18 Legit Jobs You Can Do From Home

Working from home seems like the ideal situation. There’s only one problem — you’re not quite sure where to begin. Not every job can transfer from a traditional workplace to a home-based office.

However, some professions allow you to work from the comfort of your own home without sacrificing any of the income to which you’re accustomed.

18 Legit Jobs You Can Do From Home

1. Freelance Writing

Writing is perhaps the most natural profession to take home with you. In fact, many writers find the workplace environment creatively stifling, so the mobility of remote working gives them the chance to do their job amid a more stimulating backdrop.

You’ll find plenty of opportunities to establish a career in this field. You can start a blog and wait for ad revenue to roll in, although this means you won’t be bringing cash home right away. You can also pitch to small businesses, magazines, and other bloggers, where you’ll receive compensation once your idea is approved, written, and posted. Some companies need help with copywriting for marketing materials and other consumer-related text.

Start by searching local job boards; some writing gigs and permanent positions are available via Craigslist. A national search for freelance opportunities would work, too, since you’d be able to contribute virtually, regardless of where a company is headquartered.

Related Content: 99+ Paid Writing Gigs and Opportunities

2. Customer Service Rep

Another work-from-home-friendly industry is customer service. Many companies provide out-of-office employees with the technology and training they need to answer consumer questions.

If you have experience as a customer service representative, you have a great shot at getting this type of work. You can also play up the skills you have that will serve you well in the position. Excellent phone etiquette, listening skills, and patience are all attributes to play up on your resume and in your cover letter since they’re vital to your success in this career path.

Related Content: Virtual Call Center Jobs: Get Paid to Talk on the Phone

3. Bookkeeping

How do you feel about numbers? If you know you can handle the responsibility of calculating a company’s expenditures with extreme precision, then a career in this field could be on the books.

Fortunately, you don’t need to be a certified accountant to obtain work as a bookkeeper. Instead, you need to prove your math skills are there and that you know how to use computing technology well. Plus, you should have a passion for helping people since your work will be for the betterment of a business and all its employees. For remote bookkeeping positions, check out companies like BELAY and Intuit.

4. Transcription

As the name implies, a transcriptionist types out what people are saying. The task of remote transcription is slightly different, though. Rather than attending a meeting or hearing and keeping notes, you’ll be turning audio or visual recordings into written documents.

To get this type of work, you must be a fast and accurate typist, as you will most likely be transcribing in a word processor and sending the file to your boss when you’ve finished. To that end, you’ll need a working computer and high-quality headphones. Some transcribers also have a foot pedal so they can stop and start their recordings without moving their hands from the keys.

Because this work requires you to focus, you’ll have to work in a quiet environment with few interruptions. As such, this might not be the best job for a stay-at-home parent who’s minding kids while working. Of course, you could squeeze the transcriptions around your child’s schedule, which makes this a great option once the kids start school. See Rev, TranscribeMe, and Tigerfish for remote transcription positions.

5. Virtual Assistant

If you have any administrative or clerical experience, you’re in luck! You no longer have to go into an office to serve as someone’s assistant. Instead, you can take tasks virtually through many reputable sites, including BELAY, Byron and Zirtual.

It turns out you can do many assistant-type tasks while in your pajamas. Think about it: You can piece together expense reports, call in catering orders, plan travel, organize calendars, and more, all from your home computer. When applying, be sure to mention any experience you have with these types of tasks, whether you’ve done them for the good of your own family or a past job. You’ll need to have a computer, phone, and a good internet connection to make this job work for you and your new boss.

Related Content: How to Work From Home as a Virtual Assistant

6. Computer Coding

If you’re not in a place where you can consider returning to school, then the computer coding path might not be for you. However, if you’re willing and able to study programming, you have a great chance of finding yourself in a lucrative — and remote-working — career.

There is another caveat, aside from the fact that you’ll need training. Not everyone will have a knack for this job. Coding is a time-consuming skill to learn, and there are multiple programming languages in which you’ll want to be well-versed. Before you start, make sure you have the base-level abilities that successful coders possess. For instance, if you love new technology, enjoy problem-solving and thrive while creating, then this could be the perfect path for you. For remote computer coding positions, see Corgibytes, GitHub, and CyberCoders.

7. Online Shop Owner

You can put your creative skills to good use by opening an online shop. Whether you’re an artist, jewelry maker, or clothing designer, you can turn a hobby into a lucrative career. Start by finding the right platform — many creators use Etsy — and setting up a storefront.

Of course, you don’t have to be artistic to be a successful online salesperson. You might log onto the internet to sell unused electronics, designer clothes, and more via eBay and other virtual secondhand sales. You might come up with an entirely new business model that allows you to sell and distribute from home. An online store is an excellent alternative to in-person sales — convenient for you and your customers.

8. Data Entry Jobs

On the opposite end of the spectrum from starting your own business, you’ll find data entry. It’s a viable work-from-home position, but it’s far less involved than creating and running an enterprise.

To start, all you’ll need to begin is a computer and internet access. Different assignments might require downloading additional software, but many companies use Microsoft Excel spreadsheets for their data entry needs. Besides that, you’ll have to be fast-moving and detail-oriented, but this task is excellent for work-from-home moms. Even with a bit of noise, it’s easy to enter the information into a spreadsheet. Check out companies like Xerox and Westat for remote data entry and collection positions.

9. Letting Property

Do you live alone or otherwise have space to share? You can make a nice bundle of cash each month by renting out spare rooms to long-term renters or tourists in town for the weekend.

Sites like Airbnb have made the latter scenario a lucrative side business for homeowners worldwide. You might also reach out to potential roommates through sites like Craigslist, where you can advertise your room, too. Somewhere, you’re bound to find someone who’s a good fit.

Get creative about the extra room you have available, especially if you live in a city where space is a hot commodity. You can rent out everything from parking spots you don’t need to storage lockers you don’t use.

10. Virtual Recruiting

Any experience in human resources or the art of recruiting will bring you success in this well-paying role. You could earn as much as $49 an hour screening candidates and helping place them in the proper position within a particular field or company.

You can work for yourself, but you shouldn’t branch into self-employment unless you’ve proven your recruiting chops within another company for several years. Otherwise, working remotely for someone else will still be a lucrative, flexible venture. Once you build up a good reputation and client base, you can easily branch out onto your own.

Although we mentioned that HR or recruiting experience is preferred, it’s not vital for this job. What is essential is the ability to listen to your clients and the candidates so you can quickly figure out who’s suitable for what company and why. If you’re interested in working from home as a recruiter, check out Planet Professional, Kelly Services, and Tested Recruits.

11. Graphic Designer

For those with a creative flair, graphic design work is plentiful in today’s digital world. With a bachelor’s degree, you can apply to social media, marketing, advertising, and large corporations that keep their marketing departments in-house. Companies like Brafton and Coalition hire remote graphic designers.

If self-taught, you can easily offer freelance web design services using sites like Fiverr, VaVa Virtual Assistants, and Dribbble. As a graphic designer, you may create business logos, product packaging, social media graphics, ad campaigns, printables, websites, and so much more. As a freelancer, you can choose to charge by the project, hour, or on monthly retainer. Of course, if you have a fantastic work portfolio and want to work as a W2 employee, you can also check out the work-from-home opportunities mentioned above.

12. Social Media Management

According to a recent report, one of the most in-demand marketing occupations in North America is social media marketing. This is excellent news if you know how to use these platforms and harness their power. Unlike traditional marketing positions, many companies are willing to hire individuals without a degree if they have a proven track record of handling and growing social media accounts. I know many moms who have stayed at home with their kids, started blogs and social media accounts, and then returned to the workforce in high-level marketing roles.

If you understand how to create content and generate engagement using platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, social media management is a great work-from-home job option! If you’re looking for part-time roles as a social media manager, you can look at companies like Boldly, BELAY, and VaVa Virtual Assistants. Need a full-time work-at-home job with benefits, explore Brafton or IZEA. 

13. Online Tutor 

If you’re a teacher, student, or expert in a subject like math, you can make good money tutoring students of all levels online. With some tutoring companies, you’ll book 30-minute live sessions with students, and with other companies, you’ll answer homework questions via email or online chat programs. There are even some platforms like Cambly, which allow native English speakers without any experience to help non-native speakers practice their conversational English skills. 

Most tutoring positions are part-time gigs that offer a lot of flexibility. To begin working from home as a tutor, you’ll need to prove your expertise by submitting your academic credentials. Check out companies like Course Hero and Studypool to apply for independent contractor positions. 

14. SEO Specialist

Another in-demand marketing specialty where you can work from home is search engine optimization (SEO). In this field, you help companies and brands obtain more traffic from search engines by applying SEO techniques. SEO is a broad field that encompasses marketing, technology, researching keywords, writing, and more. Many companies that hire SEO specialists will want applicants to have a marketing degree or certification. Google offers a digital marketing certification through Coursera that’s worth checking out.  

SEO is a field that is constantly changing, so if you’re a creature of habit, this may not be the ideal work-from-home job. However, if you enjoy a challenge and always learning something new, this niche continues to grow. For remote jobs as an SEO specialist, check out Semrush, Ahrefs, and Brafton. 

15. Proofreader

If you have an excellent grasp of the English language and have an eagle eye for catching spelling and grammar errors, working as an online proofreader might be your calling. Typically proofreaders focus on correcting mistakes, but in some roles, they may fact-check, conduct research, and make rewrites. When you work as a proofreader, you can choose to work full-time as an employee, or you can provide freelance proofreading services. For many full-time positions, you’ll need an English or journalism degree. Freelancers often do not need a degree, but they must prove their expertise by taking and passing a qualification test. 

If it’s been a while since you’ve taken an English class, you may want to brush up on your proofreading skills by taking an online course. To see if proofreading is your dream work-from-home job, check out Caitlin Pyle’s free proofreading webinar. 

To find remote work as a proofreader, check out Express Writers, EditFast, and Upwork. 

16. Online Jobs for Nurses

If you’re a nurse with an active license, there are lots of part-time and full-time job options you can do from home! Whether you want to do case management, triage, medical record review, sales, or telehealth visits, there are many opportunities for nurses to work remotely. CVS, Cigna, Humana, and UnitedHealth Group are always hiring, so they are good places to start your job search. You can also check out this list for more legitimate work-from-home jobs for nurses of all levels. 

17. Photographer

Do you have more of an entrepreneurial spirit? Do you love taking and editing photos? Starting your own photography business from home has never been easier or more affordable. The great thing about photography is you don’t need a college degree to get started. Because most customers choose their photographers by viewing portfolios of their work online, you just need to hone your craft and have a high-quality sampling of your work.

While having a website with a gallery of your images is recommended, you can use a social media platform like Instagram to showcase your work if you don’t have the budget for a website. Or you can choose to submit your images to stock photo websites. Whether you want to be a full-time business owner or just start a  photography side hustle from home, there are many options to make money from your photos. See this post for more on working from home as a photographer. 

18. Medical Coding and Billing

Would you like to work from home in the healthcare field but don’t want to go to school for an extended period of time? Medical coding and billing is a home-based career you can train for online in as little as 4-6 months with CareerStep. As a medical coder and biller, you’ll code medical diagnoses and procedures on bills so that companies can obtain prompt and proper payment from insurance providers.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical coders and billers earn an average of $46,660 annually. If you would like to work from home as a medical coder and biller, check out companies like CVS, Aviacaode, and Change Healthcare.

Conclusion

These 18 roles are just the beginning. You can make money and work from home. All you have to do is find the right position, get to work, and thrive in the place you love most — your home.

How are you making money from home? What other jobs can you do from home? Drop us a note; we’d love to hear from you!

Originally published October 30, 2018. Content updated October 2022.