Digital nomads are a relatively new phenomenon. Although they’ve been around for a couple of decades, the concept of “digital nomadism” has really taken off in recent years—and the pandemic, especially, has had a considerable impact on where people live and how they work.
While you might picture a digital nomad as an obscure type who travels around for months on end in some far-off land, the concept is usually not so exotic. Instead, the term simply refers to someone who uses technology to support a mobile lifestyle. Some digital nomads might work from home and travel whenever the urge strikes, and some may have several places they call home, going back and forth between locations as needed.
The one thing they all have in common is that they have more freedom than those who are tied to a regular job with normal working hours. It is this freedom that makes the concept so alluring.
Perhaps you aspire to this level of freedom. Maybe you are looking for a way to support yourself while you travel and see the world. Perhaps you want the ability to go back and forth between a couple of places. Or maybe you’re already a digital nomad, and you’re looking for more ways to make money.
No matter what stage you’re at, we’ve got some great ideas on this list. It’s all about jobs you can do exclusively from home—or anywhere you want to call home. So whether that’s a camper van in California, a hotel room in Texas, or a hostel somewhere overseas, read on for some inspiration.
How Can a Digital Nomad Make a Living?
Digital Nomadism, unlike other types of working nomads, implies one who uses the internet to work. And there has never been a better time than now for digital nomads to find work. Here are five fantastic ideas to get you started.
Freelance Writer
As a freelance writer, your responsibilities may vary widely depending on the content you’ll be writing. For example, you may write for online or print publications, and you could be writing articles, blog posts, or even short stories for people or companies that publish the work under their own names. This is called ghostwriting, and it’s a digital job that’s in high demand right now.
Other types of writing may involve articles or stories where you write under your own byline, creating whatever written works appeal to you. You might be an author, a poet, or even have your own blog, but you’ll need to be sure that whatever you choose to write about will pay the bills.
Other freelance writers work on technical or instruction manuals, and some specialize in medical terminology or the insurance industry. There are as many niches in writing as there are industries in the world, so if you aspire to get into writing, realize that the possibilities are truly endless.
Transcription Worker
Transcription workers are responsible for taking recordings dictated by someone else and transcribing them. Recording subjects may include business or law meetings, court hearings, press conferences, lectures, or even medical information provided by doctors or psychologists.
To get into this field, it is very likely that you will be required to have very high typing speeds.
This work also requires exceptional attention to detail as well as the ability to navigate complex grammatical structures. Transcription workers must be completely fluent in English before taking on work.
Workers are typically paid per hour or per audio file rather than by the word. However, transcription workers are usually expected to meet set deadlines. Most often, transcription work can be carried out anywhere, as long as the content is pre-recorded.
Translator
Translation is a written or spoken transfer of information from one language to another. Translators obviously need to know more than one language, so only bilingual or multilingual people will be suited to this job.
The translation is often done via computer-assisted translation tools. These tools are applications that provide language translations into the user’s local language through a keyboard or voice input. The output, however, is not always accurate because these programs use machine translation technology to translate words and phrases from one language to another.
Machine translation cannot replace human intelligence yet because it does not recognize the actual meaning of words in context. However, technology is improving quickly. So, in addition to translators, there is almost as much need for those who can know how to work with the new machine translation technology.
English Tutor
Making money as an English tutor is another prevalent occupation for digital nomads. Many people want to learn the English language, and you can find jobs in nearly any part of the world.
However, one of the most popular side gigs for those who travel is working online teaching children (or adults) English as a second language (ESL or TESL). This is one of those highly rewarding positions, and if you love working with children, it can be great fun.
There are dozens of companies that hire English language tutors. To find them, you’ll need to do an internet search and examine the requirements. You will need to be fluent in English and grammar, and in some cases, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree. However, requirements will vary from platform to platform, so be sure to check around.
Graphic Designer
Graphic designers use their artistic and design talents to promote the best image of a business or group. They also help make products more attractive and marketable and help sell everything from toothpaste to cars.
Graphic designers create visual concepts using computer software as well as traditional methods. They design layouts, graphics, and logos for various uses, such as websites, reports, mailings, and advertising. Some create animation or illustrations that can be used in television commercials or print media.
Graphic designers work closely with marketing and public relations people to ensure the image they are creating is consistent with the client’s business objectives. This is an excellent job for creative nomads since all of the communication can generally be accomplished via phone or online.
Graphic designers can work remotely for a company, or they can set up shop as a freelancer. A freelance graphic designer will have the flexibility to work when they want and choose which projects they want to work on. Many digital nomads make a great living as graphic designers.
Closing Thoughts
Naturally, there are dozens of other ways to make a living as a digital nomad. But these five occupations are tried-and-true methods used by other wanderers. If you’re looking to make a little bit of spare cash fast, consider side gigs like paid online surveys, delivery driving, or even a temp job.
In many cases, the only thing standing between you and the lifestyle of a digital nomad is a little bit of training and some self-confidence. We encourage you to check out our other articles on passive income ideas to inspire you even further.
