed expectations even when no one is watching, it could be a great option.

Top 10 Remote Jobs That Pay Well

1. Contact Center Representative

Are your communication skills top-notch? Then one of the best remote jobs for you could be a contact center agent.

Many companies hire work-from-home employees to handle customer inquiries and issues. They may take phone calls, speak with customers through chat software, or even respond to social media requests for assistance.

Customer service representatives bring in a median pay rate of $16.23 per hour, which isn’t too shabby considering all you need is a high school diploma to get started.

2. Outbound Sales

If you have the gift of gab and aren’t afraid to engage with strangers, an outbound sales position might help you launch a great career. You’ll actively seek out new potential customers and extol the virtues of your employer’s products or services, working to make a sale.

Usually, you can get started with a high school diploma. As you gain experience, you can work your way toward a median annual salary of more than $50,000, depending on your niche.

3. Tutor

While tutoring in person is certainly an option, it’s a job that can also be handled remotely. Whether you want to help area children enhance their knowledge, teach English to adults in foreign countries, or help college students thrive, you can find remote work approaches.

Usually, all you need is a solid internet connection, a quality headset, and a webcam. If you work for a company, then there might be some software to install, but that’s about it. With that, you could reach the average salary of about $39,300, and you don’t necessarily need a college degree to make that happen.

4. Medical Transcriptionist

A surprising number of medical transcriptionists don’t work in hospital settings. Instead, they are hired by companies that let them work from home.

In these roles, the employer sends digital copies of recordings that need transcribing. The employee listens and writes down what they hear. While it sounds simple, it is a skill. After a short stint at a vocational school or community college, you’ll usually have what it takes and could be well on your way to earning $16.72 per hour.

5. Translator

In today’s increasingly interconnected world, translation skills are valuable. If you are multilingual, you can find work from home jobs focusing on that capability.

You’ll receive written or audio materials that you’ll convert from one language to another. As long as you are accurate and secure a great reputation, you could earn a median annual salary of $49,930 for your troubles.

6. Graphic Designer

Many computer-based roles can easily be done remotely. With graphic design, you use your expertise to create visual concepts that entice customers, effectively combining art and technology. This could include anything from logos to product mockups and so much more.

You might be able to work from home, raking in around $50,370 annually. You could also take full control of your workload by joining the gig economy, giving you the utmost in flexibility.

7. Virtual Assistant

The traditional office assistant has gone digital. As a virtual assistant, you would lend a hand to an executive or entrepreneur, handling a range of computer-based daily tasks – like data entry, answering email, writing reports, and doing research – that keep the company moving forward.

The jobs are typically fast-paced, but the work itself is easy to understand in most cases. Usually, you can get started with as little as a high school diploma, and start bringing in $15.72 per hour with your skills.

8. Bookkeeper

If you’re willing to pursue some post-high school education but don’t want to finish a Bachelor’s degree, then you’re in luck. Usually, you can get all of the training you need to become a bookkeeper at a community college, allowing you to get started in as little as one semester.

After taking the courses, you can help companies keep track of their financial lives, which is an important part of maintaining any operation. Once you get your footing, a $40,240 a year salary is a real possibility.

9. Grant Writer

A slew of companies need grants to support their operations. Instead of handling the application themselves, they hire grant writers to handle that part for them.

These experts are familiar with the process and incredibly skilled with the written word, increasing the odds that the organization will get the funds they need. With the right skills, which you may be able to get through a community college, you can bring in $48,541 a year, all while working from home.

10. Social Media Manager

A newer entry onto the best remote jobs list is social media manager. Companies often hire savvy individuals to keep their profiles and posts flowing, ensuring they can connect with (and market to) their audience.

Along with designing and scheduling posts, social media managers may respond to comments and DMs, as well as monitor trending hashtags to see if the company could benefit from connecting to it. If you’re a social media dynamo with some marketing chops, you may be able to get into this emerging field and could make $50,661 a year along the way.

Putting It All Together

Ultimately, all of the positions above are some of the best remote jobs around. They can be lucrative and don’t necessarily require a ton of education. In many cases, these roles have the ability to become healthy remote careers, allowing you to earn a solid income from the comfort of your home. Why not keep them on the table? After all, the world isn’t going to become less digital any time soon, so take advantage of the technologies and craft the professional experience of your dreams.

P.S. You can land a job interview pretty quickly after applying for one of these jobs, so it pays to be prepared for your interview. That’s why we’ve created an amazing free cheat sheet that will give you word-for-word answers for some of the toughest interview questions you are going to face in your upcoming interview.

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