9 Jobs From Home You Can Get and Keep

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Young man working job from home at his desk
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The coronavirus pandemic has turned a lot of homes into home offices, and some people aren’t keen to head back to the old workplace.

If that’s a category you fall into, there’s good news: There are all kinds of full-time work-from-home jobs and part-time work-from-home jobs that won’t be going away when COVID-19 does.

1. Web developer

One of the most obvious answers for “how to make money online” is to actually contribute to the code that makes it possible. That’s what web developers do; they create the technical architecture of websites and the aesthetics of the user experience.

Most web developers work full time, and about 16% are self-employed, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. You don’t have to ask “how can I work from home” when you can do your job from anywhere with internet access.

The median annual wage for web developers is $73,760.

2. Virtual assistant

Companies that operate remotely still need administrative assistants, and that’s where virtual assistants come in.

As with traditional administrative assistants, those working jobs from home have varying responsibilities. Many provide some combination of creative, marketing and technical support, manage media and business inquiries, compose and respond to company emails, and circulate company business documents.

PayScale data says virtual assistants make roughly between $21,000 and $60,000 per year.

3. Travel agent

Travel agents can also have permanent online work from home, or perhaps from more interesting places.

There may not be a lot of people traveling right now, but there sure are a lot of people looking forward to traveling as soon as possible. They might want somebody else to handle the details of planning their life-affirming tours and adventures.

About 11% of travel agents are self-employed, and some work remotely, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their median annual wage is $40,660.

These aren’t part-time jobs from home; travel agents often work full-time and need to be available during peak travel times to help customers manage any last-minute changes of plan.

4. Social media manager

Companies with an internet presence often dedicate a role to managing that. Social media managers interact with customers over Twitter, Facebook, email and other media to promote the brand and answer questions. They might incentivize customer feedback by collecting surveys for money.

They’re a blend of marketing and customer service, and many of them are work from home opportunities. PayScale says the average salary of a social media manager is $50,816.

5. Translator

While computers can often provide a quick and dirty translation, most aspects of business and government require much higher standards of accuracy and clarity. They need a professional’s touch.

That means translation jobs from home are here to stay. About 22% of interpreters and translators are self-employed, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and their median annual wage is $51,830. They also have a strong job outlook, with BLS expecting the field to grow by 19% between 2018 and 2028.

6. Call center representative

Call center work generally involves two things: a customer on the phone and a computer. It might involve technical support, billing inquiries, order changes and returns, or simply providing information.

All of this work can be done anywhere, and often is available part time or remotely. Jobs from home are common. The median annual pay is $34,710, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

7. Cybersecurity analyst

Cybersecurity or information security analysts are responsible for monitoring and protecting computer networks from data breaches and other hacking incidents. They also may help train employees on best practices for computer security, or develop safety recommendations.

Many work on-site, but some have jobs from home. The median annual wage for this job is $99,730, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

8. Freelance writer

Every industry needs people who can write competently and clearly about it, and they rarely need to be anywhere particular to do so.

So, it’s no surprise virtually any list of jobs related to how to make money online will include writers for hire. While many companies do have in-house writers, many substitute or supplement their content efforts with freelancers.

The median pay for writers and authors is $63,200, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

9. Medical transcriptionist

Health records are one thing nobody can afford to get wrong, so medical transcriptionists have the essential duty of reviewing medical reports and physician notes to make sure everything is clear, accurate and entered into electronic health records systems.

About 6% are self-employed, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and many work remotely. Their median pay is $33,380.

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