18 Best Jobs for Introverts (Salary Info Included)

By Jeff Gillis

Not everyone wants to be the center of attention or to spend their days interacting with others. That’s what makes jobs for introverts so appealing to certain professionals; they give you an opportunity to have a thriving career while stepping away from the spotlight and limiting interactions.

Are these roles right for you? Well, that depends…

    • Do you shudder at the idea of spending your entire day talking to customers?
    • Does merely thinking about big group, collaborative meetings leave you drained?
    • If you have to go to a meeting, do you have to spend time mentally preparing for the experience?
    • Is seeking respite immediately after a necessity?

If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, you could be an introvert. That means jobs for introverts might be right for you. But that just scratches the surface. If you want to learn more about what it means to be an introvert and which professions might be right with you, come with us and find out.

What Are Introverts? – How Does Being Introverted Affect Someone’s Career?

Before you dig into the jobs, let’s take a moment to consider what an introvert is and what it isn’t. First, you don’t necessarily have to be shy or soft-spoken to be an introvert. Similarly, you don’t have to spend your time at parties being a wallflower or fleeing from conversations like someone set your shoes on fire.

Many introverts have exceptional social skills. The trick is, interactions don’t leave them feeling energized, even if they are conversational whizzes and enjoy the other person’s company. Instead, the experience saps their energy, leaving them a bit drained.

In most cases, introverts need time to recover from social interactions. Without the chance to regain some energy, they can’t be at their best.

So, how does that affect a person’s career? Well, that depends on the roles they pursue.

Think about it; if you’re an introvert and take a highly social job, like a role in direct sales, you’ll spend essentially all of your time interacting with others. As the day goes on, you’re more and more drained, making every conversation harder than the last. It gets exhausting, and you start having trouble focusing.

Over time, without a chance to recoup, you’re less effective. Your performance and results decline. Now, how do you think that would impact your career? Right; it would damage it significantly, if not destroy it outright.

Now, picture another scenario. An introvert takes a job that has some team collaboration, but it’s mixed with heads-down, independent work. After a meeting – where they expend a lot of energy – they can retreat to a solo task. That allows the introvert to remain productive while decompressing from the interactions. Then, when it’s time to work with a colleague again, they’re ready for it.

In that scenario, an introvert is balancing their work. They aren’t running from people. Instead, their role gives them a chance to spend time on their own, giving them a respite. As a result, they are more likely to thrive, leading to a stronger career.

Ultimately, introverts need a chance to rejuvenate. This doesn’t just apply to their professional life, either. Socially, they have the same needs. When introverts spend time alone, they aren’t being distant; they are recharging their batteries. It’s critical for them. As a result, they not only need understanding friends and family members, but also a job that can meet their needs.

Top 18 Jobs for Introverts

In most cases, jobs for introverts have a few things in common. Often, independent work is more common than massive group projects, and the physical environment gives them a degree of space. When interactions occur, they tend to be one-on-one and with people they already know, allowing the introvert to focus and making the experience more comfortable.

Sure, that could describe a ton of positions, but some are better fits than others. With that in mind, here’s a look at the top 18 jobs for introverts.

1. Accountant

When it comes to semi-solitary jobs, working as an accountant easily qualifies. In most cases, the work is independent, focused mainly on numbers, records, and financial accounts over people. Plus, most accounting offices are reasonably quiet. Aside from some watercooler-style chitchat, you might not have to talk to another person all day.

Plus, accounting is a lucrative career. Once you have your Bachelor’s degree, you could work your way up to the median annual salary, which comes in at $71,550. Nice, right? We thought so.

2. Veterinary Assistant

As a veterinary assistant, you’ll spend more of your time interacting with animals than people. Plus, when you are working with others, it’s a small group of close colleagues.

Otherwise, you may interact with clients, but the conversations aren’t usually lengthy. But, if you work in a lab instead, you can avoid that entirely.

You can actually get started with a high school diploma or by completing a vocational program. Once done, you could bring in a median yearly salary of $28,590.

3. Technical Writer

If you are open to earning a Bachelor’s degree, you could earn around $72,850 a year as a technical writer. The work is mainly solo, and can sometimes be done from home, which is a bonus. You’ll spend your days creating documentation like instruction manuals, articles, and how-to guides.

Your main goal is to convey technical topics in easy-to-understand ways, something you can commonly do independently.

4. Court Reporter

While court reporters technically spend most of their days surrounded by people, interacting isn’t part of the equation usually. Instead, all you have to do is listen and record what’s being said. After completing a vocational program, you could earn $60,130 a year in the job, making it a strong option for anyone who doesn’t want to spend a ton of time in school.

5. Librarian

Looking for one of the quietest environments imaginable? Consider a career as a librarian. You might have to assist visitors on occasion, but a lot of chitchat typically isn’t part of the job. Instead, you’ll spend your time handling books and other materials and overseeing the facility. In exchange, you might earn a yearly salary near $59,050. Just make sure to snag a Master’s in library science first.

6. Forensic Scientist

Introverts tend to have exceptional attention-to-detail when working independently. That’s a trait that can serve you well as a forensic scientist. You’ll mainly spend your time collecting and analyzing evidence, something that can often be done solo.

It does take a Bachelor’s degree to get into the field. Once you have one, you could make the median salary of $59,150 a year.

7. Plumber

While plumbers do deal with customers, that isn’t the core of their job. After getting information and providing a bid, most property owners aren’t going to hang around and chat while you’re messing with pipes or fixing clogs; they’re just going to get out of your way.

After some vocational school or on-the-job training, you could make about $55,160 annually.

8. Medical Records Technician

Many medical facilities have dedicated staff that helps keep their records in order. While you might perform some receptionist duties, most of your interactions are limited to other team members and medical professionals. Otherwise, it’s just you and the paperwork, which can be ideal for introverts.

To get started, you might need to complete a vocational training program. Once that’s handled, salaries around $40,350 are within reach.

9. Graphic Designer

Earning a median salary of $52,100, graphic designers make a living by creating visual media for companies and individuals. Whether it’s logos, illustrations, or anything else, the work is typically very independent once you get the requirements from the client.

Usually, graphic designers have a Bachelor’s degree. However, if you have the skills and a strong portfolio, you might be fine without one, especially if you go the freelance route.

10. Automotive Mechanic

Whether you want to work entirely solo or as part of a small team, automotive mechanic is easily one of the best jobs for introverts who like to work with their hands. With some vocational training, you’ll spend time diagnosing and repairing problems or handling standard maintenance. With a bit of experience under your belt, an annual salary of $42,090 or more is completely possible.

11. Paralegal

After completing a paralegal program (usually an associate’s degree), you could get a job earning about $51,740 per year. Most of your duties will focus on research, report creation, and other independent tasks. When you do interact with clients, it’s usually one-on-one interviews or scheduling appointments, which many introverts easily manage.

12. Software Developer

With a Bachelor’s degree and some programming skills, you can spend the majority of your day creating, testing, and improving software. While you might work on project teams, most of your responsibilities will be independent, allowing you to balance your introverted nature with a limited amount of socialization. For your efforts, you could make a median salary of $105,590 annually.

13. Grounds Maintenance Worker

If you enjoy working outdoors and prefer to spend your time alone or only working with a close-knit team, a job in grounds maintenance could be right for you. You’ll spend your days keeping parks, yards, or other properties in good shape, ensuring the plants are healthy and looking their best. Plus, you can get started even without a high school diploma, potentially earning near $30,980 for your efforts.

14. Translator

For anyone who’s bilingual and an introvert, working as a translator is worth considering. You can find opportunities to convert written documents into another language, create foreign language subtitles for videos, or similar options, all of which require little interaction with others.

A Bachelor’s degree may or may be necessary, but it can help you prove your fluency. In exchange for your expertise, a salary of around $51,830 annually is possible.

15. Land Surveyor

Another job for outdoorsy introverts, land surveyors use specialized tools to identify land boundaries, prepare maps, and add details to official property documents. In most cases, you’ll spend your time working with a teammate or two, at most. With a Bachelor’s degree and some on-the-job training, you could make the median yearly salary of $63,420 surprisingly quickly.

16. Editor

If you’re great with the written word and have a Bachelor’s degree, you might be able to land an editor position. You’ll spend your time reviewing the work of others, making any necessary corrections, adjustments, or recommendations before publication.

Depending on your niche, you could earn about $61,370 annually. Plus, you might be able to freelance and work-from-home. For some introverts, that may be ideal.

17. Mental Health Counselors

When it comes to active listening skills, introverts have them in spades usually. This could make a position as a mental health counselor ideal. The majority of your interactions will be one-on-one. Plus, you may be able to schedule breaks between clients, giving you a chance to reflect and recharge before your next appointment.

You’ll need a Master’s degree in most cases. Once you get your career going, landing a salary near $42,840 is definitely possible.

18. Commercial Driver

With a clean driving record and the right license (usually a CDL-A, CDL-B, or CDL-C), you could work as a commercial driver. In nearly all cases, most of your time is spent alone on the open road, something that could make an introvert’s heart sing. Plus, you might make about $45,260 a year, which is certainly solid.

Putting It All Together

Ultimately, any of the jobs for introverts above are worth considering. They give you a chance to limit your interactions, ensuring you can be at your best. Plus, many come with competitive salaries. Not only can they meet your needs, but they can lead to lucrative careers, making them an even better choice.

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About The Author

Jeff Gillis

Co-founder and CTO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Jeff is a featured contributor delivering advice on job search, job interviews and career advancement, having published more than 50 pieces of unique content on the site, with his work being featured in top publications such as INC, ZDnet, MSN and more. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page.