8 Top Jobs That Allow You to Travel
Travel and work—you may think the two are mutually exclusive, but guess what? Many jobs offer travel opportunities and some even require travel. Whether you’re looking to embark on a tourist gig in Europe or design websites on the other side of the country, you can satisfy your wanderlust while getting paid too.
People seek travel jobs for a number of reasons, such as adventure, better work-life balance, career development, flexibility, personal fulfillment, and more. Some professionals yearn to experience life working in different countries while others like the idea of becoming digital nomads, doing work from their computer wherever they want. The possibilities of working while traveling are nearly endless.
This article will explore eight of the best remote jobs that provide the flexibility to travel.
1. Teaching English Abroad
If you are fluent in English, then you might qualify for a job teaching English in a foreign country. This role offers the opportunity to impart your English skills to students looking to learn it as a second language. Teaching can be its own reward, but this job also offers numerous other benefits, including cultural immersion, personal growth and development, professional experience, and building an international career network.
Job growth for teaching English abroad varies depending on the country, region, and demand for English education in certain areas, but tends to be high due to the vast need for English expertise. Trends driving demand for English education include increasing economic growth in emerging markets, expanding government initiatives, growing nonprofit organizations, and more online teaching opportunities.
Core job duties for English teachers in foreign countries can vary based on the context of the role and the teaching organization involved, but they usually include the following:
- Planning and delivering lessons
- Teaching language skills
- Assessing student performance
- Managing classrooms
- Providing individualized support
- Collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders
- Cultural integration and cross-cultural understanding
The frequency of travel and duration of stay for English teachers can change depending on several factors, including:
- Length of teaching contract
- The specific teaching program
- Semester of academic year schedules
- Intensive language courses or summer programs
- Travel during breaks and holidays
Education Requirements
Common education requirements for this job include the following:
- Bachelor's degree in English, English teaching, or a similar field
- English language proficiency (IELTS or TOEFL)
- Teaching certifications (TEFL or TESOL) for higher earning potential (optional)
- Master’s degree in TESOL or applied linguistics (optional)
Entry-level positions might only require several weeks or months of teaching experience while advanced teaching jobs may require several years. For more advanced roles, WGU offers an online M.A. in Teaching–English Education.
Average Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary in May 2021 for English teachers abroad was about $60,000. However, many of these teachers may only work for weeks or months at a time, so their earnings can vary. For reference, the International TEFL Academy’s website states that in top-paying countries, teachers can earn a salary between $2,000 and $5,000 per month.
2. Travel Nurse
A travel nurse is a registered nurse (RN) employed by a staffing agency who travels to different medical facilities such as hospitals and clinics. They help on-site nurses and doctors administer to patients and do the same when they visit other locations. Demand for these types of nurses has increased over the last few years due to nursing shortages, an aging population, and fluctuations in healthcare needs. Because of this, travel nurses enjoy a higher-than-average job growth rate.
Travel nurses have many similar job responsibilities to those of traditional RNs, but they’re also prepared to adapt to new work environments. Typical duties include:
- Caring for patients
- Collaborating with healthcare professionals
- Documenting medical data
- Educating patients and their families
- Participating in workplace trainings
Assignment duration of travel nurses can range from several weeks to several months, with an average assignment usually lasting around three months. The length of each stay at a facility largely depends on the nurse’s staffing agency, the needs of the assigned location, and individual preference. Travel nurses can extend or renew assignments if they’d like, and upon completion of their assignment, they can move to a new location or return to a previous one.
Education Requirements
Travel nurses must meet the education requirements and licensure standards of an RN. Steps to become a travel nurse include:
- Earning a nursing degree, whether it’s an associate degree in nursing, bachelor’s degree in nursing, or accelerated degree in nursing
- Passing the NCLEX exam
- Obtaining RN licensure
- Gaining clinical work experience
Average Salary
According to the BLS, the average annual salary in May 2021 for registered nurses was $77,600. The lowest 10% earned less than $59,450 while the highest 10% earned more than $120,250. Travel nurses can expect to earn a similar salary.
3. Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants provide administrative, technical, or creative support for a variety of businesses from a remote location. These assistants leverage technology and communication tools to aid their clients from home or abroad, as long as they have internet access. Demand for virtual assistants has steadily grown over recent years and is projected to continue growing.
Travel opportunities are plentiful since virtual assistants work remotely. Because of this flexibility, virtual assistant jobs are among the most popular jobs that allow you to travel.
Job responsibilities vary depending on the client, but common duties include the following:
- Helping with administration
- Corresponding with managers and employees
- Managing calendars and scheduling meetings
- Researching and analyzing data
- Offering tech support
- Maintaining social media and online business presence
- Assisting with projects
Education Requirements
Virtual assistant jobs typically don’t have specific education requirements—the level of education needed may differ depending on the nature and complexity of their work. Some helpful credentials include:
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- Relevant courses or certifications
- A bachelor’s or master’s degree in business or information technology (IT)
Additional skills helpful for the role of virtual assistant include:
- Written and verbal communication
- Time management
- Computer proficiency
- Attention to detail
- Adaptability
- Problem-solving
- Professionalism
- Business ethics
Average Salary
Salaries for virtual assistants vary depending on their level of education and workload. For example, entry-level assistants focused on secretary work can make between $35,000 and $40,000 a year while tech support assistants may earn up to around $60,000 a year.
4. Digital Marketer
Nearly all businesses need to market what they offer, and digital marketers are instrumental in seeing to that. These professionals specialize in promoting products, services, and brands using digital channels like the internet. Their primary goal is to employ marketing strategies through content or design that appeal to consumers and call them to action. Today, and especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, many digital marketers have the freedom to work remotely wherever they’d like.
According to the BLS, job demand for digital marketing specialists is projected to increase by 10% from 2021 to 2031, which is faster than average.
Digital marketers have a variety of responsibilities on the job, many of which include:
- Developing digital marketing strategies
- Managing email, social media, and ad content
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Conducting paid advertising campaigns
- A/B testing and reporting on data
- Conversion rate optimization (CRO)
While some digital marketing roles require frequent travel, most marketing jobs are location agnostic and offer plenty of flexibility regarding traveling.
Education Requirements
There are no strict education requirements to become a digital marketer, but most people tend to follow a similar education path. This often includes:
- Earning a bachelor's degree in marketing or a related field
- Completing digital marketing courses and certifications
- Earning a master's degree in marketing or a related field
- Gaining work experience
Average Salary
5. Consultant
If you enjoy helping individuals or organizations with specialized guidance, you might consider working as a consultant. Consultants use the knowledge and skills they’ve obtained through their education and previous work experience to assist those they serve in business, financial, technological, and other matters. It’s also a great career choice if you enjoy traveling because consultants often visit their clients in-person to better understand how to help them succeed.
Most consultants also enjoy a stable, growing career path. The BLS states that employment of business consultants is projected to grow by 11% from 2021 to 2031, which is faster than average.
The frequency with which consultants travel depends on several factors, including client location, project duration and scope, and more.
A consultant’s day-to-day responsibilities vary depending on the field in which they specialize but typically include:
- Analyzing and assessing processes
- Identifying areas of concern and areas for improvement
- Developing action plans for implementation
- Project management
- Data analysis and research
Education Requirements
Becoming a consultant requires a foundational—and in some cases, specialized—understanding of principles related to their preferred field. Some credentials to consider earning include:
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
- Advanced degree, such as an MBA or other master’s degree
- Relevant certifications
Average Salary
Experienced consultants can expect to earn over $70,000 each year. In the case of business consultants, the BLS states an average annual salary in May 2021 of about $93,000.
6. Data Analyst
Data analysts use their keen eye for detail as they collect, organize, analyze, and interpret large sets of data. Their problem-solving skills are useful in all kinds of fields, from business and finance to engineering and medicine. Most data analysts today rely on dedicated data analysis software to increase their efficiency.
The more that businesses and organizations grow, the more demand there is for data analysts to track trends and offer solutions for leaders and stakeholders. Because of rapid job growth for data analysts, they should keep their skills polished for key responsibilities such as:
- Collecting and cleaning data
- Interpreting data
- Creating and presenting reports
- Identifying key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Modeling and visualizing data
Typically, data analysts work in an office, remote setting, or a combination of both. Travel may be required for engaging with clients but is otherwise an option for remote workers who can perform their tasks on a computer.
Education Requirements
Data analysts often receive a formal education in tandem with developing a specific skill set. The following are some key educational components and skills:
- Bachelor's degree in data analytics, statistics, or a similar field
- Knowledge of statistics and mathematics
- Data analysis and programming skills
- Knowledge of data management and database systems
- Data visualization skills
- Understanding of machine learning and predictive analytics
Average Salary
The BLS states that the average annual salary for data analysts in May 2021 was just under $101,000.
7. Software Engineer
Software engineers are crucial for organizations that rely on digital technology to do business. These engineers apply various engineering and design principles to develop, test, and maintain software programs. For example, a software engineer might optimize an online banking app to be user friendly. Or they may build a program designed to help students practice their standardized test-taking skills.
Because many different industries depend on software engineers and will continue to require their expertise, these engineers enjoy a higher-than-average job growth rate of about 25%.
Core job duties of software engineers include the following:
- Designing and developing software programs
- Testing and debugging software systems
- Collaborating with other teams
- Documenting software application features
- Maintaining software stability
Like data analysts, software engineers usually work in an office, remote location, or a hybrid of both. Software engineers may need to travel for implementing software systems on site or collaborating with cross-functional teams. Otherwise, many engineers have the flexibility to work remotely in a place of their choosing.
Education Requirements
Due to the specialized nature of their work, software engineers commonly earn at least a bachelor’s degree in software engineering, computer science, or a related field. They may also obtain specific education or certification in the following:
- Computer science fundamentals
- Programming languages
- Software development practices
- Mathematics and logic fundamentals
Average Salary
According to the BLS, the average annual salary for software engineers in May 2021 was $120,730.
8. Copywriter
While writing in general encompasses a vast variety of content and styles, copywriting focuses on creating persuasive content for marketing a product or service. Copywriters may work for print or digital marketing agencies, magazines, newspapers, and other media outlets. They can also work on their own as freelancers, which might mean more opportunity for travel. Job growth for copywriters has slightly but steadily increased over recent years, especially for online and digital media.
Copywriting job responsibilities are similar to those of digital marketers, and they include:
- Conducting advertising campaigns
- Writing email, social media, and ad content
- Writing long-form content like blogs
- Researching target audiences
- Editing and proofreading
- Collaborating with design teams
Nowadays, copywriters tend to work a hybrid schedule of in-office and at home, or they work fully remotely. This can afford copywriters ample opportunity to travel as they perform their jobs.
Education Requirements
Copywriters benefit from a solid educational background which may include the following:
- Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, English, or a related field
- Writing and communications courses
- Advertising and marketing courses
- Portfolio development
Average Salary
The salary range for copywriters can vary depending on where they work, whether they freelance, what education they receive, and other factors. According to the BLS, the average annual salary for writers in May 2021 was $69,510. Most copywriters can expect to earn a similar salary.
Next Steps
These jobs and many more are a great fit if you’d like to add traveling to your work life. As you prepare for a career that allows you to travel, consider studying at WGU. WGU offers more than 75 accredited, online degree programs in business, IT, healthcare, and education. These flexible programs allow you to study at your own pace, and thanks to our competency-based learning model, you can progress through coursework as fast as you master the material. Get started today!
