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If you’re looking for opportunities to earn money while working from the comfort of your home office, there is a wide variety of remote work positions that are projected to be in high demand during the next few years.
Ziply Fiber — an internet service provider — analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Indeed.com and other employment sources to determine the remote jobs for which employers appear likely to be doing the most hiring. The good news for older adults is that several of the most in-demand positions are also popular with people age 50 and older because of the flexible work opportunities they provide.
The following list, ranked from high to low, explains which jobs are expected to offer the most openings. Average hourly pay is from the Ziply analysis. Clicking on the job title will take you to a page on the AARP Job Board that shows current postings for comparable positions. (Not all of these openings offer remote work opportunities.) You may click on this link for a search of all work from home jobs available on the AARP Job Board.
1. Customer Service Representative
- Projected annual job openings: 361,700
- Average hourly wage: $23.25
This remote job continues to be a popular option among older workers because of the variety of opportunities. Positions are available in a wide range of industries, including insurance, automotive, technology and retail. Once you’ve completed the employer’s training and set up the computer and telephone for your workstation, the hours can be flexible, too.
2. Virtual Administrative Assistant
- Projected annual job openings: 195,100
- Average hourly wage: $28.74
While many types of employers are hiring virtual administrative assistants to fill in the gaps on important projects, small-business owners are particularly fond of using these types of contractors. If you have business experience — especially skills using software such as Microsoft Office, PowerPoint and QuickBooks — being an online temporary assistant is a way to earn money while helping aspiring entrepreneurs.
3. Registered Nurse
- Projected annual job openings: 194,500
- Average hourly wage: $38.23
Demand for telehealth appointments has increased, since some patients have been reluctant to see doctors in person during the pandemic. Virtual visits provide access to reliable medical advice and treatment without the risks posed by going into an office. That means that if you’re a nurse with the proper licenses for a given state (or states), you may be able to work remotely.
4. Software Developer
- Projected annual job openings: 189,200
- Average hourly wage: $55.14
This continues to be a high-demand job field with great long-term prospects for those with the right tech skills — and those willing to get the right training. According to the BLS, the number of job openings in software development is expected to grow by 22 percent by 2030.
5. Digital Marketing Specialist
- Projected annual job openings: 96,000
- Average hourly wage: $29.29
These specialists design campaigns that use internet advertisements, direct emails, newsletters and other digital tools to help businesses connect better with customers. Because the work mostly involves outreach online, this job is a natural fit for remote work.
6. Tutor
- Projected annual job openings: 53,000
- Average hourly wage: $26.04
Even before the pandemic, tutors were in demand as families sought assistance to help their children do better in school. While most students have returned to classrooms now, the need for tutors has not diminished much. Most hirers prefer applicants to have at least a bachelor’s degree in a field related to what they would be tutoring, but a degree is not always required.
7. Computer Systems Analyst
- Projected annual job openings: 47,500
- Average hourly wage: $33.75
Helping businesses and organizations find the best options for meeting their information technology needs is the primary responsibility of computer systems analysts. In addition to remote work opportunities, this field also offers short-term contract positions.
8. Graphic Designer
- Projected annual job openings: 23,900
- Average hourly wage: $24.33
Whether it’s for websites, advertising, newspapers or brochures, graphic designers use their creative skills to help people better understand products or ideas. Much of the work can be done remotely, with team members providing feedback to a designer’s draft by videoconference or email. While employers often prefer applicants who have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in design, experience and a strong work portfolio can be enough to land the job.
9. Web Developer
- Projected annual job openings: 17,900
- Average hourly wage: $32.98
Every website we rely on to stay informed, connected with our communities and supplied with our essential needs is designed and maintained by a team of web developers. The job is unique because it requires workers to be detail-oriented enough to get the most out of the available computer software but also creative enough to visualize new ways to keep visitors engaged.
10. Information Security Analyst
- Projected annual job openings: 16,300
- Average hourly wage: $39.50
Preventing hackers from exploiting the vulnerabilities of a company’s computer networks is a challenging job — and one for which demand is growing rapidly. According to the BLS, the total number of information security analyst jobs is expected to increase by 33 percent over the next decade.
